About me

My name is Julian Thomas and I am a freelance copy editor and proofreader based in Somerset, UK. I am an Associate of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

Academic qualifications include a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham and a MSc in Ecology from Aberdeen University. After a mixture of community work, nature conservation and clerical jobs, in 1990 I joined the Charity Commission (an independent government department). From 1993 I worked in various roles in their Publications Unit, writing, editing and proofreading information booklets, managing their printing and distribution to customers, liaising with in-house writers and designers/typesetters, and managing a budget which often exceeded £500k pa. I dealt with everything from short news articles and press releases up to the departmental annual report and large, technical accounting texts. I also wrote and edited staff technical guidance. After nearly 21 years I left the Commission and started up Sterna Word Services in June 2011.

Since then I have principally worked for major publishers, copy-editing and/or proofreading educational materials, textbooks and academic monographs dealing with the natural sciences, including biology, chemistry, geography, ecology, and sports science. I am equally at home, though, dealing with PhD theses, business documents, and even local newsletters and promotional materials.

An avid nature watcher, both in Britain and abroad, I have contributed various articles and other shorter pieces to birdwatching magazines. I am active in Somerset Ornithological Society, including editing the society newsletter, authoring (in part) and proofreading the annual report Somerset Birds, and co-ordinating typesetting and printing services for the Society as required.