FAQs

See our answers to common questions below. If you have any questions not answered here, please feel free to contact us at info@cambridgeproofreading.com

  • Can I still request a specific editor or subject specialist if I place an express (12-hour) order?

    While we do our best to accommodate any requests for specific editors, it may not always be possible if the order is for a 12-hour express turnaround. However, for orders with deadlines of 24 hours or more, we are almost always able to assign your preferred editor.

  • How can I trust your service/company?

    Cambridge Proofreading has served 77,000+ clients in 110+ countries. We’re registered in the State of Illinois, and you can verify our LLC registration and Certificate of Good Standing by searching for Cambridge Proofreading LLC in the Illinois Department of Business Services database.

    You can also read independent reviews from our clients on TrustPilot.

    We accept payments via PayPal, the internet’s most popular and secure payment gateway, as well as Braintree and Alipay.

    We recommend that you read our blog post about avoiding scam proofreading services and carefully evaluate whom to trust with your documents.

  • Is your website secure?

    Our service is 100% secure and confidential.

    Our website is secured with DigiCert SSL Extended Validation and 256-bit encryption.

    Files uploaded through our website are stored on a password-protected server. Only the editing manager and the assigned editor will have access to your file, and it will never be shared externally with anyone under any circumstances.

  • What is your Quality Guarantee?

    The Cambridge Quality Guarantee covers all orders placed through our website:

    If you are not satisfied with the service you have received and can cite fair justifications, we will issue a partial or full refund or arrange for a re-edit.

    We guarantee that we will significantly improve the language of your documents. Our performance is measured by your satisfaction; if you’re not entirely happy with our work, contact us and we’ll find a suitable resolution.

  • How can I be sure of the quality of your services?

    Remember that you are protected by the Cambridge Quality Guarantee, which states:

    If you’re not satisfied with the service you’ve received and can cite fair justifications, we’ll arrange for a re-edit or issue a partial or full refund.

    If your file is over 20,000 words, you may submit it to us via email (as an attachment), and we will provide a free sample of 500 words within 24 hours.

    You can also view samples of our work here.

  • How do you choose which editor will proofread my document?

    There’s no substitute for subject-matter expertise. With 300+ editing professionals, we have expert editors across the full spectrum of academic disciplines. This broad base of knowledge allows us to pair documents with editors who have relevant expertise.

    The editing manager reviews each file before assigning it to the most suitable editor on our team. We will always select the editor whose experience and qualifications are the best match for the subject of the paper.

    While we make every effort to ensure that your editor has experience in your discipline, we cannot always guarantee that the editor will be an expert in your sub-discipline. For example, if you submit a paper on molecular biology, we may select an editor with a background in the wider discipline of biology but not necessarily in the specific sub-discipline of molecular biology.

  • How will my document be returned to me?

    We’ll email you a secure download link to your edited document.

    You’ll be able to download both ‘tracked’ and ‘clean’ versions of your file. The ‘tracked’ version shows the editor’s changes and comments, while the ‘clean’ version has all of our changes accepted and all tracking and comments removed.

    We won’t send any physical or printed copies.

  • Do you offer writing, paraphrasing or translation services?

    No, we don’t offer writing, paraphrasing or translation as part of our service. We focus on providing a premium-quality editing and proofreading service.

  • What if I have follow-up questions?

    We are happy to answer any questions you may have after you’ve received your edited document. Simply contact us and we’ll provide a prompt and full response to your questions.

  • Can I request the same editor as before?

    Absolutely! Simply note this on the order form and we will assign your new order to your preferred editor, subject to their availability.

  • What if I’m unhappy with the results?

    If you’re unhappy with the editor’s work, please contact us and we’ll find a suitable resolution. This may take the form of a free re-review by a different editor, or a partial or full refund, depending on the circumstances.

  • What file formats do you accept?

    We prefer the following file types, as they allow us to use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, which highlights the amendments made by the editor.

    Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX, RTF)
    Open Office (ODT)
    Apple Pages (PAGES)

    We also accept:

    PDF (see below)
    LaTeX (see below)

  • What are your prices?

    We have flat-rate pricing based on word count, service level (one-editor or two-editor) and turnaround time. Enter your word count into our pricing calculator for an instant quote and return time.

  • How can I be sure that you’re the best option for me?

    We charge reasonable prices for a premium service. Our pricing is transparent, with no hidden costs.

    Our team of 300+ experienced editors includes experts in every academic discipline. We handle thousands of documents for satisfied clients all over the world every year.

    We’re a trustworthy organisation with a reputation for excellent work and customer service. Our independent client reviews can be found on TrustPilot. Most of our work comes from repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals. Indeed, chances are that you found us through the recommendation of a friend or colleague.

    Our Quality Guarantee means you can be confident that we’ll deliver high-quality work to you.

  • What are your payment options?

    We accept payment in US dollars, British pounds, and euros through a variety of methods.

    Our site allows payments with all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Maestro, which are securely processed by Braintree (a PayPal company). We also accept payments via PayPal, the world’s most popular payment gateway. PayPal accepts all major credit and debit cards, is highly secure and does not require registration when you select the “check out with card” option.

    If you prefer to directly transfer funds into our US bank account, please contact us.
  • Can you verify or complete references?

    If you list your requirements in the order notes, we will check that your references are consistent with your preferred style guide. However, we don’t supply reference content or cross-check references with original sources.

    Note that we don’t convert author-date styles to numeric styles, or vice versa; for assistance with this, please contact us for a bespoke quotation at info@cambridgeproofreading.com.

  • Will my files be kept secure and confidential?

    Any files submitted to us will be kept in the strictest confidence.

    Only the editing manager and your assigned editor will have access to your files. We do not share client files externally under any circumstances.

    All client files are automatically deleted from our system 15 days after we complete the order. If you’d like us to delete them sooner, please email us—we are more than happy to oblige.

    We will gladly sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) on request.

  • Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)?

    We are happy to sign NDAs on request. Please contact us for more information.

  • Do you have a money-back guarantee?

    If you’re not satisfied with the service you’ve received and can cite fair justifications, we’ll provide a re-edit or issue a partial or full refund. Please contact us if you have any questions.

  • What will my proofread and edited document look like?

    All the editor’s changes are highlighted using the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word, which allows you to see where improvements have been made. Your editor’s queries and comments will appear in the margin. Click here to see samples of our work.

  • How will you improve my writing?

    For a detailed explanation and sample edits, see How we proofread and edit texts.

    We proofread for:

    Spelling, grammar, punctuation and typographical errors.

    We edit for:

    Academic style, tone and register
    Clarity and flow
    Incorrect sentence structure and awkward phrasing
    Wordiness and redundancy
    Specific formatting guidelines (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, OSCOLA)

    Our changes are highlighted using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, allowing you to review and accept or reject each amendment. Click here to see samples of our work.

    If you’re looking for a well-priced, premium-quality review and improvement of your writing, we can help.

  • What are the key benefits of using your service?

    Please see ‘Why choose us?’ and ‘How we improve a text’ for an overview of the benefits of our service.

  • Can you work to a specific style guide or format?

    Yes, we can edit documents to specific style or format guidelines.

    Our 300+ editing professionals have experience with all of the main style guides, including AMA, APA, AP, Bluebook, Chicago, CSE, Harvard, IEEE, MLA, and OSCOLA. Please be sure to specify your requirements in the order notes.

    If your university, target journal or publishing house has provided specific guidelines, we may be able to accommodate these. Please contact us if you have any questions.

  • Will you re-review further changes that I make?

    We’ll gladly review minor changes to your completed order. Provided the changes aren’t extensive (less than 10% of the original order’s word count), there will be no extra charge. If you’d like us to review substantial changes (more than 10% of the original order’s word count), an additional charge will apply.

  • Can I have the same editor if I submit in parts?

    Whenever possible, we assign work submitted in parts to the same editor to ensure consistency.

  • What are your editors’ experience and qualifications?

    All of our editors are native English speakers. They hold advanced degrees from leading universities and have significant professional experience in their fields. They also have years of editing experience and are members of leading industry bodies, such as the Council of Science Editors (CSE) and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP). Our stringent recruitment process ensures that we work with only the best editors: less than 1% of the editors who apply to us are accepted into our network.

  • Do you accept LaTeX files?

    We can edit LaTeX files in either Microsoft Word or Overleaf.

    If you prefer Microsoft Word, please either export or copy and paste your text into a Microsoft Word document. We’ll edit the file, highlighting our amendments with Track Changes. After processing our changes, you can copy and paste the text back into your LaTeX editor.

    If you prefer Overleaf, please add info@cambridgeproofreading.com to your file as a collaborator. We’ll edit your file directly in Overleaf, highlighting our changes with  Overleaf’s Review feature.

  • Will your service affect my plagiarism/Turnitin score?

    No, our service won’t have any impact on your plagiarism or Turnitin score.

  • How does the order process work?

    Ordering is quick and easy.

    1. Navigate to our order form. Enter your order’s word count and your preferred currency to display pricing and return times.

    2. Select your preferred service level and turnaround time.

    3. Upload your file(s) securely to our server. All client documents are kept in the strictest confidence; our website is secured by DigiCert 256-bit encryption.

    4. Specify your preferred dialect (UK, US, Australian or Canadian English) and any notes or requirements you may have for the editor. Don’t forget to add your style guide requirements (e.g., APA referencing).

    5. Log into your account or register for a new account. This helps us keep your files secure and confidential.

    6. Pay via PayPal, AliPay or credit/debit card with Braintree.

    Your order is complete.

    Your email confirmation will contain a link allowing you to track your order. The editing manager will review your document and assign it to an editor with expertise in your subject. We’ll return your edited file via email within the deadline.

    If you have any difficulties with the ordering process, please contact us for assistance.