Graham Hughes | Non-fiction editor and proofreader | Working with businesses, publishers and authors
Chester, UK
- [email protected]
- Website
- www.gh-ed.com
- Organisation
- GH Editorial
- Membership Grade
- Advanced Professional Member
About Graham
I’ve been a full-time editor and proofreader since 2013. Happy customers have praised my flexibility, thoroughness and attention to detail. (If I’ve had any unhappy customers, they’ve kept quiet about it!)
I help marketing firms, consultancies, publishers and authors of non-fiction books, and various other kinds of clients. I’ve edited or proofread more than seventy books, well over a hundred business reports, and much more.
I can work with most subjects, but a lot of the material I’ve worked on has been on technology (including systems design, cybersecurity and service management), project management and related topics, and sport. I also have an extensive knowledge of rock and pop music – up to the 1990s, anyway.
My approach is all about putting the reader first, always thinking about what will work best for them. This way, I help people to get their message across clearly and smoothly, and to make a good impression on their readers.
▶️If you think we could work together, please let me know what I can help you with, using the email address above.
Services
Business editing
I can help to make sure your company’s written material – such as reports, guides, web content and other marketing materials – will work effectively for you and show your credibility. This can include some or all of the following, depending on your needs:
- ensuring your writing is clear, readable, complete, consistent and professional
- considering your target readers’ needs and your business priorities
- eliminating inappropriate jargon and business-speak
- querying anything that seems unclear or incomplete, or that I think may be incorrect
- helping with structure, layout and formatting.
Copy-editing and proofreading books
I work with publishers, book packagers and self-publishing authors, mainly on specialist publications and trade non-fiction titles (please see ‘Specialisms’).
As an author, I’ve had a book published by a traditional publishing house, and later self-published a version of it. So, I can see things from the author’s perspective in both forms of publishing, and have a good understanding of the processes.
Plain language editing
I can help to make your writing accessible to a wide audience, by making it easy for readers to find, understand and use the information. I’m well versed in good practice for plain language editing, and led the CIEP’s plain language initiative during a spell on its Council.
Editorial consultancy
This service can guide businesses and other organisations in how to develop their written materials. I can advise on writing style; editorial style; use of plain language; structure, layout and formatting; relevance to the readers; and potential ethical and sensitivity issues. I’ll provide a report with findings and recommendations, potentially along with a new or revised style guide.
Find out more
▶️My website has more about what I can do for you, and guidance on how to get a quote.
Experience
What I’ve worked on
- Business documents: Reports, reviews, white papers, articles, proposals, guides, personnel profiles, business books
- Marketing materials: Website content (including blogs), social media posts, brochures, client magazines, newsletters, product packaging, menus
- Books: Trade non-fiction (mainly sport, including football and cricket), specialist (professional guidance, educational), academic
Who I’ve worked with
- Business customers: Construction Marketing Experts, Endava, EPSD, Grist, Hartey Wealth Management, Impact Cubed, OpenWeather, Romafolli, Rowan Marketing, Studio Retail, TMF Group
- Publishers and book packagers: Eclipse Publishing & Media, EMC Design, Integra, Pitch Publishing, Prestel, RefineCatch, Swales & Willis, Taylor & Francis, The Stationery Office, Vision Sports Publishing, Wearset
- Other customers: Non-profit organisations, self-publishing authors, researchers
▶️This is just a summary – for more details, please download my portfolio below.
Training, CPD and education
Editorial training
- CIEP: Web Editing (2020), The Art of Querying (2022), Non-Fiction Developmental Editing (2024), Copyright for Editorial Professionals (2024)
- Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP, now the CIEP): Introduction to Proofreading (2013), Introduction to Copy-Editing (2014), Proofreading Progress (2014), Mentoring for Proofreading (2014), Copy-Editing Progress (2016), Mentoring for Copy-Editing (2016), Efficient Editing: Strategies and Tactics (2017), Editing Digital Content (2019), Plain English for Editors (2019)
- Publishing Training Centre: Basic Proofreading (2014), Copy-Editing (2015), Rewriting and Substantive Editing (2023)
- Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario): PROS201 – Copyediting Standards (2026)
- Online Content Training: Online Content – Writing and Editing Skills (2018)
Continuing professional development (CPD)
- Regular involvement in CIEP local groups: attending many meetings and twice acting as a group coordinator (Manchester, 2015–2018; Liverpool, 2020 to date)
- Frequently using and contributing to the CIEP’s online forums
- Attending 11 CIEP conferences
- Reading articles and books on editing, proofreading and related subjects
Other
- BSc (Honours) in Data Processing, Loughborough University of Technology (1987)
- PRINCE2 (project management) accreditation at Foundation level (2008)
My story
I worked in information technology for 26 years as an analyst, developer, project manager and team leader, in the transport, financial services, government, telecommunications and retail sectors. My employers were British Rail (yes, this was a while ago!), Strategic Systems Solutions, Pinkerton Computer Consultants and Capgemini.
When looking for a change of career, I first tried my hand at writing. I had a sports history book published (later self-published as an ebook), and some articles in magazines and online. That didn’t seem very promising, but I soon saw an advert for a copy-editing and proofreading course. This looked more like something I could do for a living.
So, I joined the CIEP (then the Society for Editors and Proofreaders), started to learn my new trade, and became a full-time editorial freelancer when the IT job came to an end. It soon became clear that this was my kind of work, and I haven’t looked back since.
Testimonials
‘Graham has been great on the jobs I have given him, and I don't say this lightly. His tenacity and thoroughness are second to none – indeed, I have been surprised by just how much he manages to find wrong in a manuscript! His suggestions are polite and helpful, and he delivers on time and to budget. I have no hesitation in recommending him as an excellent copy-editor.’
– Michele Staple, Editorial Manager, The Stationery Office
‘We partner with GH Editorial because Graham consistently delivers exceptional work on time and within budget, exactly as promised. Over our two-year collaboration, his ability to seamlessly adapt to our diverse style guides while mastering the deeply technical content that comprises our reports has been remarkable. Graham has become a strategic partner in how we present findings to our clients. I'm delighted to recommend him without reservation.’
– Nick Selby, Founder and Managing Partner, EPSD, Inc.
‘We use Graham as a regular editor of our business reports, a task to which he brings both a keen eye for detail and an instinctive sense of style … He copes well with the vagaries of our ever-changing timelines, is able to handle challenges well beyond normal editorial services, and is always professional. I recommend him very highly.’
– C. J. Rowe, delivery and quality manager
‘We three would like to thank you profusely for the detailed, expert work that you are doing on our book manuscript. Indeed, we are scratching our heads and trying to recall if any of us have ever seen better copy-editing!’
– Mary Elise Sarotte, Dean’s Professor of History, University of Southern California
Service(s)
Specialisms
Client types
Disclaimer note
The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.