Frequently Asked Questions
Every writing project is different. You may know that something in your document needs attention without necessarily knowing whether you need proofreading, editing or more extensive help.
These are some of the questions we are most often asked. If your question is not answered here, please contact us and tell us a little about your project.
I What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
Proofreading is the final check of a document. It looks for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting and other small inconsistencies which may have been missed during writing or editing.
Editing looks more closely at the writing itself. Depending on the document, this may include sentence structure, clarity, flow, repetition, word choice, tone and whether the intended meaning is being communicated clearly.
II How do I know how much editing my document needs?
You do not need to decide that before contacting us. A document may need little more than a careful proofread, while another may need considerably more work on structure, language or consistency.
We will normally ask to see a representative sample before recommending the level of editing and providing a quotation.
III Will you rewrite my work?
No. Editing should improve your writing, not replace it with ours.
We may suggest different wording, restructure a sentence or point out something that is unclear, but the purpose is to make your meaning clearer while retaining your own voice, style and ideas.
IV Can you help if English is not my first language?
Yes. A document can be grammatically correct and still not sound completely natural in English. We can help with phrasing, sentence construction, context and word choice so that the English reads naturally while preserving what you intended to say.
This can apply to academic work, business documents, websites and other professional or personal writing.
V Do you translate documents?
No. Translation and editing are different skills. We work with documents that have already been written in English, including English written by people for whom it is not their first language.
VI What kinds of documents do you work with?
We work with a wide range of written material, including books and manuscripts, academic writing, business documents, reports, proposals, presentations, websites and other professional material.
If you are unsure whether your particular project is something we can help with, send us a short description of it.
VII Can you edit several related documents?
Yes. Where several documents belong to the same project, they can be reviewed together. This is particularly useful for business material, reports, presentations and websites where terminology, tone and style need to remain consistent throughout.
VIII Can you edit academic work?
Yes, but our role is editorial. We can work on grammar, language, clarity, structure, consistency and readability, but we do not conduct research, supply academic content or write work on behalf of a student or researcher.
The research, argument and conclusions remain entirely your own.
IX How is the price calculated?
The cost depends on the length of the document and the amount of work it requires. Two documents of the same length may require very different levels of editing, so word count alone does not always give an accurate indication of the final price.
This is why we prefer to look at a representative sample before providing a fixed quotation.
X Do you need to see my document before giving me a quotation?
Usually, yes. A representative sample allows us to see the type and level of work involved and give you a realistic quotation rather than guessing from the word count or description alone.
XI Will my work remain confidential?
Yes. Documents sent to us for assessment or editing are treated as confidential and are not shared with third parties.
XII What happens after I contact you?
Tell us what you are working on, what you would like help with and, where possible, send a representative sample of the document.
We can then discuss what the work needs, answer any questions and provide a quotation. Nothing goes ahead until the work and cost have been agreed.