Proofreader for your Thesis? Here’s How to Pick One

As a student who is starting an undergraduate, Master’s or a PhD course,  there are so many things that you need to take care of. And one of those is to make sure that you are good in English, especially in writing. Even if you think that using English as your second language is enough, sometimes, you need a proofreader to help you.

So if you are needing proofreading services, then you need to hire the best one out there. There are multiple options to pick from, even online. If you don’t know how, then here are some tips to help you pick the right one.

Individual or Company?

One of the things that you need to consider first before hiring a proofreader for your thesis or other school work is if you will get one who works individually or from a company. You can hire proofreaders from either option. But of course, there are pros and cons to consider. If you hire an individual proofreader, you can consult with them directly and work on more than one document for you. However, if they get busy or are sick, they will not have anyone who can finish the work for them.

If you work with a proofreader from a company, you are assured that they have enough proofreaders available even during their busiest times. However, there will be no guarantee that your projects will be worked on by the same proofreader. Unlike when working with individual proofreaders, you will not be able to directly talk to the ones who work for a company.

Ask for References

Before you hire a proofreader, take the time to ask for references and testimonials. What you need to look into are references from their previous customers who needed proofreading services as you, like Master’s Dissertation, PhD, etc. When asking for references, do not forget to include the full names. Also, the references should not be all identical.

Check Proofreaders’ Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is a very serious offense and should not be taken lightly. If you plagiarize and you get caught, you will not only get penalized, but you might end up  getting kicked off your course. And even if you manage not to get caught, using someone else’s work and submitting it as your own is simply unethical. That is why you need to make sure that you ask the proofreader or the company about their policies regarding plagiarism. Never choose a company that has a history of plagiarism cases. You do not want to put your education at risk just because you want to take the easy way out.

Hiring a proofreader is probably the best thing for you to do when you know that you have problems with English as a language. A genuine and proven proofreader that you can also trust with your thesis and other schoolwork is someone that you need. So you can hire someone who works individually or one from a company. The choice will depend on your preference.