Philippa Tomlinson * Copyeditor & Proofreader

Experienced editor and proofreader of illustrated school textbooks, information books and digital materials for children and teenagers. Humanities subjects to GCSE/IGCSE, Higher and Advanced Higher, A-level/IB Diploma; sciences to Key Stage 2. ELT materials for all ages and levels. Wide range of interests and general knowledge. I am happy to take on all aspects of the editorial process, including liaison with authors to resolve queries, checking answers, and ensuring syllabus coverage/compatibility. I also offer sensitivity and inclusivity reading as a discrete service.

Subjects include

• Secondary education: Art appreciation, Business, Citizenship, Economics, English language, English literature, Geography, History, Modern languages (French, Spanish, German), Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religious studies, Sociology, Theory of knowledge
  
• Primary education: Geography, Literacy, Maths, Science
  
• Education/Teaching: Behaviour management, Early Years, Outdoor learning, Phonics, Phonics assessment, Primary history, Primary science
  
• Special educational needs
  
• English as a foreign language (EFL)
  

Media

Books, textbooks, revision and study guides, digital/interactive educational resources, illustrated books, multi-component resources, language course materials

Experience

Freelance since 1989; Senior editor (commissioning), Hodder & Stoughton Educational, 1984–88; ELT editor, Harrap, 1982–84; Editorial assistant, Harrap, 1980–82

Training and CPD

Initially trained in-house and on Book House/PTC courses

Subsequently:

• Word for Practical Editing (CIEP), 2021
• Educational Publishing Update: Professional Development Day (SfEP), 2018
• Practical mark-up of PDFs (SfEP), 2017
• Rewriting and substantive editing (Oxfordshire Publishing Group, Oxford Brookes University), 2016
• On-screen editing 2 (SfEP), 2014
• On-screen editing 1 (SfEP), 2013, 1999
• Introduction to web editorial skills (SfEP), 2013
• Efficient copy-editing (SfEP), 2013

SFEP conferences 2013, 2008, 1996

CIEP conferences 2023, 2021 (online), 2020 (online)

Clients

Bloomsbury, Cambridge University Press, Collins Education, Educake, Heartlands High School, Hodder Education, Kaplan International, Macmillan Education, Oxford University Press, Pearson, QBS Learning, Thames & Hudson ... and others

Qualifications

• BA French, Italian & Economics (Bristol University)
  
• International House TEFL Diploma
  

Unsolicited feedback from authors and publishers 

“Many thanks for your meticulous work!” Author (Modern foreign languages)

“Thanks again for your excellent work…It has been a real and great pleasure to work with you, and I am so grateful for your thoughtful, efficient and professional approach to the project.” Managing editor (Art appreciation)

“What a marvellous job you did on the proofs! Thank you for being so thorough and for your thoughtful notes and queries. I’m so pleased to have had the benefit of your very careful eye at this stage.” Project manager (Geography)

“Philippa – thanks so much for the thought you gave to photos. I have to say that virtually every one was ideal…I think we have produced a good book…Will you be doing our [next] book?” Author (Politics)

“Thank you for all your help and support so far. You’ve made dealing with the queries relatively easy and stress free and certainly you’ve picked up some lack of clarity in my writing…” Author (Geography)

“Thank you very much for all of your editing so far. It’s definitely tighter, clearer and more accurate…you managed to pick up all of my original suggestions and your own contributions have made a real difference…Thanks for all your hard work on this.” Author (English: spelling and phonics)

“Thanks Philippa and for doing such a thorough job...well done for spotting quite a few points where clarification is required.” Author (Psychology)

“Thank you, Philippa! Your reputation for speed and thoroughness is fully justified!” Content designer (ELT)

“Thank you so much for the fantastic work you have done on this ms and proofs.” Author (Language arts for the Caribbean)

“As always, you’ve done an amazing job in little time and with some tricky circumstances. I’m very grateful that you agreed to take this on…” Project manager (History)

“You’ve been so great and thorough with the edit and picked up a number of small details that have been missed for the earlier book in the series, so I’m incredibly glad that you are working on the series! I’m also really pleased with the notes that you have put together for the typesetters – this will help them enormously with any new tags and understanding the markings and what we require with the layout.” Managing editor (English language)

“…Thanks again for all your hard work and advice. You seem to be a good economist!” Author (Economics)

“Thanks for this, Philippa. I’m happy with all of your suggestions and changes…Once again, many thanks for your help with all this.” Author (English as a second language)

"Thanks so much for this, Philippa! It all looks great! Thank you so much for all your work on these lesson plans. I really have appreciated it, and it’s been great to work with you.” Project editor (Primary literacy)

“I would like to praise Philippa for her courteous and firm editorial style; she was great.” Author, via commissioning editor (English)

“I just wanted to thank you for your very sensitive and conscientious editing of my 6 English books! I really needed a second eye on the texts, as one gets so close to them, so I welcomed your comments, all of which were helpful…I’ll definitely recommend you for any similar work.” Author (English)

...and more

Testimonials

“Philippa is a reliable copyeditor who is not afraid of tackling difficult jobs. She works effectively with authors and she has a well organised approach to editorial queries. Her technical skills are strong, and she has adapted well to changes in process during the years I have worked with her. She is also an excellent proofreader.” Senior Project Manager (Books and Digital), Philip Allan

“Philippa is a very reliable editor and proofreader. She is extremely thorough and has wide-ranging knowledge across many subjects. I know that a project placed with her is in good hands.” Humanities Editor, Hodder Education

“I employed Philippa to proofread a Grammar E-book I had written for self-publication. She was meticulous in her work. She took on board my aims and style for the e-book and her suggested changes were thoughtful and definitely improved my e-book. I would recommend her for anyone looking for a flexible and painstakingly careful proofreader or editor. I know I will use her services again. She was a pleasure to work with.” Independent author

(All names supplied)

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Children & young adult
• Education & training
• English as a second language
• Humanities
• Languages
• Language arts