Proofreading for Students

We proofread theses and dissertations, research proposals, essays, or any work to be submitted for assessment for local and international undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Proofreading for Students

We carefully check your manuscript for any:

Typographical errors (“typos”)
Spelling errors
Grammar errors
Inconsistencies in formatting
Inconsistencies in language

We may highlight and raise queries for:

Clarity
Repetitions
Cohesion

If your institution permits, we may work on references, too.

I’ve got my supervisor’s permission so let’s get started

More details (and the small print) are given in

AngloCanto’s Guide to Proofreading for Students

Download AngloCanto’s Guide for Students now

Before we start

FAQs

Please take a moment to read through these frequently asked questions to ensure we are on the same page.

Still uncertain about something? Send us a message and we will try to sort things out for you.

At what stage should I get my work proofread?

It really depends on you, your language needs, and your preference. You might want to consider asking your supervisor about what they suggest, too, as they may have a clearer idea on the submission process.

Do you offer copyediting service as well?

Yes, we do!

This page is dedicated to the proofreading of theses and dissertations (as well as any work to be submitted by students for examination). For other academic writers, please visit the Academic Editing page instead.

How long does it take?

We usually ask for three to four weeks for long theses, and around a week for shorter papers or dissertations of 10,000 to 20,000 words.

An even shorter paper of say 5,000 words might only require a couple of days, but we cannot always commit to one/two-day turnaround times due to our committing to other projects.

If a deadline requires it, we can speed up for a fee but our work is all about the detail and it takes time.

How much does the proofreading service cost?

Our quotations are based on a word count (excluding reference list / bibliography), so you will know how much you will have to pay. Please note that we have a minimum fee policy, which is £10.

We might ask you to pay a deposit, of which amount will be deducted from the final invoice, which we will send you once the proofreading project has been completed. If you wish to, you may spread the costs for your own budgeting needs by paying in instalments.

How can I pay?

At the moment, we only accept UK local bank transfer, PayPal, Wise (formerly known as TransferWise) or overseas bank remittance. The fixed quote we provide is in GBP.

Do you work on references as well?

Most clients that we have so far served tend to prefer us not to, as they often rely on a reference manager. However, please do let us know if you would like us to help you with your reference list / bibliography, at £0.50 per entry, where we:
• format each entry according to the required citation style; and
• check if all elements are spelt and formatted correctly and conform to the requirements of your department or those of the journal or publisher.

Please note that we do not cross-check references with external sources or make sure that in-text references are listed in the bibliography or list of references.

Is it better to send my work chapter by chapter or all in one go?

Working on a manuscript in one go helps ensure consistency throughout the file; we nevertheless understand that it is not always possible due to time constraints or the submission process. In these cases where we work on separate chapters, whilst we do our best to uphold consistency, we would recommend you do your own final checks on the collated file.

Should I use British or American spelling in my paper?

Our editors have worked closely with students whose first language is English, as well as their English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) counterparts. We can edit in American, British, and other Englishes (such as Hong Kong English), depending on your requirements or those of your institution.

If you don’t have a strong stylistic preference, we will then adhere to British English spelling (e.g., colour instead of color) and use the “-is-” infix (e.g., organisation rather than organization).

Do I have to tell anyone about using your editorial service?

Some institutions encourage students to use external editorial services, while some others don’t.

Please make sure you have checked that the use of a third-party editing service is permitted before engaging our services.

If so, whether you have to obtain your tutor/supervisor’s permission and/or acknowledge our involvement in your work. We will not check any institutional guidelines for you and we cannot accept any liability if you do not make appropriate enquiries.

What experience do your editors have?

We have considerable experience in scholarly editing and we have been extensively working with ESL (English as a Second Language) students who are from Hong Kong and China for years; hence, we are familiar with some of the most common English language errors that ESL students make.

Can you promise me a better grade if I use your service?

While we will try our best to make sure all errors are dealt with (not 100%, as editors are real people, too!), the text is grammatically accurate, spelling is correct, punctuation is used appropriately, and formatting is consistent. We cannot guarantee that editing will improve your marks or grade; though, a polished, easy-to-read paper is likely to be better received by an examiner.

I don’t know if I’ve paraphrased my sources enough, can you help me rewrite some parts?

Unfortunately, we are unable to put in, take out or make changes to any substantive content or check for plagiarism issues because it is unethical for any professional editors to do so.

Do you check for plagiarism?

We take plagiarism very seriously despite not having access to plagiarism-checking software, so this is not a service we offer.