Brendan Brown founded The Expert Editor in Melbourne in 2012, after completing a Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University and working as a writer. He built it into a professional editing service used by academics, authors, and businesses across Australia and beyond, and later founded its international sister company, Global English Editing. Brendan is a co-founder of Brown Brothers Media, the company behind The Expert Editor, where he oversees both editing brands. He sets the editorial standards that apply to the company's client work and this blog, and reviews articles before they are published.
Updated 23 September 2026: clarified what the research shows about different kinds of perfectionism. Every editor knows the manuscript. It arrives with an apology attached: the author has been working on it for four years, has rewritten the opening chapter eleven times, and wants "one more pass" before anyone ...Read More
Editor's note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor's latest editorial standards. Rules were made to be broken – just ask James Dean. But to be a grammar rebel, you have to understand the rules in the first place. How else do you know ...Read More
Editor's note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor's latest editorial standards. English is the world's international language, but that doesn't mean it's the world's easiest language. It's full of grammar oddities, confusing vocabulary and hard-to-master conventions. There are roughly three times as many ...Read More
Editor's note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor's latest editorial standards. This infographic is based on our previous post The 30 Most Common Grammar Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them). Great writing doesn't require perfect grammar, and occasionally grammar rules can (and should) ...Read More
Editor's note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor's latest editorial standards. Writing is an art form, but also a technical skill. I don't subscribe to the view that great writing requires perfect grammar. In my view, great writing is more about being engaging, ...Read More
Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards. You might have heard the phrase: "Writing and editing is art. Proofreading is science." And isn't that the truth? It's incredibly exciting to create an original piece of writing, but when it comes ...Read More