Academic and commercial editing from Ben Young MSc PhD


Services

I can offer help with all aspects of academic editing: proofreading, copyediting, indexing, footnote editing, reference checking, developmental editing, content writing, translation (academic French to English), etc. [More on services]

I have made a list of useful wildcard expressions for working with MS Word. For example, to find straight quotes and straight apostrophes, use ^034 (double quotes), ^039 (single quote).


About me

I have a PhD in philosophy (Edinburgh, 2000), and professional experience in politics, education, and international development. I have been editing full time since 2010. [More about me]

I feel very lucky to have a job which allows me to read so much fascinating material; over the past fifteen years I have benefitted from a wide-ranging education thanks to my clients.

I love this work and hope I may be of some help to you.


Areas of experience

My academic training was in philosophy. For five years I was the lead copyeditor and proofreader for the philosophy journal Mind (ranked in the top 5).

I have experience editing texts in anthropology, art history, business studies, Chinese studies, Classics, cultural studies, development, economics, economic history, education, Eurasian studies, geography, Islamic studies, management, medicine, law, Ottoman studies, philosophy, politics, social sciences, theology, and many other areas.

I worked for several years in international development, and had a good reputation as a fundraiser, so may be able to assist with writing grant proposals within my areas of competence. [More about me]


Fees

GBP£52.50 per hour. Discounts offered according to need.


Babel Editing network

I am part of an informal cooperative of copyeditors and proofreaders. If I am booked up, I can probably connect you with someone else who can help.


Posts

On the posts page are short essays on various themes that have caught my attention over the years: for example, concerning a double meaning in the New Testament image of the Mote and the Beam; or an interesting detail I recently noticed about the Noble Lie, an idea that is supposedly to be found in Plato’s Republic.