Services

Reliable Transcribing and Proofreading Service

Welcome to Proofreading by Dawn where I offer proofreading services to meet the needs of court reporters throughout the US and audio transcription services in the UK.

My Services

UK Legal Transcription
I offer a remote freelance service.
Please contact me to discuss your needs.

US Transcript Proofreading
Please email me in the first instance and
– send me your PDF transcript file,
– inform me of your personal style preferences, and
– specify when you need it back (including date and time zone)

I will then respond with confirmation of my availability and
– carefully examine your transcript for errors and general readability,
– make clear annotations using the iAnnotate app, and
– email the annotated transcript back to you on time.

General Proofreading
I offer a remote freelance service.
Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

US Transcripts

I check for errors and inconsistencies in US English, including:
– Spelling and punctuation
– Transposed/missing words
– Capitalization
– Number use
– Word usage/homophones
– Dates
– Style and formatting
– Spacing and alignment

In the following:
– By-lines
– Q&A and colloquy
– Cover page
– Index
– Appearances
– Exhibit marking
– Certificates
– Letters/errata sheets

Available Resources:
– Your specific style and preferences;
– The Transcript Proofreading: Theory & Practice^TM training
materials;
– Court Reporting: Bad Grammar/Good Punctuation (Margie
Wakeman-Wells);
– Word ~~Pares~~, ~~Pears~~, Pairs (Margie Wakeman-Wells);
– Merriam-Webster online dictionary;
– The best punctuation book, period. (June Casagrande);
– The Blue Book of Grammar And Punctuation
– The Essential 99 Punctuation Rules for Court Reporters (Kenneth Wick);
– Peer group on Facebook.

* [My learning was based on Lillian Morson’s English Guide for Court Reporters; but so far I have been unable to obtain a copy of this.]

UK Transcripts

I create your transcript by:

– listening carefully to your audio recording
– typing with speed and accuracy
– adhering to your style guide and preferences
– using full verbatim or soft verbatim, according to your practice
– checking and researching any unfamiliar places or phrases
– ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout
– working with discretion and integrity

I then proofread thoroughly, paying special attention to:

– Spelling and punctuation
– Transposed/missing words
– Capitalization
– Number use
– Word usage/homophones
– Dates
– Style and formatting
– Spacing and alignment

After a final listen and another proofread, your completed document will be returned to you within your specified deadline.

My resources:

– Work-dedicated laptop
– Microsoft 365
– McAfee protection with file shredder
– VIQ Player / FTR / Express Scribe
– Sennheiser Pro headphones
– Infinity foot pedal
– Various books including New Hart’s Rules, Oxford English Dictionary

I also have:
– Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
– 11 years of courtroom experience
– underpinning familiarity of legal terminology
– diligence, discretion and trustworthiness