About Delia Layton (PhD)
About Delia Layton

Background and qualifications:
I have taught academic writing and literacy at both undergraduate and post- graduate level for over 15 years. Prior to this, I was a high school English teacher for several years.

I have a PhD in Higher Education (Rhodes), a Masters in Applied English Language cum laude (Wits), a post-graduate teaching diploma (UNISA), and an Honours Degree in English Literature (UNISA).

  • 15 + years’ experience in a university environment giving support to students’ academic development and their acquisition of academic writing skills.
  • Extensive experience in language editing and proofreading of academic writing at all levels (from undergraduate to doctoral).
  • Associate member of the Professional Editors Guild (PEG) Membership #LAY002.
  • Associate member of the South African Freelancers’ Association (SAFREA).

Although my speciality is academic writing, as a language editor, I have vast experience with any kind of written work. This includes business reports and proposals, dissertations, theses, proposals, and articles for publication.

I will thoroughly review the written content of your document with the aim of improving the use of language. This will involve attending to errors in grammar, style, vocabulary, and consistency, to ensure that the document is understandable, cohesive, and easy to read.

“A person who wrote badly did better than a person who does not write at all. Bad writing can be corrected. An empty page remains an empty page.” – Israelmore Ayivor

  • Dr Delia Layton is an amazing editor. I was under pressure when I sent her my work for editing and she offered me guidance with my writing. She made comments and strong suggestions that helped improve my writing. I’d recommend her because she is punctual and clear when it comes to writing and editing.
    Dolly Nontlantla Kunene, Post-graduate student
  • Delia Layton’s service was great, she edited my minor dissertation in October 2019 and her service was professional and she was quick to respond to my emails. In addition, the price she quoted me for editing my minor dissertation was reasonable and my 102 pages minor dissertation was edited within a short period of 2 days and I passed my research with a distinction.
    Kamati Vuyo, MEd science education
  • The work was completed on time as promised. The manuscript was thoroughly read and edited with precision. I was happy with the quality of work done and would recommend Dr Delia Layton for language editing of academic manuscripts.
    Mothofela Msimanga, Education Academic
  • I received a superb service from you Dr Layton. I put you under pressure as I had to submit within a week from the date that I forwarded my dissertation. I was really impressed by the quality of your work you did for me. Thank you very much.
    Sezanele Mbonane, MEd science education
  • I have used Delia’s editing services for several years. She has proofed my doctoral thesis and various academic manuscripts which I submit to academic journals. Delia provides a quick turn around time and her editing is an important part of my academic work. I have realised that even when I have “proofed” my work, after sending my work to Delia, I quickly see that I had missed many grammatical errors. Delia also provides the comments and checks the references as well. I highly recommend Delia’s editing service.
    Philip Baron, Senior Lecturer: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology. University of Johannesburg.
  • I had a wonderful experience with Delia.  I sent her a Science Education manuscript with anxiety that she will find it confusing with all the jargon used in the field. I was pleasantly surprised at how she handled it with care but highly meticulous for language errors.  Her side page comments were most useful and very educational.  For example, I was always confused when to write sample size as a numerical or in full as text. She killed this confusion at once. I also like her timeous turn-around with manuscripts. I highly recommend her language editing services for academic writing.
    Elizabeth Mavhunga, Academic