Like all else in life, proofreading takes time

We`ve had students ask if it is possible to proofread an entire master`s dissertation in one to two days. The short answer? Yes. But we really shouldn`t. Anybody can rush through a document and claim to have proofread it. Unfortunately, rushed proofreading delivers poor results.

A proofreader worth their salt won't rely on time-saving programs like Grammarly or ProWriting Aid—even if these are valuable tools for students. There are mistakes these programs simply don't pick up on. A professional proofreader will carefully work through the text multiple times to spot these mistakes. If they rush this process, the value of their work suffers.

Proofreaders will also make use of external resources, meaning they won't only rely on their current knowledge and intuitions. Any honest language practitioner will admit to having limits as a human being. This means a proofreader will do some research as they are working on your text. Thus, to create the best version of your text, proofreaders need sufficient time.

But how much time?

Every language practitioner works at a different pace, but scanning through the text only once to save time is insufficient. Another factor to consider is the text itself; the subject matter, language use, and complexity of the text influence how long proofreading the text will take.

Generally, 100 pages take about 3-5 days, but can take longer depending on the text itself. The more corrections and suggestions a text requires, the longer it will take. Proofreading a text that was never revised by the author could also take longer. Making sense of very confusing sentences that were written in a hurry and never worked on again takes time, and some correspondence.

Select a proofreader who adheres to a code of ethics. A proofreader must always be honest about whether they can deliver the text on time. You can directly ask the proofreader if they are subject to an organisation's code of ethics (like SATI). Ethical proofreaders will inform you if the time frame you had in mind is achievable or not. They will also inform you about not being able to handle another assignment at the moment.

The best thing you can do is to factor in enough time for proofreading, and also be a bit flexible on when you expect the text back. For that reason, trying to send your text to a proofreader at the last minute is to be avoided.

Are we there yet?

After your proofreader returns your text with all the corrections and suggestions (via track changes and comments), be careful not to get too excited; you're not done yet. Next, you will have to work through the text and accept or reject all the track changes, and read through all the comments.

Be careful not to reject track changes that are related to grammar, spelling, or style. It is not uncommon for students to reject track changes that ought to have been accepted. If you feel uneasy about something, check with your proofreader and ask them why they made that change. It might be that they misunderstood the meaning and suggested changes accordingly

I don't have time. Why even bother?

Research shows that facts, clever arguments, and great research lose credibility due to language errors. Sadly, this means that examiners and peers might disregard good research simply because of poor language use.

Whenever we do research, our minds are hard at work, and language often takes a back seat. But when an examiner reads the text, they are already playing the role of critic. Their minds are focused on finding errors, and naturally language errors will jump from the page too. The same can be said for peer reviewers. Having a text proofread allows your readers to focus on the content of your research without stumbling over language hurdles.

Proofreading is like adding salt and pepper to food; you could eat it without, but you would rather not. Examiners are the food critics of academic writing—it is wise to give them their salt and pepper.

If you have questions regarding the proofreading process, don't hesitate to contact us.