Dr Hannah Loach |

I am a conscientious and sensitive copyeditor and proofreader with several years of experience working freelance for publishing houses, companies and charities, and directly with independent authors and academics.

I have a particular interest in conscious, sensitive and inclusive editing, and as a disabled person myself, I bring lived experience to my work. Ensuring accurate, dignified and respectful representation of everyone, particularly those with marginalised or diverse backgrounds and identities, is absolutely central to my work.

I have undertaken training with the Publishing Training Centre, the Editorial Freelancers Association and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), of which I am a professional-level member. I also hold a place on a CIEP steering committee as a member representative.

My academic background has given me a firm background in the grammar and mechanics of UK English, and I have experience of editing in both American and Australian English. I have a sharp eye for detail and a keen ear for both efficiency and elegance.

I am highly proficient at editing in MS Word and in Adobe on pdf documents and I make effective use of editing tools and software, such as macros and PerfectIt, to bring an even higher level of accuracy and consistency to projects.

Outside work, I am a semi-professional singer in several choirs with a specialism in Early Music, and a volunteer in, and founder member of, several local disability organisations, working with the local city council and The New Economics Foundation.

TRAINING & CPD

I maintain an active programme of continuing personal development, taking time out of paid work regularly to review, refresh and renew my skills. Recent training includes:

CIEP:

• Webinars: An Editor's Guide to Assessing and Addressing Problematic Content (2024); An Introduction to Academic Editing Services (2024); Communicating with authors: How to provide comments they'll accept (2025)
• Efficient Editing: Strategies & Tips (2024)
• Introduction to Health Editing (2024)
• CIEP Conference 2021

Editorial Freelancers Association:

• Editing for Conscious and Inclusive Language (2024)

Publishing Training Centre:

• An Editor's Guide to Editing Illustrations (2025)
• An Editor's Guide to Editing References (2025)
• An Editor's Guide to Author Queries References (2025)
• A Comprehensive Guide to Copyediting (2025)
• Proofreading PDFs: A complete guide for editors (2024)
• Essential Grammar (2023)
• Essential Copy-Editing by Distance Learning (2022)

EDUCATION

• University of York (2006–2010): PhD in Department of English and Related Literature. Thesis Title: The Naked Eye: Vision and Risk in the Work of Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)
• Pembroke College, University of Cambridge (2002–2004): MPhil in English Studies: British Literature 1700–1830
• Somerville College, University of Oxford (1999–2002): BA (Hons) in English Language & Literature (2.i)

FEEDBACK

Recent feedback from authors and publishers:

• ‘My key editor Hannah Loach was incredible. She understood what I was trying to achieve, was on my wavelength entirely and kept me very much on the straight and narrow: she fact-checked me throughout and questioned everything.’
• ‘I am really impressed with the standard of Hannah's editing… Her attention to detail and handling of potentially sensitive subjects like diversity are exemplary.’
• ‘Hannah did a fantastic job editing my first book. I was delighted with her work. She was so insightful and constructive, and helpful and skilled, and I really felt she ‘got’ what I was trying to do. I accepted all her edits and recommendations, and I particularly appreciated the comments she made to explain the rationale behind her recommendations and changes. I would thoroughly recommend working with Hannah.’
• ‘Hannah Loach recently edited my book. For me, she was the perfect editor. She has a thorough understanding of this subject area, and so when she suggested revisions, they always added insight and greater depth. There is no doubt in my mind that her input improved my book and I would have no hesitation in recommending Hannah.’
• ‘Hannah did an incredible job of copy-editing the book that I co-wrote with [author]. Hannah’s approach is sensitive, intelligent and thorough. She is skilled at her craft. She elevated our manuscript to “another level”. Her research and understanding of our content added value beyond our expectations. Our book received glowing praise quotes from all our reviewers and reached number one in seven different Amazon categories during our launch event. We 100% need Hannah to copy-edit our next book.’
• ‘Just worked through all your comments. A massive THANK YOU for all the edits and comments alongside. Tonnes of great points that I've incorporated for submission.’
• ‘[The author] was very happy with your edits. The text clearly required quite a bit of intervention and you did a fantastic job of tidying things up at the sentence level as well as suggesting structural changes and amendments to the artwork that greatly improved the final book – thank you!’

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Non-fiction

• Academics
• Book publishers
• Businesses
• Charities