About me

Laura Marshallsay, M.A

COPYEDITOR | PROOFREADER | ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINER

I’ve led a varied and somewhat crazy life. But what a life it’s been!

I started my professional life as a soldier/administrator in the U.S. Army, and over the years I have been a secretary, mom, and even a tour guide. Then, when I was in my forties, I headed to university to study my two passions: history and writing.

A few years ago, we moved to Frankfurt, Germany, and now I help people around the world – both native and non-native speakers – improve their written and spoken English.

Professional Credentials

Professional experience

Copyeditor specializing in academic work and the Chicago Manual of Style. Clients include the journal Theological Studies and academics preparing articles for submission.
More than five years’ experience as a Business English trainer in Frankfurt. Clients include top executives at Deka Bank, Helaba, Interxion, Logicor, and Jones Lang LaSalle.
Interpretive historian at the U.S. National Park Service, contract work for the Museum of American History (Smithsonian), as well as smaller community museums in Dorset, UK

Certificates and training

CELTA Certification (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Cambridge Assessment, Cambridge University
Copyediting 1 & 2, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
Introduction to Fiction Editing, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
Fundamentals of Editing, ACES/Poynter
The Art and Science of Editing, ACES/Poynter
Editing Fiction at Sentence Level, Louise Harnby

Skills

Experience using a variety of style guides including Chicago, APA, New Hart’s Rules, as well as university and publishers’ house style. I also prepare a style sheet for each edit.
Localization of British, American, and translated texts.
More than four years as an ESL teacher in Germany has made me sensitive to those for whom English is a second language and those writing in International English for a global market.

Education

Master’s degree, Historical Studies, Public History track; graduated summa cum laude (4.0 GPA)
Bachelor’s degree, History with a minor in Writing; graduated magna cum laude (3.87 GPA)

Professional Memberships

Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreaders (CIEP)
ACES: The Society for Editing
Editorial Freelancers Association
IATEFL (International Association Teachers of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)
ELTAF (English Language Teachers Association Frankfurt)
NCPH (National Council on Public History

Proud member of