About
My work is best summarised by “The Five Cees” – making your content Clear, Correct, Concise, Comprehensible and Consistent. I review grammar, spelling, layout and punctuation as well as ensuring consistency of style, language and design.
The level of service can be tailored to suit your needs:
- At the most basic level is simple proofreading: ensuring correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Your computer’s spellcheck facility or artificial intelligence will not pick up all errors – nothing can beat a fresh pair of eyes, trained in the art of proofreading.
- More advanced proofreading involves, for example, checking the accuracy of cross-references, page numbers, indexing and hyperlinks. Are tables and graphs correctly labelled and do they accurately represent the data? Does your reference list match up with in-text citations?
- There is often more than one correct way to write something, and the next level of editing aims to achieve consistency of style and formatting. For example, should that person’s name be spelled Steven or Stephen? Have you used ‘ize’ or ‘ise’ spelling throughout (e.g. organize/organise)? Do all your headings/subheadings look the same (e.g. size/bold/ underlined/capitals)?
- It’s easy to become so involved with a document that what makes perfect sense to you might still be hard to follow for an outsider. Long sentences, too much jargon, using three words where one will do – all these can make life difficult for your reader. Writing Matters can help to improve the general flow and “readability” of your message, by clarifying and simplifying without losing the essence of what you want to say.
Feedback from Previous Clients
'We had the pleasure of working with Mary Byrne, of Writing Matters, on the development of a resource to support the implementation of the 2023 SPHE curriculum specification for junior cycle. Mary’s care and her attention to detail in proofing the document were impressive, as were her speed of work and communication. The final resource is so much the better because of Mary’s efforts. We would have no hesitation in recommending Writing Matters to anyone looking for copyediting and proofing services.'
The HSE Sexual Health Programme
'I would highly recommend the proofreading services that Mary offers. I found her work to be of high quality, efficient and added the final improvements and refinements I required prior to submission of my academic thesis. She was engaging and accessible throughout the process.'
Cillian O'Donoghue, Research Masters student, UCD
'The Centre has enjoyed working with you. I personally have found your service to be professional, efficient, and the quality of your work to be of very high standard. I would not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone in the future.'