Welcome to The Writing Desk!
Top tips and resources for writing, editing and proofreading – helping you to make the most of your online presence, marketing materials, business documents, manuscripts, job applications, essays or dissertations, and more!
How to format your Word document for a professional finish
Good Word document formatting in Microsoft Word does more than make a page look tidy. It helps students submit clearer assignments, jobhunters send stronger CVs, writers manage long drafts, and businesses share professional documents that feel reliable from the first glance.
Editing for clarity (without losing your tone of voice)
In this article, you will learn how to edit for clarity by choosing stronger verbs, reducing clutter, and tightening long sentences while keeping your natural tone. Editing is detailed work rather than a quick skim, but once you know what to look for, the process becomes much easier to manage.
When should you start looking for a proofreader?
Timing matters – proofreading takes focused time, you'll need time to review the changes, and the best proofreaders often book up early. This article gives you a simple timeline you can use for common document types, plus rules of thumb to plan backwards from your deadline without stress.
What is proofreading, and why does your business need it?
Find out how getting a professional edit and proofread of your online and printed marketing materials can have a beneficial effect on your business.
How to master PDF mark-up annotations & comments
Walking you through the annotations your proofreader uses on a PDF and explaining how you can deal with their notes and suggestions.
Your guide to using Track Changes in Word
Step-by-step instructions to talk you through how an editor uses Track Changes in Word and the various menu options available to you.
How to proofread your own writing: five essential tips
Spelling and grammar errors, poor layout, or difficulty in using your website are all big turn-offs when it comes to applying your marketing effectively. But don’t worry, help is at hand!