Frequently asked questions

Regarding the choice of the proofreading or copy-editing service, this is either a) determined by the author’s request to merely repair their use of language through proofreading or to develop it further through copy-editing, or b) advised by ProofScience due to the standard of written English on initial review of the paper. More details on the elements addressed at the proofreading and copy-editing levels can be found on the Services page.

Unless you state otherwise, the in-text and final references will be reviewed and edited where necessary to either ensure consistency or to satisfy the formatting guidelines of your submitting journal or institution (where supplied). Note that we will not review the cited source and verify or comment on whether it has been cited appropriately in relation to the content it supports in your paper.

Please send your document in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx format.

Payment can be made using your debit or credit card through PayPal, even if you don’t have a PayPal account. Please follow this process:

1. Visit the PayPal page directly here or use the link on the website payment page.

2. In the left-hand column under Your Order Summary a) insert your Item price (e.g. £95), and then b) select Update.

3. In the right-hand column, complete your payment by selecting Pay with a credit or debit card.

While UK and European bank transfers are free of charge, our bank levies a £6 charge for international deposits over £100 in value. This fee, plus any additional sending fee from the client’s bank, is payable by the client. Therefore, when making international bank transfers over £100 in value please ensure that the final deposited sum matches the fee quoted.

Under UK taxation law, ProofScience is not required to apply UK VAT to purchases of proofreading or copy-editing services. However, from 1st July 2021 we must apply VAT to private EU customers (not businesses) based on the VAT rate of their country of residence (e.g. Czech Republic: 21%; France: 20%; Poland: 23%). This only applies to private EU customers, and EU businesses will not be affected provided that they can supply a valid VAT number. This change is based on EU measures to modernise VAT for cross-border e-commerce, with more information available here and here.


You can either send it as an email attachment to info@proofscience.com or through the site upload manuscript form.

Once your file has been received we will open it and check the content. Then we will save it as a master copy and send you a confirmation email.

Once a manuscript is forwarded to ProofScience it is stored on an encrypted and password-protected cloud server. Only the editor who works on your document will have access to this file, and no information regarding the content of the manuscript or the manuscript itself will be disclosed to anyone other than you the client. Non-disclosure agreements can be supplied upon request.

After the proofreading process has been completed using the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word you will receive back two files. In Version 1, all the amended, inserted and deleted text will be highlighted, and you will also find included any additional comments that have been placed for your attention. In Version 2, all the changes will have been accepted, and only the comments will remain to be actioned and deleted. Therefore, you will remain in total control over all edits that are made to your manuscript.

In the event of being unable to directly repair a section of text as the original syntax is unclear, or where the editor is not 100% certain of your intended meaning, they will highlight this for your attention with a comment and make suggestions wherever possible.

We offer new client, student and institutional discounts. Please see our pricing page for more details.

Yes, after you have reviewed the changes that have been made to your document you can contact us to discuss any of the insertions or deletions, and/or to check the changes you make in response to the editor’s comments.

Yes, manuscripts can be resubmitted for a second proofread or copy-edit after you have made changes in response to your supervisor’s comments or the recommendations from journal reviewers, for example. You can either highlight the new text to be proofread or copy-edited, or if you have made substantial changes, the entire manuscript can be proofread or copy-edited at a discounted rate based on 60% of the normal fee.

Feedback is always welcome as it helps us to improve, and informs future users of the service. Please use the contact form.

We are unable to offer the proofreading or copy-editing of any manuscripts where the research involves experiments on live animals. We thank you for your understanding.