7 Factors to Pay Attention to When Choosing an Editing Service

Normally, essay editing should be done by its author – i.e., by the student. However, there are multiple reasons why many students can’t handle this task on their own. For example, editing can be a huge problem for non-native English speakers, even those who know the language well enough. 

Yet, international students are not the only ones experiencing problems with editing and proofreading. There are also STEM majors for which language is usually not a priority. That is not to mention busy students who just don’t have enough time to dig into details, write an essay and get it edited in time. 

However, editing and proofreading are crucial if you want to get a high mark for your essay. At this point you have the question, “Who proofread my paper“? That is the moment when an online essay editing service comes in handy. Professional editors and proofreaders can do things like:

• fixing complex grammar issues;
• improving the overall style and delivery;
• improving the structure and storyline. 

However, picking the best service is not easy at all. To help you choose, we’ve put together a list of some factors you should pay attention to. Here they are. 

Customer Reviews and Ratings  

We all know that reviews on the Internet are not always genuine. Despite the huge number of fake reviews, this is the main way to get a clearer picture and narrow down your options. 

To increase your chances of finding genuine reviews from real customers, visit the service’s official website, go one step further from the testimonials section. Visit several popular review platforms like Glassdoor or Trustpilot. 

When checking the reviews, remember to pay attention to the overall rating of the service and the number of testimonials. The more of them – the better. Usually, it means that the company is well-known and popular.  

Prices 

Students typically have tight budgets, so there’s nothing wrong with looking for a bargain whenever possible. The companies targeting their products and services to students realize it and try to keep their prices affordable. 

However, it’s crucial to understand that there’s always a reasonable threshold. Professional writers don’t work for free, and the company needs money to operate and to pay its team. So, it’s better to avoid companies that offer extremely cheap services. Chances are, these are amateur enterprises or even downright scams. 

Guarantees   

All reliable companies are not afraid to offer guarantees to their customers. Writing and editing services are not an exception. For example, the top companies on the market would offer refunds. Such guarantees are presupposed even for rare cases, like failing to meet the deadline. 

What’s more, trustworthy services do everything possible to ensure they deliver the best quality work. To do this, they usually offer an unlimited number of free revisions and a free plagiarism report. That way, the customer can be fully satisfied with what they get for the paid amount. 

Editors’ Backgrounds 

It takes a lot of time and some talent to become a qualified proofreader and editor. So, a professional in this sphere should have an appropriate background in writing and editing. An academic degree is also a must because it’s essential to know the academic requirements. 

So, top services always hire writers and editors with degrees. Check their credentials to make sure the candidates are qualified for the work. They also have a special section on their official website where you can find the writers’ and editors’ profiles. Always read them before picking a writer and feel free to ask additional questions! 

Most companies also allow their customers to get in touch with the write paper or editor to clear all the details. So, check whether you can use this option as well.

Customer Support 

A reliable editing service should also provide professional customer support. It should preferably be available 24/7. Often, students have frantic schedules and time for their assignments – only at night. 

So, a pop-up chat window on the website encouraging you to ask any questions about the service is a good sign. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in that window. You will see how the support operator will be able (or not) to answer them and clear your doubts. 

The Website’s Age 

There may be lots of new companies that provide quality services, but choose wisely not to waste your money. Unless you have personal recommendations, it’s safer to choose the older companies. And the easiest (though not the only) way to find out how long the company’s been operating is by checking the age of its official website. 

If you don’t know how to do it, just use the online checkers that are easy to find using Google or any other search engine. 

There are also some other options like:

• Reading the “About Us” section on the company’s official website. Those that have been around for quite a while are usually very proud of this fact and never fail to include the date of establishment in this section. 
• Browsing through the publications on the Internet where the company’s name is mentioned. The articles typically come with the date. It’s also a good way to trace back the company’s roots. 

Location 

Finally, don’t forget to check where the service of your choice is located. The location shouldn’t be the main factor that affects your choice of service. Yet, it’s still better to choose a company registered somewhere in English-speaking countries. It can be the US, the UK, or the English-speaking part of Canada, for example. 

It’s also safer to choose the companies located in the same country where your school is. It ensures that the editors know the exact academic requirements they will need to adhere to. 

Wrapping Up  

These were the main factors any students need to pay attention to when choosing an essay editing service. Learn them by heart or save the article to make sure you don’t miss anything out the next time you’ll need some professional editing help!