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Phone: 023 8042 3870
Email: frances.cleartextuk@gmail.com

Helping you write with clarity and style

copywriter Hampshire

Read more about:

Why you might need me
What I can do for you
Copywriting
Editing and proofreading

Why you might need me

Poor writing and unsuitable language can put people off and leave them with a dim view of your products or service. Jargon, inconsistency and mistakes can confuse your readers and weaken your message.

Good writing supports your brand and reflects a high-quality image. It not only holds your readers' attention, it also gains their trust and adds credibility to your organisation. And that means more sales, more take-up, more engagement.
Content is often written by people who're under pressure, stressed by schedules or very close to their subject. They know it inside out, have read it a hundred times — and don't spot the ambiguity, the repetition, the slip-ups.

My impartial approach will help make sure your audience gets your message — without being put off by poor logic, incorrect web links, muddled language or other distractions. A fresh eye brings an objective point of view.
It isn't easy to write in the best way possible if you're struggling with competing deadlines or interrupted by other priorities. You might not have the resources to write clearly, create engaging text or adapt it to a new audience.

Getting help with writing and editing tasks can make a difference in meeting your deadlines and hitting multiple targets. I can help you use your time and skills more effectively.

Have a look at what I can do for you.

"I'm really happy with the result. Follow-up editing is often required after a plain English edit, because the meaning has been altered, but your work has been spot on and I haven't had to make many changes at all. The work was completed to a high standard, so thank you."
Rebecca Forster, Senior Sustainability Advisor, National Grid, Warwick

"We got really good feedback from the lead author of the [online briefing]. He wrote: 'Please congratulate Frances. She has done an extraordinary job... careful and thorough at the same time.' So thanks a lot for your work!"
Jessica Brett, Marketing, Oliver Wyman (Munich)

What I can do for you

  Provide writing or editing support for your in-house team
  Help you finish a special project
  Improve your internal or external communications
  Tidy up your documents before the world sees them

It can be hard to find the best words, put them together in a way that persuades, make sure there are no embarrassing mistakes — and get on with all your other priorities.

Let me do some of the hard work for you
— write, rewrite, edit, 'polish', 'make it sparkle' —
whatever you need.

Find out more about
copywriting or editing and proofreading.

"I received some great feedback on some work you did for one of our teams. They use a lot of jargon, far more than the average, and finding plain English ways to get their ideas across was never going to be easy. But you cracked it and they're delighted with the results. I don't get such highly positive feedback very often."
Simon Henning, Editorial Manager, National Grid

Copywriting

  Crisp writing for letters, emails, leaflets, web pages and more
  A refresh to sharpen or shorten your text or make it more inclusive
  A review to simplify complex information or bust the jargon
  A rewrite to hone your style or update your brand

Find out more about why you might need me.

"Frances has worked regularly for Muse on a variety of challenging online and offline projects since 2002. She's efficient, shows initiative, and always gives that little bit extra. And she's fun to work with, too. Thanks Frances!"
Guy Nicholls, Director, Muse Publishing

Copy-editing and proofreading

  Editing for grammar, accuracy, style and clarity
  Proofreading for errors and inconsistencies
  Quality checking for all sorts of untidiness and blunders

Don't worry: while I iron out your writing problems, I'll be sure to respect your work, your style and your deadlines.

Find out more about why you might need me.

"Frances never fails to add value to our publications. She has quickly adapted to our corporate style guide and the challenging topics we write about. I particularly value that she explains the reasoning for her changes in her annotations, enabling myself and the team to learn from her and improve."
Louise Bradley, Marketing and PR Manager, Oliver Wyman (London)

"Thank you... I'm always impressed with your level of detail, and it's just what we need!"
Helen Hatton, Head of Communications, University of Winchester

About me

I'm a freelance copywriter, copy-editor and proofreader based in the New Forest, near Southampton, Hampshire. I look forward to working with you wherever you are.

With UK qualifications, I'm trained in the separate skills of copywriting, editing and proofreading. And I'm a big fan of plain English.

I will treat your ideas and requirements with respect and get things done on time, too.

Find out more about
my credentials or what I can do for you.

"I'd like to say a big thank you for all your help with this project. It has been a pleasure to work with someone whose work is of such a consistently high standard."
Katie Johnson, Elsevier

"Thanks again for being so flexible and responsive during this process."
Dawn Langley, Business Survival Toolkit, Creative & Cultural Skills

Recent clients

Bechtel Corporation
Muse Publishing (for BT Group plc and other companies)
National Grid
Oliver Wyman (Marsh & McLennan Companies)
P&O Cruises (Carnival UK)
Publishing Training Centre
Red Squirrel Publishing
University of Winchester

Some not-so-recent clients
Age Concern England
Blackwell Publishing
Cambridge University Press
Creative & Cultural Skills (Sector Skills Council)
Crossrail
Daman (Denmark)
Echelon Learning Ltd (for Institute of Internal Auditors)
Electoral Commission
Elsevier
Eversheds LLP
Greater London Authority
Oxford University Press
Royal Holloway University of London
VisitBritain
Well Informed Ltd

My credentials

Sparkly certificates
The Publishing Training Centre (PTC) very kindly awarded me a certificate with distinction for Editing in 2005. A little earlier, a PTC certificate with merit for Proofreading helped to get my knees established under my freelance desk. I studied for both qualifications by distance learning.

I went on to enjoy workshops on copywriting (Institute of Direct Marketing) and tone of voice in writing (BT Group Plc, thanks to Muse Publishing). A Copywriting diploma was next (with an average A grade) from the Institute of Copywriting in 2009.

Continuing professional development
I'm an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and a Certified Member of the Institute of Internal Communicators (IoIC). To keep up the pace and update my skills, I attend workshops, one-day courses or e-learning from time to time.

Supporting professional standards
As a member of the tutor team for the Publishing Training Centre's Essential Copy-Editing online course, I mark, assess and give feedback on students' assignments.

Let's not forget the Ology
I've got a BSc (Hons) from the University of Bath.

"I wanted to contact you following your fab review of the briefing. It was perfect. Thank you so much."
Bridget Errington, Communications Manager, Eversheds LLP

Contact me

frances.cleartextuk@gmail.com
023 8042 3870


"It's been great working with you. Thank you in particular for your patience and for your reliably high standards. I have recommended you highly!"
Magdalen Robson, Mayor's Office, Greater London Authority


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