What is ‘proofreading’?

Proofreading includes checking the manuscript line by line and correcting spelling, grammar, syntax, and usage mistakes, and pointing out infelicities as follows:

• Point out wordiness.
• Point out clunky transitions and suggest alternative wording.
• Confusing syntax.
• Point out sentences or paragraphs that seem egregiously wordy or convoluted and suggest alternative wording.
• Point out problematic or misused words and suggest an alternative word.
• Homophones;
• Querying faulty organisation and gaps in logic;
• Making light revisions to the text.

Delivery time is specified in the job description or as agreed in writing between the buyer and me.

See Terms and Conditions.

Do you do line editing?

Line editing is part of proofreading.

What is included in academic proofreading?

The service level for academic writing is as set out above, but without any rephrasing. AI and plagiarism checks are included. Please supply a complete list of all your references, the referencing system used, and the writing style used (e.g., Chicago, APA/MLA, Oxford, etc.). One revision is included in the price.

There are ethical considerations and additional checks required for proofreading academic writing. If your university or college has a proofreading policy, please supply me with a copy or a link to the web page where it can be found. I shall follow that policy. You should familiarise yourself with the policy so that you do not request me to do anything it does not permit. Alternatively, if there is no such policy, you should confirm that your university or college has no proofreading policy.

Delivery time is specified in the job description or as agreed in writing between the buyer and me.

See Terms and Conditions.

Why do you not provide a clean copy with academic proofreading?

As the author, you are responsible for the document’s content, style, and structure, including the correct use of the recommended citation method. Many academic institutions and journals require authors to declare that the work they are submitting is entirely their own. You must review the changes and amendments I suggest to decide whether to accept all or any of them. If a clean copy is provided, it is for information only.

Do you proofread fiction?

Yes, I proofread fiction. However, I do not copy edit or development edit fiction.

What dialects of English do you edit in?

I can edit in British, American, Australian, Canadian, and Indian dialects of English.

By default, I use the Oxford style guide for proofreading English. Please let me know if you prefer the alternative British English spelling that uses “ise” instead of “ize” (the Oxford style).

Do you work with all document formats?

No, I work in the following document formats:

• Paper;
• doc/docx;
• ODT;
• Google Docs; and
• PDF.

If your text is in any other format, you must convert it to one of the above formats at your own expense before I can edit it.

Do you use track changes?

I use Track Changes and Comments in MS Word and ODT documents. In Google Docs, they are called suggestions.

I have locked my Google Doc, so all editing must be done online. Can you edit it?

Yes, I can. However, the editing process is slower because Google Docs is online. Furthermore, Google Docs lacks some editing and proofreading tools. Also, I cannot print the document to check it manually, unlike with other document formats.

Do you work with spreadsheets and presentation files?

No, I do not.

What happens if I order insufficient gigs?

I will stop working when I complete the gigs you ordered. However, I will let you know as I approach that point so you can order additional gigs.

See Terms and Conditions.

How do you price a custom offer?

Custom offers are based on an hourly rate of $35. The price I offer is based on:

• The work to be done,
• How long will it take to do the work, and
• The timescale for completing the work.

If express delivery is available, a premium is added for delivery within 24 hours.

See Terms and Conditions.

Do you track the time you spend on each job?

Yes, I do. I have a time-tracking app that records my time on each job. Time is recorded in units of six minutes, that is, one-tenth of an hour.

Do you offer a discount for charities, students, and NGOs?

No, I do not.

Do you offer a discount for bulk work?

Another charging structure may be agreed upon after establishing a successful and mutually beneficial working relationship, but not before then.

Can I suggest the price of the job?

Enquiries

It is not uncommon for me to receive a general enquiry that indicates the potential client’s budget.

I will decide whether the suggested price is realistic after reviewing the document to be edited, the required service level, the amount of work involved, how long it will take me to complete it, and the completion deadline. If the budget is realistic, I may create a custom offer. If not, I may propose my price or decline the job.

Briefs

I am open to receiving briefs.

A brief, if accepted, shall be subject to my terms and conditions and must be in one of the following formats:

• Paper;
• doc/docx;
• ODT;
• Google Docs; or
• PDF.

I will decide whether the offer or brief price is realistic after I have seen the document to be edited, how much work is involved, how long it will take me to do it, and how soon the job is to be completed. If the budget is realistic, I may create a custom offer; if it is not, I may propose my price or decline the job.

I will decline a brief if I do not have sufficient time to do the job properly. I will, however, propose a timescale I can achieve.

The following type of brief, or enquiry, is always declined because the potential client is unrealistic:

“I need my 6,000-word business proposal edited and proofread today. My budget is $25.”

In the above example, the price is unrealistic. However, I may make a realistic counterproposal.

Before declining a brief that is insufficiently clear about what is required, I will ask questions to clarify it. A poor brief produces an unsatisfactory outcome. If you do not know what you want, how can I know it?

Rejection of a counteroffer made to you

If you reject an offer or counteroffer I made for a standard gig or custom offer, the offer automatically lapses. I may, at my discretion, novate the offer, but I am not obliged to do so.

How do I place an order and make payment?

Please send me the document to be edited. After reviewing the document, I will give you a price for the job and send you an agreement for the work to be done.

For jobs costing less than $300, full payment and return of the completed agreement are required before I start work. I will create a password protected custom offer page for you to make payment.

For jobs costing $300 or more, payment can be made in stages providing that at least 50% is paid when the order is placed. The initial payment and return of the completed agreement are required before I start work. A password protected custom offer page will be created for you to make initial payment. Milestone payments can be made on invoice.

Version date: July 2026