Honorary president: Judith Butcher Honorary vice-president: David Crystal OBE

Media release: 20 October 2005

The SfEP Directory 2006 – the ingredients for editorial success?

How often do you spot spelling and grammatical errors in marketing copy, website text, reports or other publications? The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) has recently published its Directory of Editorial Services 2006, which lists the details of nearly 500 of its members, whose skills you can use to avoid grammatical gremlins.

The SfEP Directory 2006 was launched the same week that Clarissa Dickson Wright delivered the Whitcombe Lecture at the Society's annual conference in Carlisle. In recognition of the editorial help she has received with her many cookery books, Clarissa described her 'recipe' for the perfect copy-editor: 'They need a combination of objectivity, humour, enthusiasm, encouragement and practical suggestions. A good editor will enable an author to retain some level of mental stability!'

The SfEP Directory was first launched in 1990, and its value to members is still apparent, as Julian Bates, advanced SfEP member, explains: 'I have had an entry in the Directory since 1999. That first entry led to enough new business to pay for all my subsequent entries, and the number and quality of enquiries I receive go up with every new edition. The Directory is the only form of advertising I use and I would strongly recommend it to all SfEP members.'

Penny Williams, SfEP chair, explains: 'The Directory enables users to choose an experienced professional to boost the power of their communication. Using the online version, you can search through nearly 500 SfEP members by expert name, geographical location and subject specialism. The qualifications and awards of each member are given, as well as their level of experience and SfEP membership status. Users of the Directory can be confident that they are selecting professionals who have the expertise to provide a high-quality service.'

Editor's notes

1. If you haven't already received a copy of the Directory and would like one, please contact the SfEP Office on 020 7736 3278.
2. Journalists looking for informed comment on issues such as the use of language or on editing or proofreading should contact Louise Third at Integra Communications in the first instance on 0115 906 1377, .
3. The SfEP is a non-profit-distributing organization (formally, a company limited by guarantee) with the twin aims of:
   • encouraging high standards of editing and proofreading
   • upholding the professional status of editors and proofreaders.
   It has about 1,300 members and associates (mostly in the UK), providing a wide range of editorial services to the publishing community and beyond. In addition, more than 40 publishing companies and other organizations have become corporate associates of the SfEP.

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