About me
I’m Savanna, and I’ve been a meticulous professional editor for over thirteen years. I have an honours BA in biomedical ethics, a post-graduate certificate in publishing, and a master’s degree, with distinction, in creative writing.
Earlier in my career, I worked in various segments of the publishing industry—from magazines to travel marketing. Since 2020, I’ve specialized in academic editing because I’m committed to working with texts that make a difference. Research moves the world forward, and I love using my skills to help scholars get the attention they deserve for their findings.
My role is to make sure that texts serve both their writers and their readers. Every change is suggested with two goals in mind: conveying the writer’s expertise and helping the reader understand.
Education
University of Toronto – honours bachelor of arts, bioethics, 2012
Toronto Metropolitan University – graduate certificate, publishing, 2014
University of Edinburgh – master of science with distinction, creative writing, 2019
Current roles
In addition to working directly with authors, I also provide academic editing services through the following roles.
Scribendi – freelance editor and proofreader since 2020
MDPI – freelance English editor since 2023
Courses
I’ve honed my skills through courses and seminars with professional associations. Examples include Editors Canada, the Institute of Professional Editors, the National Association of Independent Writers & Editors, the American Medical Writers Association, Nordic Editors and Translators, and ACES: The Society for Editing.
Styles
I’ve worked with a variety of major style guides, as well as hundreds of specific house styles for publishers like Taylor & Francis and Wiley. I’ve developed expertise in the following style guides: American Medical Association (AMA), American Psychological Association (APA), Associated Press (AP), Bluebook, the Chicago Manual of Style, Canadian Press (CP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Modern Language Association (MLA), The Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA), and New Oxford Style (Oxford).
English variations
I offer academic editing and proofreading services in the following regional English variations:
British English
Canadian English
US English
Need to switch your document to a different type of English? No problem! I can change the spelling, grammar, and punctuation to fit these different regional conventions.
A reliable editor who’s easy to work with
My experience speaks for itself, but qualifications aren’t everything. I also pride myself on being reliable, encouraging, and easy to work with. Find out what my clients and colleagues have said about working with me.