Free Proofreading for Student Essays

joesteel

Just thought that I would let you know that I've heard that the English Service (https://www.the-english-service.co.uk) are going to be providing a free proofreading service for new student customers. I'm not sure of what the details of the offer is going to be as it has not been launched yet but it is worth keeping an eye out. My wife used them a while ago when she was doing her MSc degree and found them helpful.

bestpud

Where have you 'heard' this?

Looks a little suspect to me - do you have an interest in the company?

bob2007

Please be careful with these services regarding input from such companies and plaigarism - by declaring that it is all your own work.

shelley_crow

this would defeat the whole purpose of academic essay writing, if you need someone to proof read your work in this manner then this would be classed as collusion. Would the proofreading company get a grade too?

dancingqueen_tr

hmm i dont understand the objection. As long as the essay is written by you, it is not plagiarism if someone else proofreads it for you..I have looked at my dissertation for so long that i am used to it and may miss very obvious spelling mistakes..I will be getting a friend to proofread it, and everyone should. it doesnt defeat the whole purpose of academic essay writing...

Checkov_2

I've got remarks on plenty of assignments to get someone to proofread it for you ; my grammar is appalling though. Paying someone to proofread it isn't any different, just ask a lecturer if you're concerned about it.

shelley_crow

unis must vary then, it was made explicit in the induction that allowing others to proofread your work could amount to academic misconduct. Ah well

celyn90

I think it depends, if it is proof-reading for spelling and grammar then there isn't much of a problem. I have to have my documents proof-read as word is currently telling me that with my current thesis chapeter, there are too many errors for it to display them as it doesn't recognise the silly jargon.

However, some proof-readers spot techncial errors or errors with arguements and may also "correct" on stylistic points and structural flaws. That is when you have to be careful, when it doesn't sound like you any more, then it probably isn't yours. cel x

poet123

Proofreading is very different to rewriting!!one is just pointing out the mistakes,the other is correcting them. The former would be allowed by most, if not all, academic institutions, the latter would not.

celyn90

poet123 wrote: »

Proofreading is very different to rewriting!!one is just pointing out the mistakes,the other is correcting them. The former would be allowed by most, if not all, academic institutions, the latter would not.

Yes - this is spot on - which why you have to be very very clear about what the second person is doing to your work. I've often seen things that should have been proof-read that have actually been completely restructured. It's not essential at all that a proof-reader should know anything about the subject (although sometimes it helps if there is a lot of jargon). cel x

welf_man

joesteel wrote:

the English Service ... are going to be providing a free proofreading service for new student customers

Well considering their standard price is £3.99 PER A4 PAGE that'd be a pretty good deal!

The site specifically says that they do edit "inappropriate" wording, which would be academic misconduct at most universities.

Mel.