"You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you, and we edit to let the fire show through the smoke."
Arthur Plotnik
Irvine Proofs
Proofreading by John Irvine, PhD.
Contents
002 FRONTISPIECE............. p.1
801 ABOUT THE EDITOR......... p.3
016 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY...... p.4
177 TESTIMONIALS............. p.5
about me
a brief resumé
A decade and many millions of words in, I enjoy the work of editing. To be entrusted with the voice of another — to take what’s given and make it sing — is a pleasure to me. My days are shaped by an ideal of harmony, order and beauty; my months are coloured by the particular arcana of my clients.
Because I am obsessive, careful, because I care about good design, craftsmanship and language, precise articulation has become my career. I wrote my dissertation on the philosophy of language; I lecture on topics such as metaphysics and epistemology; I practised as an attorney; I have freelanced for British editing houses and European universities.
If you are interested in working with me, please contact me at john.e.irvine@gmail.com.
Select Bibliography
Books
Futter, D. 2025. Socrates’ Search for Wisdom. New York, N.Y.: Routledge
McGibbon, S. 2023. Non-State Effective Territorial Entities: A Critical Appraisal of International Legal Capacity and Responsibility. PhD (International Law). Maastricht, Netherlands: University of Maastricht.
Muade, N.E. 2021. Towards a Theory of the Moral Status of the Dead and Its Contribution to Medical Research and Learning: The Case of Unclaimed Cadavers. PhD (Philosophy). Durban, South Africa: University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Munu, M. 2026. Designing Development-Oriented International E-Commerce Agreements. PhD (International Law). Maastricht, Netherlands: University of Maastricht.
Zhang, S. 2025. Universal Rights, Local Realities: Freedom of Expression in Asian States’ Discourse and Practice. PhD (International Law). Maastricht, Netherlands: University of Maastricht.
Dissertations
Dulaze, N.N. 2021. QALYs, Justice and the Capabilities Approach. MSc (Bioethics). Johannesburg, South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand.
Fenderico, A. 2024. A Philosophical Examination of Thomas Szasz on Mental Illness as a Myth. MA (Philosophy). Johannesburg, South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand.
van Kralingen, A.J. 2014.Jungian Process Work as a Catalyst for Transformation: A Grounded Theory Study of the Effects of Depth-Psychological Interventions on Individuals. MSc (Psychology). London, England: Middlesex University.
Zondi, N.C. 2019. An African Conception of Servant Leadership: A Consensus-Based Approach. MEd (Education). Johannesburg, South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand.
Theses
Various articles, anonymously edited, appearing in journals such as Global Constitutionalism, Dialogue, Apeiron, Philosophical Studies, and the Constitutional Court Review.
Journal Articles
Testimonials
“John provided exceptionally careful and thoughtful proofreading of my PhD manuscript. His attention to detail, sensitivity to academic tone, and ability to clarify complex arguments significantly strengthened the final version of the thesis. The process was smooth, professional, and genuinely helpful at a crucial stage of final refinement.”
Dr. Shuyuan Zhang
“John’s correction of, and engagement with, my work was invaluable for ensuring clarity of thought and argumentation, consistency across the book, as well as the usual grammar, spelling, formatting, etc. His comments were easy to understand and process, and I felt much more comfortable when submitting the final manuscript knowing that he had reviewed it. I have since recommended John to several colleagues who have all enjoyed working with him tremendously, and always thank me for the referral. I cannot recommend him highly enough!”
Dr. Sarah McGibbon