Frequently Asked Questions

Editing and Proofreading:

Quality and Precision

Prices/Rates

Methods and Processes

Security and Confidentiality

Other Services For:

Businesses

Academics

Authors

Resumes, Cover Letters, and LinkedIn Profiles

About ProofreadingServices.com:

Editing and Proofreading Quality and Precision

  1. Can you describe your editors' experience/backgrounds?
    Our editors are arguably the best in the industry. They have years of experience as English professors and teachers, newspaper and magazine copy editors, and other relevant professions. More information is available on our leadership page.
  2. Who are your clients?
    We proofread and edit for businesses, academics, authors, people applying to jobs, and more. For a partial client list, please click here.
  3. Can you show me some testimonials?
    Absolutely. Please see our Reviews page.
  4. Do you provide free samples?
    We do. To request a free sample, please click here.
  5. Are your services automated?
    No, our services are the result of years of professional training as proofreaders and editors. Unlike other companies, we never use proofreading or editing software.
  6. Why do people select your service over others?
    This is an easy one. Try to find an error on this page. We will give you a minute... Over 5,000 clients have entrusted their important documents to us. Here's what some of them have had to say about our services. We also encourage you to request a free sample and to contact us with any questions.
  7. Can you provide a proofreading certificate?
    Yes. We are more than happy to provide a certificate of proofreading for your project. After we deliver your file, just reply to the delivery message and ask for one.
Get a Proofreading Quote

Editing and Proofreading Prices/Rates

  1. What are your rates?
    Our rates are available here.
  2. What payment options do you offer?
    Through our website, you can pay securely using a debit card, credit card (including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and many other types), or PayPal. We can invoice in select situations; simply contact us.
  3. Do you offer discounts?
    We offer volume discounts for lengthy projects as well as coupon codes like this one: JUSTBECAUSE5 (takes 5% off any order). You can receive more coupon codes by signing up for our mailing list.
  4. How do you price website proofreading?
    You can get a website proofreading quote here.
  5. How do you price PDFs?
    If you would like us to find the word count of your PDF, simply upload your document here, and we will find the word count. Once we have that, our standard proofreading and editing rates will apply.
  6. How do you price LaTeX files?
    We price LaTeX documents by the word but can ignore formulas. When clients have LaTeX documents, they generally do one of two things:
    • They send us a PDF.
    • Or they copy the text and code into Word and just have us ignore the code. Then they paste our finished work back into their program.
    Either way, to have us find the word count of your document, simply upload it here. We will find the word count, after which our standard proofreading and editing rates will apply.
  7. Do you have corporate accounts?
    We do. Please contact us to learn more about how anyone at your company can submit documents to us for editing and/or proofreading. We can invoice your company or department monthly.
  8. Do you allow payments via invoice?
    We do in limited situations. Please contact us to discuss invoicing options.
  9. Your services are out of my budget. Can you edit for cheaper?
    We might be able to work with your budget if you contact us, but great editing is a classic example of "You get what you pay for." Phenomenal editors cost a lot to recruit and retain.
  10. My payment method isn't working. What are my options?
    As a company that has handled tens of thousands of international payments, we've seen it all. We've processed payments from Mongolia, to Monaco, to Mauritania, and we are always able to find a payment solution. Here are the steps we recommend (in order):
    1. Try a different card you have. We accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.
    2. Try paying via a PayPal account.
    3. Try paying via PayPal but checking out as a guest on PayPal and using a credit/debit card. Our normal credit/debit card payments on ProofreadingServices.com are processed by Stripe.com's technology. Thus, if our site isn't accepting your card, there is still a good chance that clicking on the PayPal option and checking out as a guest (you won't need a PayPal account) will work. That's because PayPal is a completely different payment processor.
    4. Ask to borrow a friend's card and pay him or her back directly. This works as a last-ditch effort.
    Special note: Many of our Turkish clients have trouble with their credit cards. We encourage you to exhaust this list. If you need help, just contact us.
  11. I saw "LaikaCC.com" on my credit card bill. Is that you?
    Yes. LaikaCC.com is a web page set up by Laika Ventures, LLC, the parent company of ProofreadingServices.com. Credit and debit card statements don't leave enough room to write "ProofreadingServices.com" so we include a link to LaikaCC.com so that we can provide more detail about who we are.
  12. Can I pay in my local currency?
    Yes. You can view our prices in your local currency here (see exactly how to do this here). Thousands of our clients pay in their local currencies via a credit or debit card. Their banks convert it to USD for us, since that's the currency we accept.
  13. Can I pay with a debit card, since I don't have a credit card?
    Absolutely! We accept debit cards, credit cards, and PayPal.
  14. Do you charge VAT?
    No. As a US-based company, we do not charge VAT.
Get a Proofreading Quote

Editing and Proofreading Methods and Processes

  1. What is proofreading? What is editing?
    The short version is this: Proofreading involves removing embarrassing errors from a document. Editing involves removing embarrassing errors and improving how a document sounds. We offer both as a combined service, but we offer just proofreading as well. Here's a more comprehensive answer: Proofreading takes place at or near the final stage of the publication process. It is one of the last checks for errors before a document is submitted, published, printed, or otherwise finalized. Proofreading assumes the author has written the content as he or she would like, and it involves reviewing a document only for blatant errors in spelling, grammar, formatting, and word choice. Editing goes deeper into the text and involves correcting content-related issues regarding word choice, sentence structure, flow, style, tone, and much more. Get proofreading only here.
  2. How do I order editing and proofreading?
    Go to http://www.proofreadingservices.com/products/service, enter your word count, and select your turnaround time. It's that easy.
  3. What is included in your standard service?
    Our main service page describes everything included in our standard Combined Proofreading and Editing service.
  4. Does your editing and proofreading service include rewriting?
    No. While we do offer writing and rewriting as a service for businesses, it isn't included as part of our Combined Proofreading and Editing service.

    Important: We also do not paraphrase, write, or rewrite academic material under any circumstances. The only editorial services we offer to academics are editing and proofreading.
  5. What style guides do you use?
    We can work with any style guide. We most often work with the following, but if you don't see your style guide among this list, chances are we have still worked with it. If you have any style questions, just ask. You can indicate your style guide preferences in the "Special Instructions" section when ordering.
  6. Can I order proofreading only without editing?
    Yes! We offer proofreading for clients whose documents have already been edited and just need a final review to catch typos and other minor errors. Order here.
  7. Can you help me find the word count of my Microsoft Word document, PDF, LaTeX file, or website?
    Absolutely. If you would like help, simply upload your document here. (If you have a website you would like proofread, please request a quote here.)
  8. Can I submit a document that needs only certain sections edited?
    Certainly. Just let us know which sections you need edited in the "Special Instructions" section on the upload page.
  9. How fast can you review my document?
    We offer several turnaround time options, listed below. We provide free samples within 24 hours.
  10. What file formats do you review?
    We review Microsoft Word files (.doc and .docx), PDFs, and LaTeX files. We also proofread websites.
  11. What types of documents do you proofread?
    If you write it and you have permission to have it edited, we can edit and proofread it. Here are some of the types of documents we've worked on:
  12. Do you proofread LaTeX files?
    When clients have LaTeX documents, they generally do one of two things:
    • They send us a PDF.
    • Or they copy the text and code into Word and just have us ignore the code. Then they paste our finished work back into their program.
  13. How will you deliver my document?
    We send all reviewed documents via email.
  14. How will I know what you changed?
    We record all of our changes and suggestions using Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature for Word documents and Adobe Acrobat's commenting feature for PDFs. These features will allow you to easily review the changes we make. We also leave helpful comments to the author in the margins. To learn how to review our changes, read our easy instructions on how to use Track Changes (for Word documents) or open comments in Adobe Acrobat (for PDFs).
  15. I don't understand how to use Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature. Can you help?
    Certainly. For a quick overview of how to work with Track Changes, please read our short guide, which explains some of the basic functions such as accepting edits. If you have any questions about this or other issues, please never hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
  16. Can you return a clean version of my document (i.e., without tracked changes)?
    Absolutely. After ordering, you'll be able to let us know in the "Special Instructions" section that you would like us to deliver both a document with tracked changes and a document without tracked changes (a clean version). There is no extra charge for this service (we try to keep things simple).
  17. How do you display changes in a PDF?
    We have two options, depending on how the PDF was made: (1) With many PDFs, it's possible to mark our suggested changes using Adobe Acrobat's comment feature. To learn how to open and review comments in Adobe Acrobat, please read our short guide. (2) We can convert your PDF into a Word document and use Track Changes to clearly label our edits.
  18. Do you proofread websites?
    We proofread websites frequently. For more information, please visit our page dedicated to website proofreading.
  19. Can you proofread and edit UK English?
    Yes. We have many editors who are experts in reviewing UK English. If you would like us to review your document using UK English rules and spelling conventions, simply let us know in the "Special Instructions" section when ordering.
  20. Can you proofread and edit Australian English?
    Yes! Simply let us know you would like us to review the document using Australian English in the "Special Instructions" section when ordering.
  21. Can you proofread and edit Canadian English?
    Yes! Please specify that you would like us to use Canadian English in the "Special Instructions" section when ordering.
  22. Can you proofread and edit US English?
    Yes! ProofreadingServices.com is based in the United States, and many of our editors and proofreaders are experienced in reviewing US English. Please simply let us know you'd like us to use US spelling and punctuation in the "Special Instructions" section when ordering.
  23. Do you proofread documents in languages other than English?
    No, but we can translate your documents from another language into English.
  24. When are your editors available? When do you accept documents?
    We accept documents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We are available right now. Please order or get in touch for a free sample today.
  25. Can I learn more about proofreading and editing services in my language?
    Yes. With clients in +90 countries, we've written descriptions of our proofreading and editing services in many languages. Please select your language below:
  26. Where are your editing and proofreading clients located?
    Our clients are located in over 90 countries and hundreds of locations, including the following:
    Australia
    Austria
    Bahrain
    Belgium
    Brazil
    Brunei
    Canada
    China
    Costa Rica
    Cyprus
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    Estonia
    Finland
    France
    Germany
    Hong Kong
    Hungary
    Indonesia
    Ireland
    Israel
    Italy
    Japan
    Jordan
    Kuwait
    Luxembourg
    Malaysia
    Malta
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Nigeria
    Norway
    Oman
    Poland
    Qatar
    Saudi Arabia
    Singapore
    Slovenia
    South Africa
    South Korea
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Taiwan
    Thailand
    Turkey
    UAE
    UK
    US
    Vietnam
  27. Can I have the same editor work on more than one order?
    Absolutely. If you've worked with an editor and want to have him or her edit your next document, just include the editor's name or the previous order number in the "Special Instructions" section for your current order. If that editor is available, he or she will work on your document.
  28. Can you add a table of contents to my document?
    We edit and proofread tables of contents, but we don't create them as part of our standard service. We can come up with a custom price for table of contents creation, though. Contact us.
Get a Proofreading Quote

Editing and Proofreading Security and Confidentiality

  1. Will my document be secure? Will you regard my document as confidential?
    Absolutely. Your document will be secure from the second you upload it via our secure checkout, to when it is being reviewed by our editors (all of whom follow our industry-leading confidentiality practices), to when it is sent to you via email. We take security and confidentiality very seriously.
  2. Will you steal any of my work? Do you make any claim to copyright?
    Absolutely not. We would never dream of it. ProofreadingServices.com makes no claim to any of our clients' copyrights. Your work is your own. ProofreadingServices.com does not require any form of acknowledgement for documents we've reviewed. After you pay for our proofreading or editing services, you own the changes we make for you.
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About Us

  1. Who founded ProofreadingServices.com?
    Luke Palder. He is a Yale College political science graduate who also studied at Yale Law School, the Yale School of Management, Cambridge University, and Peking University. Luke is also the author of a nonfiction political science book about human trafficking.
  2. What is your phone number?
    Our phone number is 1-800-492-6773. You can also email us here or send us a message on Facebook Messenger.
  3. When is customer support available?
    Email support is available seven days a week. Customer support is typically available via phone (1-800-492-6773) Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM EDT.
  4. How can I contact you?
    You can contact us via email, phone, and Facebook.
  5. How can I become a proofreader or editor for ProofreadingServices.com?
    You can apply to work with us online today.

Have a question?
Contact us.