Proofreading can make a real difference to how polished your work reads, but it is also an area where students worry about breaking the rules. Most UK universities allow third-party proofreading, within clear limits. Many publish a formal proofreading policy, and while the details differ, most follow a similar pattern.
Your own university’s policy always takes priority. Search your university website for “proofreading policy” or check your programme handbook. Some programmes, particularly those assessing language skills, don’t allow proofreading at all.
What a proofreader is usually allowed to do
Under a typical UK policy, a proofreader may identify or correct:
- Spelling and typographical errors
- Grammar and syntax, such as subject–verb agreement and tense consistency
- Punctuation
- Formatting and layout, such as consistent headings, numbering, fonts and spacing
- Inconsistencies in terminology, abbreviations or the formatting of references
- Unclear sentences, by flagging them for you to rewrite yourself
Many policies require changes to be suggested rather than made, using comments or tracked changes, so that you make the final decision on each one.
What a proofreader must not do
Proofreaders are generally not allowed to:
- Add, remove or rewrite content, including arguments, ideas or evidence
- Restructure your work, for example by moving paragraphs or sections
- Correct factual, calculation or coding errors, or the accuracy of your references
- Rewrite passages to improve the argument or style
- Translate your work into English
- Change anything that would alter the meaning of what you have written
The principle behind all of this is simple: the work submitted for assessment must demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and writing. A proofreader can help you present that clearly, but cannot supply it.
Proofreading versus editing versus feedback
These terms are often used loosely, so it helps to be precise:
- Proofreading is the final surface-level check described above.
- Editing usually means substantive changes to wording, flow or structure. For assessed work, an editor making those changes for you is normally not allowed.
- Feedback means comments that explain what could be improved and why, for you to act on yourself. Tutors, writing centres and study-skills advisers give feedback all the time, and it is generally acceptable because you do the rewriting.
How to use proofreading safely
- Read your university’s policy first, and share it with your proofreader.
- Keep copies of the draft you sent and the version returned with tracked changes. Some universities ask to see them.
- Declare it if required. Some policies ask you to acknowledge proofreading in your submission. A good proofreader will give you a short statement of what they did.
- Make the decisions yourself. Review every suggested change rather than accepting them all at once.
- Leave enough time. A dissertation proofread can take several days, and you need time to review the changes afterwards.
Red flags in a proofreading service
Be wary of any service that offers to “improve your argument”, “upgrade your grade”, “paraphrase” your work or “rewrite it in academic English”. Those go beyond proofreading. Using them could put your work in breach of your university’s academic integrity rules.
How we proofread
Proofreading is available across all our services, from short assignments to full dissertations. It follows the limits described above by default, and your university’s own policy where it’s stricter. We work in tracked changes and comments, flag rather than rewrite unclear sentences, and can provide a short statement of the work done if your university requires one. If you want help with argument or structure, our draft feedback explains what to change and why, so you can make the changes yourself.