President Clinton and Robert Furlong at Harvard University
furlong – noun, fûr′ lông, from 9th century Old English furlang, length of a furrow
The word “furlong” derives from the Old English words furh (furrow) and lang (long) and describes the distance a team of oxen could plow without resting. The system of long furrows arose because turning a team of oxen pulling a heavy plow was difficult. A furlong is equal to 220 yards (201 m) or 1/8 mile (0.2 km). The unit is seldom used today, with the notable exception of measurements in horse racing.
After graduating from university in 1990 with a degree in English, I began working as a freelance journalist for several Boston and US publications. But after ten years, it became clear that the rigors of freelancing were going to become even more trying with the growth of the Internet and the changes happening within the US newspaper industry.
I came to Berlin in 2003 and soon established a broad client base working as a proofreader and copy editor, including the work I have done for some of Germany’s and Europe’s most renowned corporations and non-profit institutes. As an editor, I enjoy working on projects that often reach an international audience and help shape perspectives on international affairs and global business practices. But most of all, I enjoy the challenge of attempting to perfect that most imperfect of languages – one comma at a time.
| University | University of Massachusetts |
| Degree Major | Bachelor of Arts – 1990 English Language and Literature |
| Minors | Philosophy German Language and Literature |
| Distinctions | Magna Cum Laude Honors Curriculum |