What’s the difference between proofreading and editing?

Proofreading involves a check before submission/publication to catch surface errors only, such as grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes.

Editing is a more comprehensive service. Editing includes proofreading, and also improves language, sentence structure, and word use, and ensures that ideas and arguments are expressed clearly.

Some clients ask whether they need proofreading AND editing. All they need is to order an editing service, as editing effectively includes proofreading.

How do I place an order with you?

Complete the submission form, which provides us the necessary details about your order. We will quickly reply by email with confirmation of the price and return date. If you would like to proceed, we will send an invoice with the payment options.

How do I find out my word count?

In Microsoft Word, go to the Review tab or Tools menu, and select Word Count. In WordPerfect, right-click anywhere in the document and select Properties, and then click the Information tab. If you would like us to edit your footnotes or reference list, please include these in the word count.

How do I pay?

After you complete the submission form, we will send you an invoice with the payment options. We accept payment via credit/debit card or Paypal.

Is credit/debit card payment safe with you?

Very. Global English Editing uses the safe and secure Stripe and Paypal systems to process card payments, which means we that we never have access to your card data.

What currency are your prices based on?

Our prices are based on US dollars (USD). If you would prefer to be invoiced in a different currency, please note this on your submission form.

Do I have to pay upfront?

Yes, we usually require upfront payment for our services. For larger jobs, we can accept half up front and half before the work is returned.

What files do you accept?

We edit Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx) files, using the track changes function. Clients retain creative control over their work, with our changes clearly visible and comments and suggestions made in the margin.
We can also edit Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file types, using “sticky notes” instead of track changes.

Can I decide the return date?

Yes! Clients can nominate their preferred return date, and as long as it gives us a reasonable amount of time to do a quality job, we will accept it. We can handle most deadlines as we have a large team of editors and operate efficiently.

Will I be charged extra for a short turnaround?

No! Absolutely not! We do not charge extra for short turnarounds. We provide the same high-quality editing or proofreading service every time and therefore do not believe the price should change based on the return date.

What will I receive from you?

By the agreed return date we will return two documents. One with all changes clearly visible in the body of the text, with comments and suggestions in the margin, and the other a clean copy with changes already incorporated. However, we encourage you to review the changes.

How qualified are your editors?

All our 30+ editors have high-level academic qualifications, considerable experience as professional editors, and are native English speakers. We take the recruitment process extremely seriously

What if I am unhappy with the result?

We have developed a four-step quality assurance process to ensure client satisfaction every time. However, if you feel that the level of service has not been up to the high standard we have set, we are happy to review your work and if necessary re-edit it free of charge.

Can you guarantee the confidentiality of my work?

Yes, we can. We have developed confidentiality procedures which guarantee client confidentiality. We can even sign a non-disclosure agreement upon request.

Is your website secure?

Yes. The Global English Editing website is secured by GeoTrust, and our GeoTrust SSL Certificate provides up to 256-bit encryption. As a result, communication and document submission through our website is confidential and secure.