Stephen Foster Editing Work

Stephen Foster

Editing Examples

The trial suggested that corruption in Mexico is as bad, if not worse than many thought.

“As bad …” needs another “as”; you can’t say “as bad … than many thought.” You could say “as bad as, if not worse than, many thought” — or, better and smoother, say “as bad as many thought, if not worse.

The filaments form visible spiral patterns within the rings, belying motions deep inside the planet that can be linked to its rotation speed.

“Belie” means to give a false idea of, or to show to be false. What is really meant here is “reveal.”

After nine-and-one-half years in orbit, 530,506 stars observed and 2,662 planets discovered around other stars, the little spacecraft will be left to drill forever around the sun.

Hyphens are not needed here: it’s simply “nine and one half years…”

Last year, the authority’s chairman, Joseph J. Lahota, said he would consider banning food, like Washington’s metro system does.

You should avoid using “like” as a conjunction that introduces a full clause. A better way to write it: “..consider banning food the way Washington’s Metro System does.