Language Editing for Non-Native English

English Editing Services for Copy and Content Written by German Speakers

Does your English copy still need work before it can go to print? Or do you want an impartial eye to rate the quality? I ensure clear, bold, well-paced writing that gets the job done.

It’s up to you how extensive you want the language editing to be. A few finishing touches, a full rework, a sprinkle of fairy dust—results are what matter!

I specialize in editing writing by native German speakers. I can easily detect and decode typical mistakes and constructions that Germans often make when writing in English. That cuts down on questions and rewrites.

Proofreading or Editing: What’s Right for You?

Proofreading and editing are terms that can mean different things to different people.
Let me explain what my services cover to make sure that we’re on the same page.

Editing

Putting your text through a general style check
Coming up with more idiomatic expressions for your message
Replacing content-weak verbs and nouns with more expressive ones
Smoothing transitions and improving the flow of your text
Streamlining your text

Proofreading

Checking your text for spelling, grammar or punctuation mistakes
Making sure your formatting is consistent
Ensuring the use of correct and consistent terminology
Checking translation accuracy and completeness (in case of a translation)

Recent Projects

Job: Editing new website copy for a limousine service in Berlin that had been written by a German native speaker

Target group: International customers in Berlin

Challenge: Reworking the copy to create a good user experience, using headlines and keywords to structure the content and choosing clear language for non-native readers

Job: Language editing and optimization of the English adaptation of a card game and its sales packaging designed to foster communication and understanding in teams

Target group: International teams in face-to-face or online settings

Challenge: Editing the English to work for a diverse audience while obeying strict layout limitations

Editing or Rewriting: What’s the Best Choice?

Here’s a harsh truth: Not all writing is worth saving. Sometimes a retranslation or a rewrite is faster and more cost-efficient than several rounds of linguistic and stylistic edits. I’ll let you know if I think that starting from scratch will get you there faster.

Testimonials

Frau Else Gellinek stellt für unsere Einrichtung, dem Institut für Linguistik der Universität zu Köln, die optimale Lektorin und Korrektorin dar.

Sie ist nicht nur bilingual aufgewachsen und professionelle Übersetzerin, Lektorin und Korrektorin, sondern darüber hinaus selber Sprachwissenschaftlerin. Diese vielfältigen Qualifikationen, die in dieser Zusammenstellung kaum bei jemand anderem zu finden wären, eignen Frau Gellinek in ungewöhnlichem Maße für das Lektorat und Korrektorat linguistischer Fachtexte. Frau Gellinek ist mit Fachvokabular, Themen und Stil sprachwissenschaftlicher Literatur vertraut und bietet uns so ein sprachlich, stilistisch und auch inhaltlich-argumentativ hervorragendes Lektorat und Korrektorat. Diese Kombination macht Frau Gellinek für unsere Einrichtung unersetzlich. In Tagen eines zunehmenden Wettbewerbs im geisteswissenschaftlichen Bereich, sind wir als Wissenschaftler darauf angewiesen, stilistisch sicher und sprachlich einwandfrei auf Englisch zu veröffentlichen. Wir schätzen uns am Institut für Linguistik der Universität zu Köln besonders glücklich, hierfür auf die äußerst wertvolle Unterstützung durch Frau Gellinek zurückgreifen zu können.

Institut für Linguistik, Universität zu Köln

Language Editing for Non-Native English

English Editing Services for Copy and Content Written by German Speakers

Proofreading or Editing: What’s Right for You?

Recent Projects

Editing or Rewriting: What’s the Best Choice?

Testimonials

Need a grammar and style check?

Who is Else Gellinek?

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