Professional Editing Services

I offer in-depth editing to achieve clarity in written and spoken presentations. Most often I accept contracts as a copy editor, technical editor, or ESL editor for professional clients who do not have English as a native language. I am able to work in both British and American styles and with a wide range of specialist and technical vocabularies. Fields of study and interest include engineering, alternative energy, consciousness studies, and literature.

Ian le Cheminant, Cortes Island, BC.

Copy Editing

2013 - 2014: Copy Editor for New Society Publishers

Copy editing begins with precision in punctuation and grammar, which are structural to the development and communication of ideas and clear thinking. When most effective the conventions of written language and style become transparent to the reader who wants to quickly understand what an author is writing. I continue with line editing as necessary, working with word selection and organization. I rewrite to ensure clarity without disturbing the author’s voice.

Grow a Sustainable Diet is my first book. Ian was great to work with, explaining why he made changes and giving me suggestions. I can't imagine the editing going any better with anyone else.

—Cindy Conner

Ian Le Cheminant’s sharp copy-editing, Scott Irving’s skill in translation, and John McKerchers proficiency in layout and design have all contributed to this final product. Working with such talented people is a real blessing.

—Jean-Martin Fortier, from Acknowledgements to The Market Gardener

I am also grateful to Ian le Cheminant, my copy editor, who with nearly the patience of a saint managed to get the final draft of the manuscript ready for press…

—Gary Kleppel, from Acknowledgements to The Emergent Agriculture

Technical Editing

2014: Technical editor for AutoCAD 2015 Essentials; Wiley, 2014. Here technical editing means ensuring that the text can be understood, the exercise steps followed, and that the software performs as expected.

2012: Contributing editor for Taking Measure, Explorations in Number, Architecture, and Consciousness; SIPS Productions Inc, 2012.  The material is interdisciplinary, moderately technical. The publication title was my recommendation. The book is available here.

2012: Technical editor for AutoCAD 2013 Essentials; Wiley, 2012.

2011: Technical editor for AutoCAD 2012 Essentials; Wiley, 2011.

2010-11: Technical editor for Enhancing Architectural Drawings and Models with Photoshop; Wiley, December 2010.

2010: Secrets in Plain Sight. Substantive and stylistic editor of the script for a three hour documentary video on surprising symbolic patterns in art, architecture and urban design. The project required working closely with the author to define the audience and establish an appropriate tone. The work can be streamed online. 

ESL Technical Editing

2011: Below is my edit of a paper in mathematical physics. The author is Romanian. My job was not to understand the mathematics but to clarify the meaning by deep line editing for English syntax and grammar. 

Lucian's paper can be downloaded as a Word file here.

Creative Writing

Visit my personal website at ianlecheminant.ca