Proofreading
The problem with inaccurate work
No matter how well you know your subject or how effectively you can argue your point, poorly written work can cost you valuable marks as it will always stand in the way of clear communication. A badly written essay or dissertation will not put your marker in the best frame of mind to follow your argument and can send them straight to the lower end of a mark scheme. If a marker or examiner has to reread a section or sentence several times, they will lose the thread of your essay and the point you are trying to make could be missed. You want the marker to enjoy reading your work, not for it to give them a headache.
You will probably have slaved over this work – dissertations, particularly, will have consumed months of your time, so you need the finished product to be as accurate and fluent as possible so that your effort pays off and your knowledge and intellect can shine through. There may not be a place in the mark scheme for accuracy, but accurate work will always make you sound more knowledgeable and authoritative than ungrammatical sentences, poor punctuation and general inaccuracy.
NEAs (non-examined assessments) and dissertations will contribute to your final grade so it will be important to you to get the highest mark you can for these. In examinations, you will probably not have time to check your spelling, punctuation and grammar, but in coursework, you do, and this is what examiners will expect to see.
Using technology and social media has many advantages but it has undoubtedly made us less attentive to the use of correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. We often rely on spell checks, but these do not always know what we want to say and so are not totally reliable. My computer will not recognise the two ways to use the word practice/practise, for example!
I can help
Marking books, essays and exams has been one of the most important parts of my job as an English teacher for 29 years. It’s a habit that I can’t shake off and I regularly have to resist correcting blackboards in restaurants and signs in shops. A student bought me the mug and coaster you can see here so I had obviously acquired a reputation as being the SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) police!
I have also proofread coursework and dissertations for students at A Level, undergraduate and postgraduate level in a range of subjects including Politics and International Relations, Musical Theatre, Law and Film Studies. Although these have not been in subjects I am qualified in, the need for accurate communication is common to all subjects.
Proofreading costs
Type of work | Price in £ |
One draft of A Level Non Exam Assessment (NEA)/coursework (usually 2500-3000 words) | 30 |
One draft and final draft of A Level NEA/coursework | 40 |
One draft of EPQ essay and log book (5000 words) | 40 |
One draft and final draft of EPQ essay and log book | 75 |
One draft of an undergraduate dissertation (usually 8000-10000 words) | 80 |
One draft and a final draft of an undergraduate dissertation | 140 |
One draft of a postgraduate dissertation (usually up to 15000 words) | 150 |
One draft and a final draft of a postgraduate dissertation | 250 |
Any other proofreading will be charged per 100 words (subject to a minimum charge of £30) | 1(+£30) |
What I will do
My preferred method of proofreading is with a bright coloured pen (it doesn’t have to be red!) as I find it more immediate than typing a comment into the Review tool on Word. Working this way, with pen and paper, enables me to read essays more fluently. I will print off your essay, mark it clearly and then scan and send it back to you. In my experience, students also find this an easier method to respond to and follow than using the Review tool.
I will correct spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors; point out any inconsistencies and repetitiveness; and give suggestions I think could help. Most NEAs and dissertations have a word limit and I can also help you add or reduce words so that you meet this requirement.
What you need to do
In order to proofread effectively, all work needing to be proofread must be received by email or in person at least one week before the submission date in order for you to have time to make any changes suggested. It is advisable to book this service in advance using the booking form below so that I can ensure I am available the week before your assignment is due in.
Proofreading for tutored students
There will be no charge for proofreading work produced by the students I am tutoring.