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(c) 2006. Authorize.Net is a registered trademark of Lightbridge, Inc.
(c) 2006. Authorize.Net is a registered trademark of Lightbridge, Inc.
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  1. I have a spellchecker on my computer. Why do I need you?
  2. How do I know if you're any good?
  3. Why aren't all your editors English Ph.D.s?
  4. Why don't you use the built-in Track Changes feature in Word?
  5. What is the difference between Basic Proofing and Proofing Plus?
  6. Can you help someone who is a nonnative English speaker?
  7. How do I decide how much editing my work needs?
  8. Can you handle any type of document, or do you specialize in certain fields?
  9. Do you accept international orders?
  10. How much does your service cost?
  11. Do you charge more for rush orders?
  12. Is there a minimum or maximum document length that you accept?
  13. How and when do I pay you?
  14. Is my credit card information safe with you?
  15. Can I trust Canyouproofthis.com to be discrete with my sensitive document?
  16. How do I send my work to you, and how will I get it back?
  17. What platforms and file types can you work with?
  18. Do you offer invoicing or other payment procedures for corporate accounts?
  19. What are your editors' qualifications?
  20. What happens if I'm not happy with your edits?
  21. Do you offer writing or translation services?
  22. Which style guide do you follow? Do you use serial commas, for example?
  23. Do you proofread footnotes for correct citations and format?
  24. Can you reformat my screenplay into Final Draft?
  25. Can you help me with my legal document?
  26. I need a proofreader to work on-site for a few hours a week. Can you help?

Don't see your particular question? Don't hesitate to contact us!

 

1. I have a spellchecker on my computer. Why do I need you?
A spellchecker doesn't know the difference between "peddle" and "pedal," "ensure" and "insure," or "they're," "there" and "their"; our editors do. A grammar checker doesn't cover punctuation (at least not reliably); we dream about it. Additionally, while newer versions of Word make suggestions on matters ranging from capitalization to syntax, the recommendations don't always make sense. Simply put, an electronic spellchecker cannot take the place of a professional—and human—editor.

2. How do I know if you're any good?
We chose to make a living doing this, so obviously we think we're pretty good. But don't just take our word for it—check out our glowing client testimonials! Also, if you have a document that's longer than 10,000 words, feel free to ask us for a one-page sample edit at no charge. Send us your document, and we'll pick a random page and show you what we can do!
  

3. Why aren't all your editors English Ph.D.s?
What makes a good Ph.D. does not necessarily make a good copyeditor. It's not enough to know all the rules of a language—you have to be eagle-eyed about catching errors and able to address them in a way that's appropriate for the context. Many of the things we review—from wedding invitations to legal contracts to action-movie screenplays—use a style and vocabulary that are wildly different from academic writing or literary criticism. As a result, an English Ph.D. may not be the best person to edit them.
  

4. Why don't you use the built-in Track Changes feature in Word?
We prefer not to use Microsoft Word's Track Changes tool for three reasons:


a. We don't find it reliable enough to deal with heavy revisions. If a job involves major deletions, additions and text moves, or if the editor wants to undo or amend previous revisions or make global replacement sweeps that affect correct as well as incorrect words or punctuation, you are likely to end up with a document that's littered with text balloons and overlapping red and green, underlined and crossed-out passages. In the end, the tracking may not accurately reflect the individual changes anymore. To illustrate our point, try this: With Track Changes on, delete a random word in a random section of your Word document; now type that same word back in where it belongs. Track Changes will show a word as having been deleted and another as having been added, even though, in effect, nothing has changed.


b. The three options you are offered for approving or rejecting changes are all problematic. If you globally accept all changes, the tracking will disappear from your document, and you won't be able to go back and review the revisions later. Alternatively, if you go over your document and accept your changes one by one, it can take forever. Finally, if you simply select the "Final" view mode, your first-draft blunders remain embedded in the document for all the world to see if they choose to view either of the "Markup" modes.


c. If you have a sensitive document that you share with others, Track Changes can reveal confidential edits that the final recipient isn't meant to see.


We prefer Workshare DeltaView, a redlining application that's used by major law firms, because it provides accurate document comparison without the drawbacks described above. Note that you do not need to have the software yourself to view the redline—it comes to you as a simple Word document.


Of course, we are happy to use Word's Track Changes on your document if you prefer. Just let us know in the comments section when you place your order!
  

5. What is the difference between Basic Proofing and Proofing Plus?
Here's the analogy we like to use: Basic Proofing examines the trees, while Proofing Plus also looks at the forest. Basic Proofing corrects errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization. Proofing Plus does all that and also looks at the bigger picture: style, clarity, word choice, inconsistencies, redundancies and flow. See our Levels of Service page for more information.
  

6. Can you help someone who is a nonnative English speaker?
Absolutely. In fact, we have a service that's designed just for you! Our ESL (English as a Second Language) Proofing package helps nonnative speakers use the correct words to express the intended message. It gives you all the benefits of Basic Proofing while also addressing awkward phrasing, limited vocabulary and misuse of idioms and slang.
  

7. How do I decide how much editing my work needs?
Take a look at the definitions for Basic Proofing and Proofing Plus for starters (or see question 5 for an explanation of the differences). The real question is: Are you just worried about errors, or do you feel your writing style could be improved as well? We recommend Proofing Plus if it's the latter. For nonnative English speakers, we recommend ESL Proofing to help you achieve natural phrasing. If you're still in doubt, feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to discuss your specific needs.
  

8. Can you handle any type of document, or do you specialize in certain fields?
Yes and yes! Each of our editors has expertise in a number of specialty fields. As a result, we take pains to match every document with the person best suited for the job. Nothing is assigned randomly.
  

9. Do you accept international orders?
Of course. Our rates are in US dollars, but we receive orders from around the world. Please note that international orders must be paid by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).
  

10. How much does your service cost?
Use our Rate Calculator and find out! Our no-obligation quotes are clear, instantaneous and guaranteed. As long as you provide accurate information about your document, the quote you get is the price you'll pay when you place your order.


At Canyouproofthis.com, our goal is to be the best proofreading and copyediting service—not the cheapest. Check out our Mission Statement to learn what makes us different. You may be able to find slightly lower rates with an impersonal clearinghouse, but you won't find our friendliness, flexibility, responsiveness or quality. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for.   

11. Do you charge more for rush orders?
Yes. We charge 30 to 50 percent more for rush service, but the exact surcharge depends on your word count and whether you select 24-hour or 3-day service. The best way to determine how much a rush service will cost is to plug your information into our Rate Calculator. Our quotes are instantaneous and obligation-free, so try as many scenarios as you'd like!
  

12. Is there a minimum or maximum document length that you accept?
We accept jobs of any size; however, because of the administrative effort involved with processing each job, we do charge a minimum of US$50.00 per order for Standard turnarounds, US$70.00 for Rush turnarounds, and US$90.00 for Priority Rush turnarounds.
  

13. How and when do I pay you?
The easiest way to pay is by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express), either via our secure shopping cart or by phone or fax. While we authorize your credit card when you place your order, we don't charge it until the work is completed. You may also pay by money order in US dollars, but please be aware that we cannot begin work on your document until we receive the money order in the mail.
  

14. Is my credit card information safe with you?
Yes. Please read all about our privacy and security measures, about SSL technology and Comodo, and about "https" and padlocks here.
  

15. Can I trust Canyouproofthis.com to be discrete with my sensitive document?
Apart from the fact that we would spell it "discreet," absolutely. Our editors are required to sign a confidentiality agreement guaranteeing that no client information of any kind will be released. See our Privacy Policy for details. Also, you can choose to either have us keep your original and revised documents on file for up to one year or have us delete them after two weeks (when we're sure there are no more outstanding questions or issues).
  

16. How do I send my work to you, and how will I get it back?
We send and receive documents electronically, either through the upload tool on our order page or via

e-mail. Once we're done, we'll send you an e-mail with a link to download your clean, corrected version plus a redlined version showing you exactly what changes were made to your document. Or, if you prefer, we can use Word's Track Changes feature to highlight our corrections. (See question 4 for more on that topic.)
  

17. What platforms and file types can you work with?
We work on both Windows and Mac platforms. While we typically deal with documents created in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat or Final Draft, we often work with other formats as well, including spreadsheets, databases, desktop publishing applications, graphic files and Web content. If you have an unusual format, feel free to contact us to discuss it. Please note: Due to a lack of demand, we unfortunately no longer work with WordPerfect documents. If your document is in WordPerfect, we'll be happy to convert it to a Word file and do our proofing work in Word.
  

18. Do you offer invoicing or other payment procedures for corporate accounts?
Yes. We work with our corporate clients to find a customized payment system that meets their needs and complies with their company's accounting protocols. Many of our corporate clients have a credit card on file with us, which we charge whenever we complete a job. Some require monthly statements of activity, even if they pay by credit card. Others require purchase orders and estimates. Whatever your company needs, we'll be happy to prepare the appropriate documentation. For US corporate clients only, we can send a weekly or monthly invoice and receive payment by check.
  

19. What are your editors' qualifications?
Our editors come from various educational and professional backgrounds. A good number of them are English majors, and some have worked for, or currently work for, publishing houses. Given our Los Angeles location, we also have quite a few editors with Hollywood scriptwriting and script-reading experience. But no matter what your field, we'll have an editor with extensive expertise in that area.

All our editors are required to have a minimum of three years of professional copyediting experience, and we fully investigate their credentials. In addition, every editor must pass a rigorous copyediting test of our own design. How rigorous? Over 90 percent of applicants fail, including some with stellar résumés. It would be fair to say we're very selective!
  

20. What happens if I am not happy with your edits?
If you're unhappy, we're unhappy. We guarantee the quality of our work with a no-hassle "redo or refund" policy. Please inform us about any complaints within a week of completion of the job, and we'll either redo the work at no extra charge or offer you a full or partial refund.


With Proofing Plus, keep in mind that if you disagree with some of the editor's stylistic choices, you can always undo any edits you dislike. That's why we provide you with a clean, corrected file as well as a redlined file that shows what changes were made.


Please don't hesitate to contact us if you're dissatisfied. It rarely happens, but when it does, we want to make things right!
  

21. Do you offer writing or translation services?
Funny you should ask. We are currently planning to expand our services to include two sister sites: www.canyouwritethis.com and www.canyoutranslatethis.com. We have already begun providing copywriting services (including advertising and packaging copy) to a number of clients, and we are preparing to offer Spanish translation services soon. Stay tuned for updates. If you're interested in finding out more about our copywriting services and rates, contact us today!
  

22. Which style guide do you follow? Do you use serial commas, for example?
We consult a number of references in our work. Depending on the type of document, we use everything from the AP Stylebook to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association to the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications. One of our most trusted resources is the Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition).


In general, we don't impose our style preferences on you. If you want us to apply AP guidelines, we will. If you need your footnotes to comply with MLA conventions, consider it done. We're familiar with just about every major style guide, and we're happy to follow a particular (even company-specific) one at your request. Feel free to make a note about it in the comments section of your order. If you do need us to apply a specific style guide, please note that you need to select the Proofing Plus or ESL Proofing level.

As for the serial comma, that's one of the most hotly debated punctuation issues around (and yes, some people do debate these types of things). The AP Stylebook is against it; the Chicago Manual of Style is for it. We don't want to create any enemies by revealing our personal leanings, so we'll just say this: Whichever way you go, try to be consistent. We'll follow your lead!
  

23. Do you proofread footnotes for correct citations and format?
Yes, we do, as long as you specifically request it in the comments section of your order. Be aware that you must select either the Proofing Plus or ESL Proofing level for us to apply a particular citation style.
  

24. Can you reformat my screenplay into Final Draft?
Unfortunately, we have stopped offering formatting services for the time being. But if your script is already in Final Draft, we'll be happy to proof it for you.
  

25. Can you help me with my legal document?
Certainly. We have a wealth of experience proofreading legal documents such as contracts, filings and briefs. But since we're not lawyers, we can't comment on the validity, legalities and/or liabilities of your document.
  

26. I need a proofreader to work on-site for a few hours a week. Can you help?
Yes, we most likely can. Depending on where you're located and what your specific needs are, we'll provide proofreaders from our existing pool or do the recruiting (and vetting, testing and payroll) for you. We offer both temporary and long-term staffing solutions and have successfully placed a number of our freelance editors in such positions. Please contact us to discuss your on-site staffing needs.
  


 


   




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