Digital Tools & Software

My clients pay me to read every word of their documents and, using years of experience and training, propose carefully considered changes using human judgement. Since the days of pen and paper editing have passed, I do of course use digital tools to assist in my work. I carefully research the software I use, ensuring that vendors are reputable and that the tools are beneficial to us both.

I don’t use AI to recast or correct your writing. Instead I use my knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation, genre conventions, audience expectations, style guides, regional Englishes and editorial resources, not to mention my understanding of your goals, preferences and voice. Though some of the software I use for editing now comes packaged by default with AI features, I routinely deactivate those features to ensure that your work won’t be fed into AI models. Here is a list of the tools I use to edit and proofread manuscripts, along with information about how I use them:

  • Microsoft Word: My primary tool for editing and proofreading, offering robust tracking and commenting features. Hosted locally via a licensed version of Microsoft 365. Copilot AI assistant has been deactivated. If Microsoft reactivates it during an update, I deactivate it again as soon as it is discovered.
  • Microsoft Excel: Used for creating style sheets and invoices. Hosted locally via a licensed version of Microsoft 365. Copilot has been deactivated. If Microsoft reactivates it during an update, I deactivate it again as soon as it is discovered.
  • PerfectIt: Used for consistency checking. A licensed, locally hosted Word add-in. This software is hosted locally, runs offline and does not use AI or transmit data.
  • Antidote: Used for consistency checking. A licensed, locally hosted Word add-in. This software is hosted locally, runs offline and does not use AI or transmit data.
  • Macros in Word: Used for text analysis. All macros are hosted locally, run offline and do not use AI or transmit data.
  • DuckDuckGo search: Used for fact-checking. This is a cloud-based search engine. I have deactivated the use of its AI agent to ensure no hallucinated content is used to verify your text. If it is reactivated during an update, I deactivate it again as soon as it is discovered.
  • Tresorit: Used for secure, end-to-end encryped file storage, backup and recovery. No unencrypted cloud storage (such as OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox) will be used to store your files. Tresorit’s servers are based in Germany.
  • Proton Mail: Used for email communication. Body content and attachments are stored with end-to-end encryption. Subject lines, recipient email addresses, and sender email addresses are encrypted, but not end-to-end encrypted. For more information about the extent and limits of Proton Mail encryption when interacting with other email clients, please visit https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-encryption-explained. Proton’s servers are based in Switzerland.
  • Proton Meet: Used for client meetings and consultations. Meeting communications, including video, audio, and chat messages, are confidential and end-to-end encrypted. Proton’s servers are based in Switzerland.

Privacy Policy

What I collect from you

I collect the information you volunteer during our correspondence and collaboration. This includes your name, email address, billing address, information about your documents (eg., word count, nature of the work and its intended audience), documents you send me (eg., the work to be edited, style preferences, editorial feedback and testimonials) and any other information you choose to share with me in the course of our work together.

Additional information is generated during the course of a collaboration, such as the style sheet I create for your work, the version history of your document, my edits, manuscript comments, and payment records. This information is stored securely on my local computer and on Tresorit, a secure, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service.

Who I share your information with

Email Provider: Proton Mail is able to access the subject lines, recipient email addresses and sender email addresses of your correspondence with me. Though these data are encrypted, they are not end-to-end encrypted. The content of your emails and any attachments you send me are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that Proton Mail cannot access them. For more information about the extent and limits of Proton Mail encryption when interacting with other email clients, please visit https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-encryption-explained.

Revenue Agencies: Revenue Canada and/or Revenu Quebec may request access to financial records related to our transactions, including invoices and payment records. I will provide this information as required by law.

Legal authorities: In the unlikely event of a legal action, I will provide any information required by legal authorities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Your Rights

You have the right to access, correct, or delete any of your personal information that I have collected. The deletion of information that is necessary for the completion of a collaboration that is still underwaymay require the cancellation of the project subject to the terms of the contract. To exercise these rights, please contact me at the email address provided.

Sample Contract

Downloadable sample contract goes here.

FAQ

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