Three levels of editing
| Level | What we check | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Proofreading | Spelling, grammar, punctuation, typos, and consistency of numbers, capitals, and terms | A finished draft that needs a final polish before submission |
| Copyediting | Everything in proofreading, plus sentence clarity, word choice, wordiness, transitions, and APA or MLA citation format | A complete draft that reads unevenly or has citation problems |
| Developmental editing | Structure, argument, paragraph organization, use of evidence, and whether the paper answers the prompt, with written comments | Early drafts, capstones, thesis and dissertation chapters |
All edits are made with tracked changes and comments so you can see, accept, or reject every change and learn from it. The ideas and the writing stay yours.
What you get back
- Your document with tracked changes (Word) and margin comments
- A short summary of recurring issues, so you can fix them in future papers
- Citation and reference list checks against APA 7th or MLA 9th edition, when requested
- A clean copy with all changes accepted
How editing works
- Open the editing request form, upload your draft (PDF, Word .docx, or text), and choose the editing level.
- Tell us your deadline, citation style, and word count.
- We review the draft and reply by email with a quote and turnaround time. Nothing is charged until you approve.
- Your edited document is returned by the agreed date, with tracked changes and comments.
A proofreading checklist you can use today
Before you send a paper anywhere, run through these checks yourself:
- Read the paper aloud, slowly. Your ear catches missing words your eye skips.
- Check every sentence that begins with this, it, or there: is it clear what the word refers to?
- Search for your most common mistakes (for example its/it's, affect/effect, then/than).
- Confirm every in-text citation has a matching reference entry, and the reverse.
- Check headings, page numbers, margins, and spacing against your style guide: see our APA and MLA guides.
- Print a copy, or change the font and size, to see the text with fresh eyes.
Editing for theses and dissertations
Long projects benefit from editing chapter by chapter. Doctoral and master's editing focuses on consistency of terminology, tense, and headings across chapters, alignment between research questions and methods, and your institution's formatting rules. See Thesis & Dissertation Help for one-to-one support.
Frequently asked questions
How much does proofreading cost?
Editing is quoted individually by word count, editing level, and deadline, so you see the exact price before any work begins.
Will editing change my ideas or voice?
No. Proofreading and copyediting fix errors and clarity. Developmental editing gives comments and suggestions, and you decide what to change. Every edit is tracked.
Can you check my APA or MLA citations?
Yes. Copyediting and developmental editing include checking in-text citations and the reference list or Works Cited page against APA 7th or MLA 9th edition.
What files can I upload?
PDF, Word (.docx), plain text, and common image formats, up to 2 MB per request. Older .doc files are not accepted for security reasons; save them as .docx first.