If you are wondering how to ensure your report or composition is as good as it can be, finding a skilled and reliable English language proofreader is a lot easier said than done, yet , the following should help work as a guide about how to source and when to use a proofreader.   A good English proofreading service should provide a extensive check of your file in either British Standard or American Standard The english language of spelling, grammar, sentence contextualisation and repetitive wording and terminology. If the service includes editing (whether that be on paper or enhancing online), you should turn to have the flow of the writing improved where necessary. Professional editing includes common phraseology, proverbs and sayings being checked for correct consumption and words that are being used incorrectly or sentences that are unclear should be changed or rearranged. Each proofreader has his / her own standards and should let you know these, in clear terms, before commencing work. These are incredibly different services to writing services or essay writing services, whereby copy is written from scratch.   Most proofreaders offer online editing and demand a set amount centered on the quantity of words in your document and the turnaround time, and most professionals will require either a sample of your writing or to see the document ahead of time before quoting on a job.   Therefore, you need to ensure that your proofreader is upwards to the editorial job. Proofreading requires patience, attention to detail and, rather obviously, a thorough understanding of the principles that control his or her language; it is not simply a matter of traversing the 't's and across the 'i's. It can be a laborious activity requiring hour after hours of concentration, not only reading and learning the text message within an often complex dissertation, but simultaneously pondering 'how is this written and can it be written better? ' Comprehending the overall meaning of the text and being able to improve it without altering that original meaning requires an ability to comprehend a broad variety of subjects, a good level of schooling (post graduate qualifications are usually the minimum for editors) and skill at writing. That combined with good time management skills means that not everyone who can read can proofread.   There are many audio causes of proofreading or duplicate editing your text, both within the business world and academia. For instance, a site that is poorly written and that lacks clearness could mean potential customers quickly leave your site, largely because within several seconds of entering your site they need to really know what is available, where and when. Equally, bad grammar and spelling will look hugely unprofessional and portray deficiencies in attention to detail in the service offered.   For tertiary degree students, leaving linguistic faults in an essay or research proposal is inadvisable. By the time students reach universities in the UK, tutors expect that they should be able to write articulate documents which do not contain basic grammatical errors or garbled language. Failure to live up to these expectations could mean that even though your ideas may be brilliant, your writing skills will let you down. Therefore, getting the essays or thesis proofread and, at the very least, having a sentence structure check is a worthwhile investment.   Equally for teachers, sending off an article or research paper to a publishing house which lacks clarity and includes unwieldy wording, lessens your chances of publication. Several peer reviewers also bemoan the unintelligible language of their peers' work and are inclined to give less favourable reviews if reading the paper is a feat of endurance. Editing copy is essential to ensure that articles are fit for syndication.   Writing your thesis declaration or lengthy thesis on your topic is often a labour of affection and it is difficult to spot the tiny mistakes; a good proofreader may offer an unbiased second judgment on the clarity of your document. Consequently , having that professional eye cast over your text, editing and checking on your part, can be an invaluable service.