FAQ
If you have any questions, you should find them answered below. Simply click on the relevant question to see an answer to your query. If you cannot find an answer to your query, please get in contact with us, and we will do our best to help you.
How long do you keep my document?
Do I have to pay before you return my document?
What type of work do you accept?
What type of documents do you accept?
Why do I have to send my document before I get a quote?
How long will it take?
How much do you charge?
How do I pay?
I have an urgent deadline, can you help?
How do you meet deadlines?
Do you work on weekends?
What if my requirements change?
I want to cancel
Can I query something you’ve changed or ask questions after my work is returned?
Why can’t I call you?
How do we work?
What do I get?
What do proofreaders and copyeditors do – is there a difference?
Who might need services?
Why proofreading what are the benefits?
Do you accept international business?
Will my documents be treated with confidentiality?
Are there any guarantees?
How do you mark up documents?
Anything else you do bar proofreading?
I can’t find my question!
How long do you keep my document?
All documents are deleted 30 days after project completion.
Do I have to pay before you return my document?
Yes – you are required to pay us before we start work for you.
What type of work do you accept?
Any work. No job is too big or too small.
What type of documents do you accept?
We accept all common computer file types such as Microsoft Word and PDF files. If you have a more ‘unusual’ file type please let us know – chances are we can still help you! We also accept web addresses for proofreading and copyediting of websites.
Although we primarily work over the internet, we can also do hard copy – simply contact us with your details and we’ll be in touch.
Why do I have to send my document before I get a quote?
We need to see a sample of your document as part of our quotation process. Along with our questions, it will help us to accurately judge how much editing is required, how complex the work is and judge a reasonable deadline.
How long will it take?
Turnaround depends on the size and complexity of the project. General turnaround is five to seven days. We offer shorter rush services – please see our services page for more information.
How much do you charge?
In general, we always provide a quotation before we start work that both parties agree on. Simply send a sample demonstrating the quality of writing so we can estimate how much work is required. At a basic level, this would be finding out how many words your document contains, what level of proofreading or editing you require, and deadline requirements.
The quotation is free, and you are under no obligation to hire us. If you are satisfied with the quote, simply email the whole document back to us, and we will do the rest!
How do I pay?
Currently we accept three methods of payment, PayPal, Moneybookers or bank transfer. Both payments are safe and secure. PayPal sends funds direct to us from a verified bank account or credit card. It is an immediate and convenient way to pay, depositing the fee directly into our account. If you choose to pay by bank transfer, your fee will be immediately sent direct from your bank account to ours.
Both payment options allow for convenient and fast payment, allowing us to start working on your project quicker. This is important, since we require payment in advance.
For larger projects, it may be more convenient for you to pay in instalments. Once you’ve accepted the quote, we’ll agree on a instalment plan, the first part of which should be paid in advance, and the remaining parts on a pre-agreed schedule. Please let us know if you would like to pay in instalments.
If you are in a situation where you do not have PayPal or cannot make a bank to bank transfer, please get in contact with us and we will try our best to find another method of payment.
I have an urgent deadline, can you help?
Yes – we offer a 24 hour turnaround service (subject to guidelines). Simply let us know your needs when you submit your documents for quotation and we will let you know if we can help. Our quotes are obligation free.
How do you meet deadlines?
We try to schedule our work so that all text is proofread and checked with enough time to make any necessary amendments. If the client has a specific deadline, then we will work towards proofreading and checking within that time.
Do you work on weekends?
Yes, this is a 24/7 business.
What if my requirements change?
Our quote is created from a precise brief. If the change is a small one, then there will be no alteration to the quote. If your requirements alter drastically from your initial needs, then we may need to issue a new quotation. For example, if you initially required proofreading but then decided you’d prefer copyediting, then a new quote would be issued. Flexibility is key here, so simply email us with your query and we will get back to you.
I want to cancel!
You can cancel at any time, and we will give you 50% of your fee back. We retain the other 50% as a surcharge to cover work that we have done on your document.
Can I query something you have changed or ask questions after my work is returned?
Yes. You can query anything and ask as many questions as you want by email at no extra cost. It is all part of the service.
Why can’t I call you?
You can! To be more precise, we will call you. We find it better to call at a mutually convenient time as opposed to having to man a phone all day. Simply email us to arrange a time.
How do we work?
We proofread remotely in order to keep overheads low, which in turn keeps our prices down. We keep in contact with our clients primarily through email. We also offer telephone support for those who request it.
What do I get?
We will return two copies of your document to you, one annotated and one non-annotated. This gives you a clear overview of what changes have been made. You will then be able to decide whether to accept or reject suggested changes. If you choose to accept all the changes, the non-annotated document can be used straight away.
If you want to make some further small amendments or have any queries, just get in touch with us and we will help.
What do proofreaders and copyeditors do – is there a difference?
A proofreader will identify and correct typographical errors, correct spelling and grammatical errors, and check for spelling consistency.
A copyeditor will note all the above, and also rework your document in order to improve its fluency. This involves correcting syntax, checking for shifts in tone and tense, checking for overuse of words and imposing a consistent style and format on the document as a whole. If you are not a native speaker of English, you will find this service preferable. We’ll retain your ‘voice’ in the document whilst making sure it is a smooth read.
Essentially, copyediting is a more in-depth service which focuses on the clarity and fluency of a document as well as making sure the bare bones of it stand up to scrutiny.
Who might need services?
All text can be proofread. Everyone from global corporations to students can benefit from a professional proofreading service.
Academics can have their work checked to ensure confidence that their argument will not be undermined by poor spelling or grammatical mishaps. Whether it is an essay, dissertation or thesis, you can get on with writing whilst we make sure your work scans well. We can also help with UCAS personal statements to help you stand out on an otherwise faceless form.
Businesses have a professional, smart image to maintain in order to ensure success. We can proofread your marketing materials to ensure that they are ready to print. We can proofread your media communications too, making sure that your press releases, articles and case studies leave the right impression. If you are hosting an event, we can proofread all your handouts and presentations. We can help your business to look smart, professional and articulate at every level, leaving your employees to do the thing they do best – their job.
We can also help you in your creative endeavours! Perhaps you’ve written a novel or an article and you need it checked so you can submit it with confidence. If you have made a website, we can help you make it a pleasant site people will want to return to. Or dating profiles, CVs, application forms and cover letters. The list goes on endlessly!
Why proofreading? What are the benefits?
Everyone should think of proofreading as an insurance policy. All of us make mistakes and it is impossible to check your own work due to ‘eye fatigue’, reading what you expect to see, rather than what is actually written. A fresh pair of eyes can spot those little errors and tell you if something is wrong. Wouldn’t you rather your proofreader told you than your audience, be it an important client or your teacher?
If your company has spent hundreds, even thousands of pounds on copywriters and designers to produce a document going out to clients, you will find your investment worthless if the first thing they notice is a mistake. By spending a small percentage of the investment more, you can ensure that the finished product is going to inspire interest rather than ridicule.
You can also save money by outsourcing the tedious, time consuming job of proofreading to a professional, whilst your employees can get on with the jobs you’re paying them for.
Individuals such as students can benefit from improved grades and confidence that their written work presents a clear argument without distracting errors. Those looking to get published can benefit from the knowledge that publishers will be reading a draft which will not be thrown in the bin after one error too many.
In short – you care about your work, the message it is getting across and you want it the best it can be. We can help.
Do you accept international business?
Yes, we accept business from around the world.
Will my documents be treated with confidentiality?
All submissions to The Whole Proof are treated professionally and with the strictest confidence. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Are there any guarantees?
Whilst we can guarantee a professional service, sadly we cannot guarantee that your work will achieve all you wish for – e.g. your book may not get published.
How do you mark up documents?
It depends on the type of document it is. If it ia Microsoft Word file, we will use the ‘track changes’ tool. If it is a PDF file, we will use annotations. We can also type up notes in Microsoft Word and email, or even note changes by hand on a printout and then emailing it to you.
Anything else you do bar proofreading?
Right now, we only offer proofreading and copyediting services. Take a look around. We aim to offer a comprehensive one-stop destination for you. If you cannot find the service you are after listed, contact us with details and we will let you know if we can help.
I can’t find my question!
If you cannot find the answer to your question on this page, please contact us, and we will get back to you.