Your Questions, Answered

Getting Started

  • It's simple—just drop us a message or email us at hello@proofolio.co.uk with a description of your document, your deadline, and the service you think you need. If you're not sure which service is right, just say so, and we'll advise. We'll come back to you with a clear, no-obligation quote—within one business day.

  • Yes. We offer a free 500-word sample for first-time clients. It's the best way to see our approach and get a feel for how we work before deciding to go ahead with a full service. Just mention it when you get in touch, and we'll set it up.

  • Absolutely——this is one of the most common questions we get, and it's a good one. Here's a quick guide:

    • Proofreading is for work that's already polished and just needs a final accuracy check——spelling, grammar, punctuation.

    • Editing goes deeper——we improve clarity, flow, and sentence structure, as well as correcting errors.

    • Formatting is for documents that need to meet a specific style guide (APA, Harvard, Chicago, etc.).

    • ESL polishing is our specialist service for non-native English speakers——a thorough edit focused on making your English natural and idiomatic.

    Still not sure? Just drop us a message or email us and describe your document——we'll tell you exactly what we'd recommend.

  • We work with almost any written document in English, including business reports, proposals, presentations, manuscripts, non-fiction, memoirs, academic papers, theses, dissertations, journal articles, grant applications, cover letters, and more. If you're not sure whether your document fits, just ask.

Pricing and Payment

  • We price per word, so you always know what you're getting before you commit. Our rates are:

    • Proofreading——from £0.010 per word (e.g., 10,000 words = £100)

    • Copy-editing——from £0.020 per word (e.g., 10,000 words = £200)

    • ESL polishing——from £0.025 per word (e.g., 10,000 words = £250)

    • Formatting——from £50 per document, based on complexity

    Every quote is free and comes with no obligation.

  • Yes——we offer discounts for long documents (50,000+ words) and for returning clients. If you're a regular client or working on a large project, just mention it when you enquire, and we'll factor that into your quote.

  • Often, yes. Most UKRI, Wellcome Trust, and institutional research grants allow professional editing as a legitimate expense. Many employers also cover editing costs for business documents. We can provide a proper invoice with a full breakdown for reimbursement——just let us know what you need when you get in touch.

    Not sure if your funding covers it? Ask your department administrator or grant manager——it's more commonly covered than people realise.

  • We accept payment by bank transfer and all major credit and debit cards. For business clients, we can also provide an invoice for payment on account. Payment is typically required before work begins, though we can discuss arrangements for larger or ongoing projects.

Turnaround and process

  • Our standard turnaround is 48 hours for most documents. For longer or more complex work, we'll agree a realistic timeline with you upfront——we never over-promise on deadlines. If you have an urgent deadline, get in touch, and we'll let you know what's possible.

  • Yes——we can usually accommodate expedited requests. A 35% surcharge applies for turnarounds under 24 hours. Get in touch as early as possible and tell us your deadline; we'll confirm whether we can meet it before you commit.

  • We return your document in Microsoft Word format with tracked changes enabled so you can see exactly what we've changed and choose to accept or reject each edit. We also include a brief report summarising our key observations and any patterns we noticed.

  • Never. Our job is to make your writing the best version of itself——not to rewrite it into something that sounds like us. Your voice, your argument, and your ideas stay completely intact. We improve clarity, correct errors, and smooth out the rough edges. That's it.

Who we work with

  • Yes——this is something we take particular care with. We've edited work by writers from all over the world, and we understand the difference between a grammatical error and an intentional stylistic choice. We'll fix what isn't working while preserving your meaning and voice. We never rewrite your work into something unrecognisably "British English" or “American English.”

  • We work with authors at various stages——from a nearly finished draft to a manuscript ready for its final polish before publishing. If you're unsure whether your manuscript is ready for editing, just get in touch and describe where you are. We'll give you an honest answer about whether now is the right time or whether there's more work to do first.

  • Yes——we love working with businesses and teams who produce written content regularly. If you have a recurring need (monthly reports, regular proposals, ongoing communications), we can discuss a retainer arrangement that gives you priority access and a consistent editor who knows your style. Get in touch to discuss what that might look like for you.

  • Absolutely. We work with clients from around the world. Everything is handled remotely by email, so your location doesn't matter.

Confidentiality and Trust

  • Yes, completely. We treat every document we receive as strictly confidential. We never share, reproduce, or discuss your work with anyone outside of our editing team. If you need a formal confidentiality agreement for sensitive business or legal documents, just ask, and we can arrange one.

  • Professional proofreading and editing are widely accepted and encouraged by universities, journals, and professional institutions——including the UK's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). We correct errors and improve clarity; we don't write your work for you. If you're unsure about your institution's specific policy, we recommend checking with your supervisor or department before proceeding. Most institutions explicitly permit proofreading services.

  • We want you to be genuinely happy with the result. If something isn't right, tell us——we'll review your concerns and make it right. We'd rather spend the extra time getting it to where it needs to be than have you walk away disappointed. Our reputation is built on the quality of our work and the relationships we build with clients.