About Me

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Hi, I’m Kristen Ottawa-Ilnycky (a.k.a. KOI).

Proper use of the English language is the key to effective communication, and I apply this principle daily—even in my personal emails and texts. After completing my undergraduate degree in applied mathematics, I worked in the insurance industry for the next 15 years and discovered my knack for spotting errors in policy wordings. My math background helped develop my eagle eyes—after all, one misplaced x or y or z can throw off the entire solution of a calculus problem! Throughout my insurance career, I served on several proofreading committees and completed line-by-line reviews of draft policy documents. Those were my favourite days at work.

I also suffered with infertility and spent most of my 30s reading about in vitro fertilization and developments in fertility research. I never did find a magic cure. Instead, I found many irritating grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors—a horrifying number! In my frustration with these errors, I questioned the credibility of the articles. Then it dawned on me: everyone who writes needs an editor. Bloggers, business owners, copywriters, HR professionals, marketing managers, professors, real estate agents, social media influencers, store owners, writers and authors, and, yes, even medical experts can all benefit from an editor. I want to help businesses and individuals ensure the credibility and professionalism of their documents and written work. I also have a special interest in editing obituaries. A life well lived deserves a meaningful, error-free tribute.

In addition, I currently work for Proofed Inc. and edit course material for a client that partners with world-class universities to create online courses, degree programs, and executive education programs. In this role, I also review and quality check other editors' work and provide feedback to the editors.

I was attracted to math because of my appreciation for rules, and I developed a love for grammar and punctuation rules over the years. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, swimming, travelling, listening to ’60s music, and spending time with my husband and our dog. 

Contact me at kristen@curiouskoiproofreading.com.

Read more about my story in this interview with Knowadays.