Hire the Best Proofreaders
in Ireland

Since obtaining my proofreading qualification, I have undertaken a range of projects for books, websites, academic and educational papers (essays, research proposals, dissertations, theses), business papers of varying contexts and subject areas, CVs, journal articles, translated documents, and a host of others. Topics have been wide and varied, and no subject or degree of technicality will stop me! My mission is to seek and destroy any imperfections in your document, and polish it so that it represents you or your business to the highest standard possible. Try me - you will not be disappointed. None of my existing client are!

I am an editor, proofreader, coach, and mentor specialising in academic work. I edit theses and dissertations, academic articles, essays, presentations, and any other material that requires a professional eye and constructive criticism. I provide extensive feedback on how to improve your writing. I also provide coaching and mentoring in the research and writing process. I hold a PhD in Celtic Studies (specialising in linguistics) from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and a BA in Celtic Studies from Utrecht University, the Netherlands. I have over 12 years experience as a professional academic editor and 17 years of experience in teaching and research at University level, including at the National University of Ireland, Galway, at Ghent University, Belgium, and at Aberystwyth University, Wales (UK). Academic writing and research is hard work that can be not only intellectually demanding, but also emotionally challenging. I understand the realities of academia, not just the standards, conventions, and style guides, but also the pressure and the insecurities. I give no-nonsense, honest, and critical feedback, but I always maintain a constructive, kind and sensitive tone. I will not only tell you what you are doing wrong, but also what you are doing right. My services: I edit for grammar, spelling and punctuation, but also for style, structure and content. I ensure that your work is completed to the highest academic standards and I tell you when the order of elements in paragraphs or even chapters is confusing, asking you to clarify or strengthen argumentation where needed. I encourage critical thinking, will question your assumptions, and show you the gaps in your arguments. I encourage and direct your own writing, in your own voice, showcasing your strengths and improving your weaknesses. I have edited, proofread, and corrected essays, theses and articles in the humanities, social sciences, business studies (including legal and economic material), computer sciences, and medical sciences. I am always delighted to learn something new and am more than willing to take on work in other subjects. I am very familiar with a variety of academic standards. I work in British, American and Hiberno (Irish) English. If you need work corrected in another variety of English, please get in touch and we will see what we can do. I use track changes in MS Word or Google Docs unless otherwise required. I charge $0.045 per word for academic editing and proofreading and provide a 20% discount for pieces over 50,000 words and a 40% discount for pieces over 80,000 words. My experience: I have undertaken academic research and taught at University since 2006. This means that I have looked at the writing process from both sides: the research and writing process, and the teaching and correcting aspect. I have taught language, literature, and history. I have provided tutorials in essay writing and coached students in critical thinking, forming a coherent and logical argument and expressing themselves at an academic level. My work ethic: I am invested in my work and pride myself on doing it well. I am honest, reliable and pay close attention to detail. I provide thorough, effective and practical feedback. I enjoy both the work and the working relationships. I take my clients and the work seriously to enable you to thrive and to perform to the best of your abilities.

Need Social Media help… thats me! I have my own TikTok @clara.totman that has generated over 1 million views. In my professional life, I worked in B2B marketing for a high ticket tech company. I launched the brand’s TikTok and monitor all their social media accounts. I posted 5 times a week on TikTok and Youtube Shorts and 3 times on LinkedIn and Instagram.I am proficient in marketing strategies, social media management and copywriting. I am a recent graduate from the University of Galway with a degree in English Lit and Global Media (2:1 OR 3.7 GPA). My academic experience includes essay writing, proofreading and beta reading. I have a keen eye for grammer and flow in a text. Additionally, my work experience is rooted in customer service, Having worked in various industries including retail, hospitality, and student accommodations, I have developed strong organisational and communication skills. I am passionate about storytelling, media, and thriving in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Editing/Proofreading (20 Years) • Editing/proofreading impact factor journal articles and conference papers. • Thesis & Dissertation Writing (Bachelor's, Master's, & PhD) • Expert in formatting APA, IEEE, Vancouver, Harvard, and other formatting styles. • Tutoring and support to complete academic assignments. • Systematic Literature Reviews • Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis • Survey Design & Analysis • Citation & Referencing: Mendeley, EndNote, Zotero • Expert in all writing formats (medicine, engineering, finance, science, and literature). AI-Content Editor (3 Years) • Proficient in Claude AI and Chat GPT • Expert in humanising AI content, data annotation, and video transcription • Plagiarism Checking: Turnitin, ZeroGPT Curriculum Design & Academic Content (15 Years) • Expert in understanding educational methodologies • Strong analytical and creative skills

I'm an Englishman with excellent command of, and deep love for, my native language, and I want to give your own words some of that love and attention. I am a stickler for consistency and correctness in word use, presentation and formatting. My niche is NOT in producing the written word, but in proofreading and copy-editing other people’s to take it to the top level. I take your written labour of love and polish it to perfection, not to put my own voice on it, but to show your own work in its very best light. ACADEMIC WORK I specialise in high-end academic proofing and editing up to PhD level. I have a thirty-year professional career behind me and have written three master’s theses of my own, as well as writing or collaborating on numerous scientific studies and corporate reports. I am adept at applying the main style guides (especially APA6) meticulously, in both text and reference sections. YOUR SUBJECT: I do not need to know your subject! A common misconception I find in many job postings is that the client is looking for someone who knows their subject – when really what they need is an objective proofreader/editor who has the ability to see behind the subject to the words beneath, to make sure that the sentences and paragraphs are properly constructed, fluent and readable. Rest assured that I will search/Google/Wiki any questions as I come across them, and won’t waste your time coming back to you with queries – but if I need to ask them, I will. WHAT I DON’T DO: I will polish up your academic work, but I won’t do it for you. I won't write anything. I don’t re-write passages, build arguments, do research, fill in sections, or anything that necessarily has to be the work of the author. POLISHING HIGH-END NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE ENGLISH CONTENT If you’re a business person, an entrepreneur or a marketer from an English-speaking country, I will check over your corporate manuals, marketing material, B2Bs, white papers, Web content, etc, to make sure they are grammatically perfect and internally consistent. Small errors on Web pages or in business communications are jarring to the reader, and give the impression (even subconsciously) of a lack of professionalism. If you’re an entrepreneur or a marketer from Europe (or any other non-English-speaking country), who wants your content to be checked and perfected to make it sound like it was written by a native, then I’m your man. Your customers will feel more drawn towards you if you have taken the effort to make your business material polished and professional. (THE NEGATIVE STUFF...) WHAT I DON’T DO: I DO NOT WR*TE. I don’t make silk purses out of sows’ ears. I don't polish turds. If you’ve paid someone a few dollars to write something for your content mill and find you have to pay someone else to fix it up, then you’ll find someone a lot cheaper than me to give you what you want. If words were animals, then I’d be a pamperer and a groomer – not a puppy farmer. WHY AM I SO EXPENSIVE? I’m not, believe me. You’ll only need to pay me once to have your work ready to go, so by paying more upfront you’ll be saving in the long run. WHAT I DON’T DO If I see a mention of Copyscape, forget it. I don’t spin; I don’t rewrite; and I won’t work on anything that I know or believe to be plagiarised (and I will flag accordingly). AND I DON’T WRITE. If you’ve been shown to this page by a search algorithm, forget it. I’M NOT A WR*TER. Upwork's automatic algorithms are as effective as a chocolate fireguard or an underwater hairdryer.

Polish Native Proofreader & Copywriter I’m a creative Polish native speaker with expertise in proofreading, EN/PL translation, and SEO‑friendly product descriptions. I turn English source texts into natural, idiomatic Polish that reads as if it were written from scratch — clear, smooth, and fully aligned with the brand’s tone. With 20+ years of real business experience, I create content that is precise, consistent, and ready to publish. I focus on clarity, tone of voice, and high‑quality language that supports both user experience and conversions. What I do: • Proofreading & editing • SEO copywriting • EN→PL localization • Tone & clarity improvement • On-page SEO & native Polish tone-of-voice alignment Backed by 20+ years of real-world commerce experience. Based in Ireland (EU timezone).