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TESTIMONIALS client feedback Clare did an outstanding job overhauling our website content and advertising literature. She is diligent and deliberate in explaining her work. I would highly recommend her." ​ J Adams Business Manager Liskeard, Cornwall I worked with Matt on an essay, and it was a true joy. Matt took me through his interventions, and made sure I understood every change. He is a thorough and patient editor. I recommend him wholeheartedly." ​ Dr Elad Uzad EU Philosopher University of Oxford Matt transformed my texts with his careful and considered prose. His masterful manipulation of my words, whilst maintaining the meaning of the various and unusual scientific terms, was nothing short of impressive. He has worked on many documents for me. I am grateful and happy to have found Matt in the jungle of proofreaders and editors." ​ Dr Sabine Jordan Agronomist and Peatland Scientist Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU) Matthew Laight is a detailed, meticulous and highly adaptable proofreader. Drawing not only on his other career in high-performance computing and aeronautics, but also his wide-ranging literary appetite, Matt applies his skills of detailed analysis conscientiously to any genre of the written word, be that fiction; children's literature; education or technical journals. He is also a really nice bloke! I am happy to recommend him without hesitation." ​ Sara Butler Executive Assistant to the Provost The Queen's College, Oxford I would recommend Matt in a heartbeat for all editorial needs, and for providing support along the entire process; his patience and knowledge are second to none. Not only is he a first-class editor, his skills go beyond that, including taking pride in making sure his clients' work is the best it can be." ​ Glyn Morris Author Dear Matthew, you have done an excellent job of editing this technically demanding text. It was a matter of correctly translating both the technical terms of Palaeolithic archeology and that of Paleoanthropology into English, and to translate the peculiarities of sentence structure in the German language into scientific English. The deadline was very tight, and yet you managed everything to my satisfaction, even under time pressure. Thank you again for this help." ​ Dr Lutz Fiedler Former State Archeologist of Hesse Germany I have worked with Matthew on Maths A book and know that when I place work with him, it will be delivered back to me on time, to exacting standards, and following the brief. Matthew is flexible, patient and a pleasure to work with. He can be relied on at short notice, and I have no hesitation in recommending his proofreading services." ​ ​ Bhavna Saxena Content Producer Pearson Education Matt did such a great job of editing my novel. His work is thorough and precise, and his observations, notes and suggestions are spot on. He has a sharp eye and doesn't miss a thing. He identified inaccuracies of grammar, spelling and syntax, and ensured a uniformity of style and formatting. As a result, my manuscript looks far more polished and professional. Matt's story editing is incredibly astute. He highlighted issues of clarity and continuity, asking questions of my story, prompting me to do the same. Because of Matt's brilliant work, I have begun to see my own work through an editor's eye, which ultimately is helping me to become a better writer."​ ​ Elizabeth Delo Author Matt edited and proofread the bio' for my latest exhibition. He checked all the artwork and installation descriptions, of which there were many. He picked up on many points that I had missed and suggested much in the way of extra content – all perfectly pitched – he's a very knowledgeable chap you know! His help was invaluable as I just didn't have enough time to devote to these important jobs, and I contacted him terrifyingly close to the print deadline. I will certainly retain his services (and spread the word), but I promise to give more notice next time. Thank you, Matt." ​ Sophie Alexandra Ryder Artist St Ives, Cornwall I have benefited immensely from creative technical discussions with Dr. Matthew Laight, who proofread this document, made many good suggestions and turned the last leg of the project into an enjoyable experience." ​ ​ Dr RB PhD thesis University of Cambridge Matthew transformed the content and look of my website. I lost count of the number of times I had repeated myself! Thoroughly recommended." ​ ​ Nicola Hardy Website owner Essex Your feedback is always welcome

POSTGRADUATES papers and dissertations You have worked your socks off in order to get your Master's or PhD dissertation into shape. Nowadays, studying does not come without a heavy financial burden, and the long months – sometimes years – of working the clock round in order to produce a body of work by which all your hard efforts will be judged should be worthy of your investments in time and money. In order to give yourself the best chance of success you need to be certain that, aside from the academic nature of your thesis, your work is free from grammatical error, and is clearly understood. ​ We welcome working with postgraduate students for whom English is not a first language (see our ESL page). ​ What we can do for you final-draft editing of Master's/PhD thesis proofreading and editing of papers, conference submissions, and job applications use Word tracked changes in order that you see each and every one of the modifications we make use LaTeX or Tex typesetting if required Offer reduced-rate editing for postgraduate students ... we've been there! ​ Please contact us for an informal discussion on how we might be able to help with any or more of these suggestions. ​ Our experience Matthew has studied and worked closely with researchers and academics in Engineering and Science departments in many UK and European universities. We have edited PhD theses and scientific papers in a variety scientific fields. Matthew has over 25 years' experience as a fully-qualified professional engineer, during which time he has held senior positions in Formula 1 racing, and the aviation sector. He has an extremely strong (and up-to-date) understanding of Mathematics, Physics, Engineering (all major disciplines), Sciences, Computing etc., and has a strong academic background in Aeronautics and Fluid Mechanics. Matthew has a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, and has written and co-written papers, and presented at conference. We are experienced users of LaTeX and Tex typesetting programs as well as the usual mainstream software. ​ Benefits we can provide Matthew has a dual academic-industrial background which gives him a precise understanding of the importance of your situation; the step you are about to make, and of the make-or-break consequences of producing a document that will determine the next step in your career. A final-draft edit will give you the confidence that your work will be grammatically correct and consistent, that the arguments that you present are clear and well presented, and that your hard work will be showcased to the greatest effect. The more professional your thesis or dissertation, the easier your examiner(s) will be convinced of your aptitude and potential, leaving you free to confidently defend the academic arguments and claims you have worked so hard to assemble. You will always get an accurate and fast turnaround service. As members of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading we are bound by its established code of practice . ​ If you would like to work with dedicated editors who understand the nature and importance of your dissertation and its effect upon your future career, then please contact us today.

Freelance editing and proofreading Members of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading BEDFORD & GROVE Partnership ​ © 2020, all rights reserved. SERVICES ​We offer proofreading and copy-editing services including: novels, dissertations (PhD and Master's thesis, final-draft proofreading only), journal articles, website content, business literature, CVs, maths and science examination/tutor booklets, brochures etc. We also offer a bespoke English as second language ( ESL ) service. More Info WHAT WE DO Bedford & Grove provide professional editing, proofreading, and writing services. We know our success depends upon your satisfaction; to that end we guarantee never to miss an agreed deadline and never to outsource your work. We hope our work speaks for itself. More Info CLIENTS Our list of current and recent clients includes academics, publishers, artists, authors, and corporates including The Royal Society , Charlesworth Author Services, Elizabeth Delo, and Cambridge University Press . More Info ABOUT US We are an army of two freelance editors , working hard to build a well recognised, friendly, and reliable service. We edit, proofread, and even write your content. Our goal is to ensure your message and vision are preserved through the application of diligent and careful attention to detail. We help authors and business professionals of all stripes to polish and present their written message (see our page of clients and publications ). We will never offload your work to a third party and will always meet your deadline.​​ ​ ​Please browse our website, look at our services , and contact us to discuss how we can help you.​ While you are here, please take a moment to read some nice things that some of our clients have written about our work. Learn more Clients CLIENTS & PUBLICATIONS See the full list

ESL English as a second language Perhaps English is not your first language. Please don't let this get in the way – one of our growing specialist areas is helping ESL students, academics, and authors in presenting their work to the same high standards that they might easily achieve in their own native language. Inevitably this can take a little longer as our rate of edited words falls commensurately with the complexity of the original work ... but we'll get it all sorted for you. ​ Please email us directly or use the contact page so that we can discuss things further. ​ Some useful links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language https://www.onlinestudies.com/courses/esl/united-kingdom#

CLIENTS & PUBLICATIONS Here is a linked list, in no particular order, of recent clients (journals, artists, authors, corporates) and publications for whom we work. The Royal Society (Philosophical transactions A) The Royal Society (Proceedings A) Eurideas Language Experts Charlesworth Author Services Cambridge University Press Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Oxford University Press Journal of Fluid Mechanics Elizabeth Delo Physics of Fluids Pearson Education Glyn Morris Cambridge Secondary Mathematics Sophie Alexandra Ryder American Institute of Physics Bluefruit Software Journal of Fluids Engineering The Energy Journal The Acoustical Society of America Journal of Applied Mechanics Applied Thermal Engineering Chinese Journal of Aeronautics The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Experiments in Fluids American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal of Sound and Vibration International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer International Journal of Mining Science and Technology Structure and Infrastructure Engineering Applied Acoustics Journal of Aerospace Information Systems Journal of Applied Physics Letters Journal of Digital Signal Processing Journal of Aerospace Engineering

CONTACT we are here to help Whatever your query, please use the contact form, below, so that we can arrange an informal, no-obligation chat about your work. ​ We will do our very best to contact you as soon as possible to discuss things further. If you'd rather, feel free to simply email us to arrange a convenient time for us to discuss your requirements.​ ​ ​It is important that you know that ANY information you provide to us will only be used to reply to your query. For further information regarding this and much more please see our privacy policy . Telephone 07974 780664 ​ Email office@bedfordandgrove.co.uk Contact Us First name Last name Email Write a message Submit Thanks for submitting!

INFORMATION some explanation Copy-editing or proofreading? The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading have clear and detailed definitions. We can do no better than, with thanks, reproduce their small print here ... ​ Copy-editing The tasks carried out during copy-editing will vary depending on the nature of the text, how and where it will be published, what work has or will be carried out by someone else, and practical considerations such as the budget and time available. Here are some typical copy-editing tasks. ​ Checking Checking that all elements of a text or document are present, in the right order and are referred to in exactly the same way throughout. For example: chapter/section titles match list of contents numbered lists and chapters/sections are sequential illustrations are all provided and match the text content, and appropriate captions have been written citations correspond exactly to the details in the reference section or bibliography; all entries in a reference section are cited in the text. ​ Checking that any references to content or features elsewhere in the text (cross-references) are accurate. Checking that basic facts and arguments are plausible, consistent and reasonable. Querying any language that is non-inclusive or problematic from a legal point of view. In fiction, checking that characters’ physical characteristics (such as eye colour) and names stay the same, making sure the timeline and the fictional world hold together, and keeping the narrative voice consistent (for example, making sure it doesn’t leap from first person to third person). ​​ Correcting and making consistent Correcting errors or inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, grammar, style and usage. Checking and correcting spellings of names, for example of places or people. Imposing consistency in use of, for example, italics, bold and capitals. Improving clarity by rewording or reformatting text that is confusing or convoluted, or suggesting structural additions to help readability such as headings or lists. ​ Cleaning Cleaning up the document before it goes for design/layout (for example by removing unwanted formatting and extra spaces). Marking up the structure of the document (such as heading levels, boxed items, lists, figures and images). This is typically done using paragraph and character styles and/or tags. ​ Communicating Creating and populating information documents (such as a style sheet and instructions for the designer/typesetter) that those following them in the project will need. Liaising with the author or intermediary on anything that the copy-editor cannot confirm alone, such as preferred points of style, approval of suggested rewording or the location of missing information. ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Proofreading In traditional publishing, proofreading is the stage in the workflow that comes after copy-editing – once the text is in layout and before publication. Often the word ‘proofreading’ is used more loosely, to describe almost any editorial intervention and correction to a text. Because proofreading and copy-editing are different tasks and need professionals with specific skills, it’s important for both client and professional to understand which service the text needs. ​ A proofreader should help to ensure that a text is ready to be published. You can think of it as the final quality check. Because the proofreader works near the end of the publication process, they are usually looking for remaining errors that must be corrected. Unless they have been specifically briefed to do so as extra paid tasks, the proofreader will not be rewording sentences, making larger structural interventions such as reordering blocks of text or inserting headings, or fact-checking (but they may raise a query about anything that seems wrong). ​ Formats and markup We work mostly with Microsoft Word, PDF, and good old paper (hard copy); all formats are fine, we will work in whichever way is most convenient to you. However, there are differences between format types that will have a knock-on effect in terms of the time spent on editing. In Word we will markup (highlight suggested changes) using Track Changes. This method has the distinct advantage that you can then view each and every change that we make and have the ability to accept or reject them (sometimes this can be a mixed blessing). We use bespoke markup tools for PDF markup. PDF markup takes longer than using Word's Track Changes, but is more versatile in that it allows the editor/proofreader the freedom to implement British Standard markup symbols. Of course, the hieroglyph-like symbols we refer to will not suit everyone's requirements and for this reason we can either supply an editing-symbol key or simply explain our changes in plain English ... it's all up to you. ​ Substantive editing Here is a brief overview of an even more in-depth form of editing, so called substantive or developmental editing. The purpose of this kind of edit is to make your document; your novel, journal paper, memoir etc., functional for your intended audience. A substantive edit precedes both the copy-editing and proofreading stages, and is primarily an analysis-based exercise, as opposed to the rules-based approach, common to copy-editing and proofreading. For this reason a substantive editor works more closely with the author than a copy-editor or proofreader might; substantive editing is a collaborative process that deals with the overall structure of the project. A typical checklist approach might be as follows: ​ Does the document work as a coherent whole? Is the order and presentation of information logical (from the target audience's point of view)? Is all necessary information included, and unnecessary information deleted? Are the table of contents, internal headings, indexes useful? Do they contain terms that are useful to the target audience? Concerning say a website, are the navigation aids logical and useful in context? ​ Other considerations include Sentence complexity and use of active or passive verbs Conciseness Clear, logical development of ideas Use of jargon or technical terms appropriate for the intended audience.

ACADEMICS journal submissions and proposals Contributing to academic journals and writing proposals have become as much a part of an academic's life as the actual research and teaching. Moreover, these activities have become one of the yardsticks by which you and your institution are measured. Life tenures are a thing of the past, and as a consequence life in academia is ever more competitive. Your time is precious, as is your reputation amongst your peers. ​ We welcome working with academics for whom English is not a first language (see our ESL page). ​ What we can do for you proofreading and editing of papers, scientific or otherwise, books, articles etc. proofreading and editing of funding proposals​ proofreading and editing of job applications. Please contact us for an informal discussion on how we might be able to help with any or more of these suggestions. ​ Our experience We have studied in and worked closely with researchers and academics in Engineering and Science departments in many UK and European universities. We have edited PhD theses and scientific papers in a variety of scientific fields. Matthew has over 25 years' experience as a fully-qualified professional engineer, during which time he has held senior positions in Formula 1 racing, and the aviation sector. He has an extremely strong (and up-to-date) understanding of mathematics, physics, engineering (all major disciplines), sciences, computing etc., and has a strong academic background in aeronautics and fluid mechanics. Matthew has a PhD in aeronautical engineering, and has written and co-written papers, and presented at conference. We are experienced users of LaTeX and Tex typesetting programs. ​ Benefits we provide Matthew has a dual academic–industrial background which gives him a better appreciation of the constraints at play in your world; we understand how important publications are to a busy academic. We understand too, the need for clarity and preciseness in your publications, as well as the overarching requirement to be consistent in your message. You will find us to be trusted editors, conversant with your world, who can shoulder some of your load, providing you more time for the other aspects of your busy work life. You will always get an accurate and fast turnaround service. As members of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading we are bound by its established code of practice . ​ If you would like to work with dedicated professional editors who understand the nature and importance of an academic's work, especially the constraints upon your time, then please contact us today.

ABOUT We are a husband and wife team who, some years ago, decided to work together on a project that not only made more efficient use of our time and resources, but also pooled our life experiences – the results were good and Bedford & Grove was born in 2019. With our combined experience of editing corporate, fiction and non-fiction, academic, science and engineering, and all manner of independent works, we offer a broad range of editing and writing services together with a friendly and open approach toward our clients. We live and work in a quiet village on the edge of Bodmin moor in Cornwall, but communicate and work with clients all over the world. THE TEAM a little about us MATTHEW LAIGHT Founder and Partner Matthew is founder and partner at Bedford & Grove. He spends much of his time (work and leisure) working with some form of the English language. He reads and writes for pleasure, and works closely with publishers, writers, artists, and academics in the pursuit of clearly expressed words. He holds a first-class degree in engineering and a PhD in fluid dynamics from the University of Cambridge; he is a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) – you can find Matthew's CIEP directory listing here . CLARE LAIGHT Partner Clare is partner at Bedford & Grove. She has over 30 years' experience working in aviation (she has a private pilot licence), television, managing a busy law practice, and working in a large secondary school as Head's PA. Her interests away from her busy office include horse riding, gardening, and walking. Clare is an Intermediate Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) – you can find Clare's CIEP directory listing here . Here are some kindly forwarded testimonials .

CODE OF PRACTICE necessary stuff As members of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders we are bound to abide by their Code of Practice. This has been developed by the CIEP to encourage best practice in the industry, and as such, it is useful to proofreaders and editors and their clients. You can see the CIEP full Code of Practice here . This is how CIEP sums up its Code of Practice: CIEP's Code of Practice (CoP), ensuring editorial excellence, is a really useful resource for editorial workers – editors, proofreaders and project managers, whether working freelance or in-house – and their clients and employers. Its purpose is to establish standards of best practice for CIEP members and help them maintain them and to encourage good professional relationships. ​ Good communication between client/employer and freelance/employee is essential. Clear briefing and the agreement of terms are vital if high standards are to be maintained by both parties, and unsurprisingly they're emphasised by the CoP. ​ In addition, the CoP includes guidance on: the professional behaviour of both freelance/employee and client/employer standards for proofreading, editing and project management information on web editing, electronic file handling, email etiquette, confidentiality and computer security ​ The CoP is endorsed by the CIEP council. Although it is not a legal document, it is considered binding on members and Corporate Subscribers.