Frequently asked questions

The Scribbr Plagiarism Checker uses Turnitin’s official software and compares your work against a database with billions of sources. If you purchase a plagiarism check, a self-plagiarism check is included.

The Scribbr Self-Plagiarism Checker uses sources that you upload yourself, such as previously submitted work or the work of your peers. Copying or paraphrasing too closely from unpublished works is still plagiarism, and it’s easy to do accidentally.

It’s easy! You can add sources to the Scribbr Self-Plagiarism Checker in the following formats:

• .pdf files
• .docx or .doc files
• .txt files

Note that if a document has a different file format from those listed above, we recommend converting it to .pdf or .docx.

You can also copy any text passages (e.g., from a website) directly into the checker.

The Scribbr Self-Plagiarism Checker is a unique plagiarism checker that allows you to customize the sources you check.

Sources you can add to the Self-Plagiarism Checker include:

• Your own past work
• Unpublished work from your fellow students
• Unpublished PDFs
• Internet pages (copied and pasted directly into the checker)

This depends somewhat on the type of question you ask and the amount of information you give our expert. We guarantee that you will receive an answer within 24 hours. However, if you ask a clear question, you will usually already receive an answer in much less time than that.

You can ask our experts questions on any academic topic. You can ask questions related to writing a thesis, essay, or any other academic paper, or more methodologically-oriented questions. Our areas of expertise include citation, statistics, how to start your research, academic writing, and structuring your paper. Even if the topic is not listed here, we’ll do everything to help you get the answer you need, or give you a full refund.

However, it’s important to note that we cannot do your work for you (e.g., rewrite your paper or do the research for you). Rather, we help you get the answers you need to empower you to tackle even the toughest topics yourself.

All of our experts are affiliated with Scribbr and have extensive knowledge of academic research and language. To become an expert, they must meet strict quality requirements and have obtained at least a college degree.

Yes, the experts at Scribbr are always available to answer your questions. We are available every day from 09:00 AM to 11:00 PM (CET).

At Scribbr, we promise to ensure every customer is 100% satisfied with our services. Our philosophy is: every complaint is justified. Our support team is always ready to find a suitable solution for you, whether it’s a second opinion or a full refund in the case of dissatisfaction.

To pay for this service, you sign up for a free subscription plan and then pay a flat fee of $2.99 per question. The amount charged at the end of each monthly subscription period is based on the number of questions you have asked during that period.

Charging you this way saves you the unnecessary transaction fees you would otherwise pay for each question separately. If you have not asked any questions during a monthly term, you will not be charged.

Extensive testing proves that Scribbr’s plagiarism checker is one of the most accurate plagiarism checkers on the market in 2022.

The software detects everything from exact word matches to synonym swapping. It also has access to a full range of source types, including open- and restricted-access journal articles, theses and dissertations, websites, PDFs, and news articles.

No, you will never get a 100% match because the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker does not store documents in a public database.

You can change the settings of your report by clicking on the gear icon which is displayed just above the similarity score.

The settings allow you to exclude search repositories or ignore small matches, quoted material, or references in your bibliography.

No, the Self-Plagiarism Checker does not store your document in any public database.

In addition, you can delete all your personal information and documents from the Scribbr server as soon as you’ve received your plagiarism report.

Are you not satisfied with the results of the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker, or are you experiencing difficulties with the document? Find out what to do when…

• you cannot see your plagiarism results:Try opening the results in Google Chrome, or request a PDF copy.
• you see an error message in the header of your document:Don’t worry – you can ignore the error message.
• you see “Error! Bookmark not defined” in your table of contents:Don’t worry – this error doesn’t affect your results.
• you are not satisfied with your similarity score:The similarity score shows you what percentage of your text the software found in sources in the Turnitin database. That means we cannot change your score.

  However, you can reduce the similarities yourself by following our simple guides to interpreting the report and avoiding plagiarism. Then the similarity score of your submitted paper will be much lower. If you want to see your new score after following these guides, you can purchase a second check.

• you are not 100% happy with our service:Read about our 100% happiness guarantee and fill in the feedback form. We will contact you within 24 hours.

If you copied a fragment from a source and the Plagiarism Check did not find it, there are four possible explanations.

You paraphrased the fragment

If you paraphrased the original text by using different words and/or changing their order, the fragment will no longer be detected by the plagiarism software.

You can test this by searching the fragment in double quotation marks on Google. If no results are returned, you successfully paraphrased. Note that you still need to cite the source of the original idea.

However, if Google did return a result but our software did not highlight it, this might mean that…

The source is not part of our database

The Turnitin database used by the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker contains 99.3 billion current and historical webpages and 8 million journal articles and books. However, it’s possible that the source you used is an inaccessible publication or a student paper that is not part of our database.

Even if you’re certain that the source is publicly accessible, it might not yet have been added to the database. Turnitin is constantly updating its database by searching the internet and adding new publications. You can expect the source to be added in the near future.

The “Exclude Small Matches” number is set too high

By default, the plagiarism report shows similarities of 9 words or more. If the fragment you copied is shorter than that, it will not be shown in the report.

You can manually adjust the minimum length in order to show shorter similarities. Find out how to do that here.

Your document was not readable

If you uploaded a PDF file, it is possible that your document is not machine readable or was converted to an image instead of text. As a result, no similarities will be found.

To test if the text in your PDF is readable, you can copy and paste the document into a text editor (e.g. Microsoft Word, Notepad, TextEdit). If the text editor shows the same text as the PDF, then the text will also be readable by our plagiarism software.

The Scribbr Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker, namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases.

Your document will be compared to the world’s largest and fastest-growing content database, containing over:

• 99.3 billion current and historical webpages.
• 8 million publications from more than 1,700 publishers such as Springer, IEEE, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, and Taylor & Francis.

Note: Scribbr does not have access to Turnitin’s global database with student papers. Only your university can add and compare submissions to this database.

Scribbr’s plagiarism checker offers complete support for 20 languages, including English, Spanish, German, Arabic, and Dutch.

The complete list of supported languages:

• Arabic
• Bosnian
• Croatian
• Czech
• Danish
• Dutch
• English
• Finnish
• French
• German
• Greek
• Italian
• Norwegian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Serbian
• Spanish
• Swedish
• Turkish

If you purchased a Plagiarism Checker in combination with our Proofreading & Editing service, you can start the Plagiarism Checker anytime at your convenience.

Scribbr recommends using the Plagiarism Checker after you have received your document and gone through all of the edits. Then you can upload the most recent version of your paper and avoid having to manually transfer changes from one document to another.

No, your teacher, professor, or admissions officer will not be able to see your submissions at Scribbr because they’re not added to any shared or public databases.

Your writing stays private. Your submissions to Scribbr are not published in any public database, so no other plagiarism checker (including those used by universities) will see them.

If your university uses Turnitin, the result will be very similar to what you see at Scribbr.

The only possible difference is that your university may compare your submission to a private database containing previously submitted student papers. Scribbr does not have access to these private databases (and neither do other plagiarism checkers).

Luckily, many papers, theses, and dissertations are also published in public databases that Scribbr does have access to.

Yes, if you are interested in buying more than 25 plagiarism checks, please fill in the form below. Depending on the size of your request, you will be contacted by a representative of either Scribbr or our partner Turnitin.

For questions you can mail [email protected].

Downloading a PDF of your results is simple. Just follow these two steps:

Step 1: Open your Plagiarism Check order page and click the “Generate PDF” button

Step 2: Wait until the button turns green and click “Download PDF”

Sometimes the Scribbr Plagiarism Check finds similarities that are not forms of plagiarism, such as references and correctly cited sources. You can exclude these irrelevant similarities from your total similarity score.

Exclude similarities:
Step 1: Open your Plagiarism Check results.
Step 2: Click on the highlighted similarity that you would like to exclude.
Step 3: Click on the “Exclude” button on the right.

The similarity is now excluded from your total similarity score.

If you have excluded multiple sources from your total similarity score, then you might see an error message in your Plagiarism Check results. Unfortunately, this is a problem that we cannot fix at the moment.

If you encounter this issue, you can simply ignore all irrelevant similarities and subtract their score from your total similarity score. This allows you to calculate your actual similarity score by yourself.

Review every similarity for plagiarism, and decide whether or not you need to revise your text.

1. Review the similarity, and think about whether or not the match makes sense to you.
2. Revise the snippet if necessary. You can do so by paraphrasing or quoting. Always cite your sources.

If you accidentally uploaded the wrong document to the Plagiarism Checker, Scribbr will not refund you for this check or give you a discount for another check. The check starts automatically upon payment, which is why we cannot change your document anymore.

A similarity score of 0% means that our plagiarism software didn’t find any similarities between your document and other documents in our database.

On average, only 1 out of 150 students achieve this. Congratulations!

Your work should not contain any plagiarism. Even if your score is 1%, you will need to review each similarity and decide whether it’s necessary to revise your work.

But contrary to popular belief, plagiarism checkers work by detecting not plagiarism, but similarities. Not all similarities found by the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker constitute plagiarism. Our check sometimes flags the following:

• Properly cited quotes
• In-text citations or your reference list
• Commonly used phrases

Because of this, you can generally follow these guidelines:

1. A score higher than 10% is troublesome.
2. A score between 5% and 10% it is not necessarily bad per se.
3. A score around 5% is reasonable.

What should I do with a found similarity?

Your similarity score shows you what percentage of your text is found within sources in the comparison database.

For example, if your score is 15%, then 15% of the content you wrote is unoriginal, as it matches text in the database.

You will have to review each similarity and decide whether or not you need to revise your work.

What is a good score? How do I update my work?

If you’re unable to view the Plagiarism Check results in your browser, please try the following two solutions:

1. Are you using Google Chrome?

We’ve found that using Google Chrome resolves most issues related to the results page. First, try using Google Chrome to open your Plagiarism Check results. If you are already using Google Chrome, or if this solution does not work, then proceed to the second solution.

2. Contact support for a PDF copy of the results.

If the first solution doesn’t work, you can contact our support team via chat or email and request a PDF copy of the results via email. This way, you can still review and process the results. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Scribbr checks your document for plagiarism only once. You can use the “exclude text” feature to exclude similarities that you’ve resolved, which automatically updates your similarity score.

If you would like to recheck your entire document, you can purchase a new plagiarism check at the regular price. We don’t currently offer a subscription service.

Sometimes a quote is marked as a similarity by the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker. A quote is not a form of plagiarism, but you do have to ensure you have properly cited the original source.

If you’re certain that you have correctly quoted and cited, you can exclude the similarity from your plagiarism score.

Below we briefly explain the rules for quoting in APA Style.

Quotes under 40 words

When quoting fewer than 40 words, use double quotation marks around the quote, and provide an APA in-text citation that includes the author, the year, and a page number or range.

Quotes over 40 words

If the quote contains 40 words or more, format it as a block quote, which begins on a new line and is indented in its entirety. Include an in-text citation after the period.

The Scribbr Plagiarism Checker detect similarities between your paper and a comprehensive database of web and publication content. Because many students write their references in the same way (for instance in APA Style), a plagiarism checker finds many similarities with these sources.

A reference found by the check is not a form of plagiarism. Therefore, there is no need to take action.

How to exclude your reference list from your results:

You can exclude matches from your reference list in your Plagiarism Check results. However, please be aware that this might not always work, depending on your document.

Step 1: Open your Plagiarism Check results.
Step 2: Click the settings button in the “Sources overview” (see picture below).
Step 3: Select exclude reference list. (see picture below).
Step 4: Click “Done.”

No worries! This error does not influence the accuracy of your Plagiarism Check results.

If you have inserted a chapter or section title in the header of your document, then you might see an error message in your Plagiarism Check results.

Instead of the title, you will see an error message like the one above. Unfortunately, this is a problem that we cannot fix.

Our check may flag these error messages as similarities. You can ignore these similarities.

No worries! This error does not influence the accuracy of your Plagiarism Check results.

If you have an automatic table of contents and/or list of figures and tables, then you might see an error message instead of the page numbers. The error message might look like this: “Error! Bookmark not defined.”

Unfortunately, this is something we cannot fix. Our check may flag these error messages as similarities. You can ignore these similarities.

The Scribbr Plagiarism Checker is able to work with the following file formats:

• Doc
• Docx
• Pdf
• Odt

The format you use doesn’t influence the final result. If you’re working with a format not listed here, we recommend converting it prior to submitting.

At the moment we do not offer a monthly subscription for the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker. Plagiarism checks can be bought separately — prices depend on the size of your document.

By default, the plagiarism report only shows similarities of 9 words or more.

You can change the minimum length of a similarity yourself in order to exclude small matches from the plagiarism report.

What is the best value for the “Exclude Small Matches” setting?

The ideal minimum length of similarities is different per case. In general, we believe that setting the minimum to 8 words, results in too many small similarities that are unlikely to be plagiarism. That’s why the default value is set to 9.

However, if you believe that your document contains many small similarities that are not plagiarism (like these), you can try changing the setting to 10 or 11 to get a more accurate view of the potential plagiarism in your document.

Proceed with caution, since increasing the number might hide potential plagiarism in your report.

How can I change this “Exclude Small Matches” setting?

1) Click on the gear icon on the top right of the plagiarism report

2) Fill in your desired minimum similarity length

3) Click “Done” to go back to the “Sources overview”

When should I change the “Exclude Small Matches” value?

For most people, there is no need to change this value. However, if you want more control over the similarities shown in your report and you think that most of the small similarities are not relevant, you can increase this number.

Please proceed with caution, since increasing this number might hide potential plagiarism in your report. Decreasing the value is not recommended.

What happens when you decrease the “Exclude Small Matches”?

If you decrease this number, shorter similarities will be included in the report. This means you will see more similarities and a higher similarity percentage.

However, most of these extra similarities are unlikely to be instances of plagiarism. Short similarities are often the result of common phrases that appear in many different sources.

What happens when you increase the “Exclude Small Matches”?

If you increase this number, only longer similarities will be included in the report. This means you will see fewer similarities and a lower similarity percentage.

Since the similarities are longer, the similarities you now see are more likely to be plagiarism.

However, by excluding the smaller similarities, you might miss some instances of potential plagiarism.

We are here to help you daily via chat, WhatsApp, email or phone between 2:00 am to 10:00 pm CST.

Yes! Our personal statement editors can help you reduce your word count by up to 25%. You can choose to receive this feedback through direct edits or suggestions in comments – just select your choice when you upload your personal statement.

Our APA experts default to APA 7 for editing and formatting. For the Citation Editing Service you are able to choose between APA 6 and 7.

It is not necessary to reserve a time slot for your edit. As soon as your document is ready to be proofread, you can upload it at any time via our website. Based on your chosen deadline, our editor(s) will then proofread your document within 24 hours, 3 days, or 7 days.

If you are unsure about the availability of our services or are planning to upload a very large document (>13,000 words) with a 24 hour deadline, we recommend that you contact us beforehand via chat or email.

Scribbr is following the preventive measures announced by the WHO (World Health Organization) to prevent any further spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. As an online platform, all our services remain available, and we will continue to help students as usual.

Can I still place an order? Will my order be completed within the deadline?
Yes, you can still place orders and orders will be delivered within the agreed upon deadline. Scribbr is an online platform – our proofreading & editing services are provided by editors working remotely from all over the world. This means Scribbr can guarantee that we will process your order with the same diligence and professionalism as always. The same holds true for our Plagiarism Checker.

Can I still contact customer support?
Yes. The staff of our Amsterdam headquarters is working from home following the recommendations of the Dutch government and the WHO. Our support team is available from 09.00 to 23.00 CET and happy to answer any questions you might have!

Yes, if your document is longer than 30,000 words, you will get a sample of approximately 2,000 words. This sample edit gives you a first impression of the editor’s editing style and a chance to ask questions and give feedback.

How does the sample edit work?

You will receive the sample edit within 24 hours after placing your order. You then have 24 hours to let us know if you’re happy with the sample or if there’s something you would like the editor to do differently.

Read more about how the sample edit works

When you upload a large document (30,000+ words), we will ask your editor to send a sample edit of approximately 2,000 words as soon as possible. This sample edit gives you a first impression of your editor’s editing style and what you can expect from the service. You will receive it within 24 hours after uploading your order.

Why do we provide you with a sample edit?

We always aim to make you 100% happy, and Proofreading & Editing is a complex service. We want to make sure that our editing style meets your expectations before the editor improves your entire document.

Our editors are trained to follow Scribbr’s academic style. However, your preferences might deviate from our conventions. The sample edit gives you the chance to provide feedback – you can let us know if you’re happy with the sample or if there’s something you would like the editor to do differently.

How does the sample edit work?

Once your editor has completed your sample edit, you will receive a notification via email. You have 24 hours to reply to this email and provide us with feedback. If we receive your feedback in time, your editor will go the extra mile and adjust the edit according to your input.

What sort of feedback can you give?

Give us feedback that will help your editor meet your requirements. For example:

• “I am completely happy. The editor can continue editing like this.”
• “I forgot to mention that my school has the following rules for gendered pronouns.”
• “The editor changed the spelling of a technical term, but my professor spells it differently. Please keep the original spelling of this term.”

The Structure and Clarity Check can only be purchased in conjunction with Proofreading & Editing. Providing feedback on structure and clarity requires extensive knowledge of the text, which the editor acquires while proofreading and editing your text.

However, our Paper Formatting Service, Citation Editing Service and Plagiarism Checker can be purchased separately.

Yes, Scribbr will proofread the summary in another language as well.

Who will proofread my summary?

If your document contains a summary in a different language, we will send this part to another editor who is a native speaker of that language. The editor will check your summary, applying our standard Proofreading & Editing service.

If you ordered any additional services, such as the Structure Check or Clarity Check, the editor will not apply them to your summary. This is because the summary is a translation of your abstract – you already receive Structure and Clarity feedback on the text in the original language. Therefore, when proofreading your summary, the editor will focus on making sure your language and style is correct.

How does it work?

We will create a new assignment within your order and send you a confirmation email. This also means that you will receive a separate email/SMS notification from us when the editor has finished proofreading your summary. Once your summary is proofread, you can download it via your Scribbr account and read the editor’s feedback.

Yes, we can provide a certificate of proofreading.

As soon as the editor delivers the edit, you can email us at [email protected] to request a certificate.

Please indicate the following in your email:

• Your order number
• Your full name
• The title of your work

We will create a PDF certificate and email it to you as soon as possible.

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents. We proofread:

• Essays
• Papers
• Theses
• PhD dissertations
• Research proposals
• Personal statements
• Admission essays
• Motivation letters
• Reports
• Reflection papers
• Journal articles
• Capstone projects

Yes, when you accept all changes and delete all comments your document is ready to be handed in.

How to accept all changes:

• Word 2013
• Word 2010
• Word 2007
• Word 2003
• Word for Mac 2011

Accept changes (Word 2013)

Accept changes (Word 2010)

Accept changes (Word 2007)

Accept changes (Word 2003)

Accept changes (Word for Mac 2011)

How to remove all comments:

• Word 2013
• Word 2010
• Word 2007
• Word 2003
• Word for Mac 2011

Delete comment (Word 2013)

Delete comment (Word 2010)

Delete comment  (Word 2007)

Delete comment (Word 2003)

Delete comment (Word for Mac 2011)

When you’ve finished this, others will no longer be able to see the changes made by the editor.

Two tips

1. Read your last version one last time to make sure everything is the way you want it.
2. Save your document as a .pdf file to come across more professional and to ensure the format of your document doesn’t change.

Yes, in the order process you can indicate your preference for American, British, or Australian English.

If you don’t choose one, your editor will follow the style of English you currently use. If your editor has any questions about this, we will contact you.

Yes, you can upload your thesis in sections.

We try our best to ensure that the same editor checks all the different sections of your thesis. When you upload a new file, our system recognizes you as a returning customer, and we immediately contact the editor who helped you before.

However, we cannot guarantee that the same editor will be available. Your chances are higher if

1. You send us your text as soon as possible and
2. You can be flexible about the deadline.

Please note that the shorter your deadline is, the bigger the risk that your previous editor is not available.

If your previous editor isn’t available, then we will inform you immediately and look for another qualified editor. Fear not! Every Scribbr editor follows the Scribbr Improvement Model and will deliver high-quality work.

However, every editor has a slightly different editing style, so you may notice small inconsistencies in editing choices. As with every proofreading order, be sure to carefully review your editor’s changes and suggestions as you finalize your text to ensure that everything is as you want it.

The fastest turnaround time is 24 hours.

You can upload your document at any time and choose between three deadlines:

• 24 hours
• 3 days
• 7 days

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

Every Scribbr order comes with our award-winning Proofreading & Editing service, which combines two important stages of the revision process.

For a more comprehensive edit, you can add a Structure Check or Clarity Check to your order. With these building blocks, you can customize the kind of feedback you receive.

You might be familiar with a different set of editing terms. To help you understand what you can expect at Scribbr, we created this table:

View an example

Scribbr not only specializes in proofreading and editing texts in English, but also in several other languages. This way, we help out students from all over the world.

As a global academic writing proofreading service, we work with professional editors – all native speakers – who edit in the following languages:

• English
• German
• Dutch
• French
• Spanish
• Italian
• Danish
• Finnish
• Norwegian
• Swedish

This way, you can also have your academic writing proofread and edited in your second language!

Yes, regardless of the deadline you choose, our editors can proofread your document during weekends and holidays.

Example: If you select the 24-hour service on Saturday, you will receive your edited document back within 24 hours on Sunday.

The footnotes are not automatically included in the word count.

If you want the language errors in your footnotes to be corrected by the editor, you can indicate this in step 3 of the upload process. The words in the footnotes are then automatically added to the total word count.

Need help with your references?

• If you use the APA reference style, you can use our free APA Citation Generator or the articles about APA in our Knowledge Base.
• If you’d like us to check your references for consistency, you can use our Citation Editing Service.

To keep our prices competitive, we do not offer a free trial edit. However, if your document is longer than 30,000 words, we are happy to provide you with a sample edit of 2,000 words to ensure you are satisfied with the editor’s editing style.

Rest assured, our customers are very satisfied with our proofreading services. We’re proud that they have rated us with an excellent 9.7 on Trustpilot. In the unlikely event that you have a less positive experience, we’ll solve that with our 100% happiness guarantee!

After your thesis has been edited, you will receive an email with a link to download the edited document.

The editor has made changes to your document using ‘Track Changes’ in Word.  This means that you only have to accept or ignore the changes that are made in the text one by one.

It is also possible to accept all changes at once. However, we strongly advise you not to do so for the following reasons:

• You can learn much by looking at what mistakes you have made.
• The editors do not only change the text, they also place comments when sentences or sometimes even entire paragraphs are unclear. We therefore advise you to read through these comments and take into account your editor’s tips and suggestions.
• Because of the many changes, sometimes there may be double spaces, double periods, or other minor mistakes in a sentence. Checking the changes one by one, you can easily detect these minor errors.

We have written a manual in which we explain step by step how ‘Track Changes’ works.

Check out an example

No, you cannot contact the editor directly. Contact with the editor will always be via the Scribbr support team.

Questions about our services

If you have any questions about our services, you can contact our support team via the chat, phone or e-mail ([email protected]).

Ask questions and pass on demands from the supervisor when uploading the document

When you upload your document, you can write down all questions you have for the editor and discuss your supervisor’s demands. You can also send us your supervisor’s feedback in a separate document. We will make sure to pass on the information to the editor.

Questions about the edit and comments made by the editor

If you have any questions about the editor’s work, you can e-mail these questions to [email protected]. We will make sure that the editor answers your questions.

Tip: Write your questions in comments in your Word-document. This way, the editor can answer your questions directly in your document.

Our editors are very experienced and will do their utmost to correct all errors in your thesis.

However, with our current rates, an editor can only check your thesis once. This may cause an editor to overlook an error. We can therefore not guarantee that your thesis is 100% error free after you have had your thesis edited.

The editor uses ‘Track Changes’ in Word when editing your thesis.

Don’t know how this works? Then read the following guide in which we explain step by step how ‘Track Changes’ works.

No, we do not provide you with a clean copy. You will always receive a file edited with tracked changes.

We do this for two main reasons:

• In most papers, there are sentences that the editor cannot edit without additional information from the author. In these cases, your editor will provide guidance but leave you to implement the feedback. If we were to simply accept the changes for you, then these issues would be left unaddressed.
• We believe students should be accountable for their work. Our editors can correct language errors and coach you to be a better writer. However, the end product belongs to you and should reflect your ideas and decisions.

Check out an example

All Scribbr editors are language experts with interests in different subject areas.

You can indicate your field of study when you upload your document. We’ll make sure that the editor who proofreads your work is familiar with your discipline and its specialist vocabulary.

These are the fields of study you can choose from, and examples of the main subjects in each field:

• Business and Management: Business Administration, Hotel Management, Accountancy, Marketing
• Economics: Business Economics, Econometrics, Finance
• IT and Engineering: ICT, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Industrial Design, Electrical Engineering
• Natural and Life Sciences: Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry
• Geography, Agriculture and Environment: Ecology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning
• Health and Medical Sciences: Medicine, Obstetrics, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Dentistry
• Arts and Humanities: Philosophy, History, Literature, Cultural Studies, Theology
• Law and Policy: Law, Political Science, Public Policy, Human Rights
• Social and Behavioral Sciences: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Communication Sciences
• Other

Editors don’t have to be experts in the content of your paper, but they do know how to present it in the best way possible! Our goal is to improve your writing and give you feedback on the readability, structure, logic, and clarity of your text. We know from experience that the most effective editors are specialists in language and academic writing.

We’ve carefully selected and trained all of our editors to proofread theses and other academic documents. Once they’re qualified, we continue to carefully monitor their work to make sure we always deliver the highest quality.

We know that waiting for feedback can be nerve-racking. If you select our faster deadline option, you’ll hear from your personal statement editor in 24 hours or less – including on weekends and holidays. 

We never engage in rewriting or adding text at Scribbr. Our personal statement editors will make grammatical corrections and leave suggestions using Word’s track changes and commenting feature. However, we always make sure that your perspective and voice remain front and center in your essay.

We know that waiting for feedback can be nerve-racking. If you select our faster deadline option, you’ll hear from your college essay coach in 24 hours or less – including on weekends and holidays.

Yes. All our college essay coaches are subject-matter experts and can help you make decisions regarding the content of your essay. Your coach will help you make a strong case for your admission.

Our essay coaches will provide feedback on…

• Whether your topic is appropriate and how to strengthen it
• Whether your essay demonstrates positive traits and authenticity
• Whether the narrative flows smoothly and grabs the reader’s attention
• How to dig deeper and show self-reflection and insight
• What content is missing and should be added
• What content is weak and should be removed
• How to shorten your essay to meet a word count limit

However, we will never…

• Write or rewrite content for you
• Research or fact-check your essay’s content

If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected]

Yes! Our essay coaches can help you reduce your word count by up to 25%. You can choose to receive this feedback through direct edits or suggestions in comments – just select your choice when you upload your essay.

When you submit your essay to our College Essay Editing & Coaching service, you’ll be asked to indicate what type of content feedback you would like to receive. You can choose from three options:

• Dig deep and challenge me
• Give me the standard treatment
• Tread lightly

Whichever option you choose, you’ll receive in-depth content feedback from your essay coach. However, the type of feedback your essay coach provides may differ, and the option you should choose depends on what outcome you want from the review. You can always elaborate on what type of feedback you want in your note to your essay coach.

Learn more about the three options below.

Choose from three options

Dig deep and challenge me

If you choose this option, we’ll challenge you to write the best possible essay – no content suggestions are off-limits, including reorienting your topic or reframing your story. Students who choose this option aren’t afraid to go back to the drawing board if it’ll increase their chances of getting accepted. You may have to roll up your sleeves and do some more work on your essay, but your essay will be much stronger because of it.

Select this option if your priority is to have the best possible essay, even if it requires some extra work on your side.

Give me the standard treatment

We’ll strike a balance between “dig deep and challenge me” and “tread lightly.” We may suggest changes to your structure and narrative, including removing weak content, elaborating on certain sections, and adding content to strengthen your arguments. You may have to rework sentences and paragraphs, but we won’t suggest major content changes.

Tread lightly

With this option, we’ll focus on improving your essay in a way that requires little additional work from you. We’ll provide you with targeted suggestions for how to refine your essay’s structure and narrative, but we will work within your current structure and topic. While you may have to make a few tweaks here and there, we’ll aim to return you a polished draft that’s ready to be submitted to your chosen colleges.

Select this option if you are fairly satisfied with your essay and don’t want to make major changes or if you have limited time to revise.

Questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected]

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

We process your refund within 5 business days. Once the refund is processed, the refunded amount will be returned to your original payment method within a few days. Exactly how long this process takes depends on your payment method.

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro and Diners Club)
Visa, Mastercard and Maestro take up to 2 working days.
American Express takes up to 3 working days.
Diners Club takes up to 5 working days.

PayPal
Takes up to 5 days.

Alipay
Takes up to 4 business days.

WeChat Pay
Takes up to 5 business days.

iDEAL
Instant.

When you upload your document and select a deadline, Scribbr will determine whether one editor can edit the whole document in the selected time period.

If that is not the case, we will ask you to extend the deadline. If that’s not possible for you, Scribbr has to split the document between multiple editors.

You will receive an email notification informing you of which editor will edit which part. The editors will be in contact with each other to ensure consistency.

This also means that you will receive an email and text message from us whenever one of the editors is finished proofreading. You can login to your account anytime to check the status of your orders.

Note: You will usually receive your edited documents in parts, which you can simply merge into one. Should you encounter any problems, you can always contact our support team. If your deadline allows it, Scribbr can also merge the different parts for you. Our support team will inform you accordingly when splitting the document.

Proofreading and editing service

The maximum file size for the proofreading and editing service is 40MB.

Unfortunately, the editor cannot check larger documents. This is because we can no longer safely send the document via our server to the editor. In addition, because of its size, the editor will have difficulty with opening and editing the document.

Plagiarism Check

We can accommodate up to 400 pages per upload. If your file is too large, then you can split your document and upload it in multiple parts. You will have to pay for each separate file you upload.

Making the document smaller for the proofreading service

If your document is larger than 40MB, this is probably due to large images in your document. There are several ways to make the file size smaller.

1) Compressing images

Word can compress your images without visible loss of quality. Please see the manual of Microsoft Office about how to compress your images.

In most cases, the document will be small enough.

2) Deleting images

When the images in your document are still too large after compressing them, it is best to delete the largest images until you are below the limit.

When you feel that this could impede the editor, you can upload a PDF version of your Word document in step 4 of the upload process. We will make sure that the PDF version is sent to the editor so that the editor can always access the PDF version when necessary.

No, it’s not possible to pay in instalments after the order is completed. Before an editor can start working on your thesis the order must be paid.

To make it as easy as possible to pay, we offer the following payment methods:

As soon as you complete your payment, we will receive a notification and send you a payment confirmation. The deadline starts as soon as we’ve received your payment.

Yes, you can send your supervisor’s feedback to us in an additional document while uploading your thesis or paper. We’ll make sure to pass this feedback on to the editor who will proofread your text.

Note: It is often more useful to summarize the feedback and ask direct questions to the editor instead of handing over lengthy documents with many requirements. The more information there is the less detailed the editor can answer the questions that are most relevant to you.

Your editor is already familiar with the requirements for academic writing. Too much information can make it unclear to the editor what to focus on specifically to help you in the best way possible.

Yes, you can download your invoice after you have paid for your order.

How?

1. After completing the payment, click on “Order overview.”
2. Select the “Invoices” tab.
3. Next to the order, click “download.”

How do I make changes to the invoice?

If you want to make a change to the invoice (e.g., adding an address), then send an email to [email protected]. In this email, clearly state what you would like to have changed. We will edit it within 3-5 business days.

Please note that it is not possible to add the VAT identification number.

Yes, we can proofread and edit your LaTeX document. However, because our editors work with the track changes functionality in Word, we will have to convert your LaTeX document to a .docx document (Microsoft Word).

Converting a LaTeX document into a .docx document is not difficult, but it may mix up the layout of your thesis partly. This means that you need to check the layout afterwards. Next to that, you have to implement all the changes made by the editor in your original LaTeX file.

Convert to Word

You can convert your LaTeX file to a .docx file in 3 steps.

1. Save the LaTeX file as a pdf file.
2. Open the pdf file with Microsoft Word. (Word automatically converts the pdf to a Word document.)
3. Save the Microsoft Word file.

Please contact us if you have any difficulties converting your file yourself. We can convert your document for you.

Upload pdf version as additional file

While uploading your document, you can also add your pdf file as an additional file. This may help your editor while editing, because it will show your editor the original formatting of your text.

If you would like to have your thesis edited by Scribbr, you can upload your thesis only in the following format:

• Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx)

The editor will improve your thesis using ‘Track Changes’ in Microsoft Word.  We will always return to you a .docx file. In this Word file you can accept or ignore the changes the editor has made using the ‘Track Changes’ tool in Word. You can convert .odt files to .docx in OpenOffice or LibreOffice.

Would you like to have your document checked for plagiarism? Then upload your thesis in .doc, .docx or .pdf format. For more information go to Which file formats are supported by the Scribbr Plagiarism Check?

We explain how to upload your thesis, how to select the pages that need to be edited and how to pay on the following page: how does it work?

When editing your document our editors use ‘Track Changes’ in Word. This is an extremely useful tool with which you can easily see what the editor has done.

To use this tool, your document needs to be a .doc or .docx document. Sadly, the tool ‘Track Changes’ does not work well for .odt documents

You can, however, easily convert an .odt document to a .docx document. Below we explain how!

Step 1:

Open the .odt document with your word processor (for instance Open Office software like LibreOffice, or simply with Microsoft Word).

Step 2:

Save your document with the ‘Save As’ option and save the text as a .docx document. You can select this option  when you are indicating what type of text you are saving (below file name).

You can easily calculate the costs of editing your thesis using our price calculator.

The rate per word is as follows:

Next to the rate per word, there is a setup fee of $25.

Yes, you can upload your thesis in sections.

We try our best to ensure that the same editor checks all the different sections of your thesis. When you upload a new file, our system recognizes you as a returning customer, and we immediately contact the editor who helped you before.

However, we cannot guarantee that the same editor will be available. Your chances are higher if

1. You send us your text as soon as possible and
2. You can be flexible about the deadline.

Please note that the shorter your deadline is, the bigger the risk that your previous editor is not available.

If your previous editor isn’t available, then we will inform you immediately and look for another qualified editor. Fear not! Every Scribbr editor follows the Scribbr Improvement Model and will deliver high-quality work.

However, every editor has a slightly different editing style, so you may notice small inconsistencies in editing choices. As with every proofreading order, be sure to carefully review your editor’s changes and suggestions as you finalize your text to ensure that everything is as you want it.

The fastest turnaround time is 24 hours.

You can upload your document at any time and choose between three deadlines:

• 24 hours
• 3 days
• 7 days

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

Yes, regardless of the deadline you choose, our editors can proofread your document during weekends and holidays.

Example: If you select the 24-hour service on Saturday, you will receive your edited document back within 24 hours on Sunday.

Yes, you can select the pages of your thesis you want to have edited yourself. This way you can, for example, select only your introduction and your conclusion to be edited.

When you are uploading your thesis you can select which pages you want to have checked in Step 3.

Check out how you can upload your thesis.

We accept the following payment methods:

Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Maestro Diners Club, Discover and JCB)
Transaction fee of 2% – 4%.

PayPal
Transaction fee of 3,5%.

AliPay
Transaction fee of 3,2%.

WeChat Pay
Transaction fee of 2%.

Apple Pay
Transaction fee of 2%.

Google Pay
Transaction fee of 2%.

Scribbr offers a 24-hour, 3-day, and 7-day service. It is not possible to shorten a deadline with a 24-hour order.

If you contact us early enough, it is possible to shorten the deadline of a 3-day or 7-day order. Please contact us directly to ask if it’s still possible to shorten the deadline. We will assess this depending on the number of words in your paper and our editor availability.

If the deadline can be shortened, you will need to pay the respective price difference as soon as possible. Support will inform you about the new deadline and send you a payment link to pay for the remaining balance.

After you place your order, it is not possible to replace the document. If you want to submit a different version of your document, please contact the support team right away.

Note: If the editor already started working on your document, you will be required to pay for the extra words that need to be edited.

Do you want to add an additional service after you have placed your order? Simply contact our support team to assess whether this is still possible. As long as your editor hasn’t finished editing your document, it’s usually no problem to add an additional check.

Scribbr will ask you to pay for the additional service right away before we add it to your order. We might also ask you to extend the deadline by a few hours depending on the word count of your paper and the editing time that is left.

We also encourage our editors to notify us when they think that it would be beneficial for you to order another service on top of proofreading (e.g., a Structure Check or Clarity Check). If this is the case, we make sure to contact you to discuss this first.

Do you want to cancel your proofreading order before you receive the edited text? Please contact us directly as soon as possible.

If the editor did not start yet, it is possible to cancel the order. We will then refund you the whole amount excluding transaction costs.

If your order has already been assigned to an editor for proofreading, it’s not possible to cancel the order.

In this case, support can ask the editor to stop editing. You will have to pay for the pages the editor has edited so far. The editor will not write a feedback letter.

Note: It is not possible to cancel a plagiarism check because the check is started automatically right after ordering the check.

After you’ve placed your order, it’s not possible for you to modify your order details.

If you want to add or update important information for your editor, please contact us directly. Our support team will make sure to forward the information to your editor.

When placing your order, you can upload additional documents (e.g. guidelines, feedback from your supervisor, or a PDF version of your converted LaTeX file). Your editor will be able to view these documents.

If you have received language-related criteria, then the editor can make sure your paper meets these requirements. If your supervisor has provided other criteria, then your editor can take these into account and make sure you won’t receive advice that contradicts these requirements.

Note: It is often more useful to summarize your feedback or criteria than to upload lengthy documents. The more information you provide, the less detailed feedback your editor can provide to the questions that are most relevant to you.

After you’ve placed your order, it’s not possible to change your text or the additional documents through your user profile.

But, you can just email [email protected], attaching the additional document. Our support team will then forward the document to the editor.

If the editor is already almost finished or the deadline is near, the editor will not be able to consider the additional file.

Yes, your editor will meet the deadline. You can double check the deadline and the status of your order in your user profile. You will receive a notification via text message and email as soon as your thesis is ready.

In the rare event that there is a delay with your order (e.g. due to technical problems), we will contact both you and the editor right away to find the best possible solution.

No, you cannot receive part of the edited file if the editor has not yet finished proofreading.

Our editors review your document in multiple passes, including a final check at the end. If we deliver part of the edit upfront, then the editor cannot do this final check for errors and consistency, which means that the quality of the edit will be lower. Therefore, it is not possible for us to deliver your edit in multiple parts.

Once the editor finishes editing your document, we will immediately send it your way so you can implement your editor’s changes and feedback.

If you are not satisfied with the work of your editor, please contact us right away by filling in the complaint form. We will contact you within one working day, and together we will find a suitable solution.

If you have questions for your editor, please follow these steps:

1. First, review the entire document and the feedback letter.
2. Collect your questions in an email, and attach the latest version of your document.
3. Send the email, including your document, to [email protected].

Tip: Add your questions directly to the document using in-text comments. This way, your editor can help you faster and more effectively.

Our support team will forward your questions to your editor and get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.

Our editors are happy to answer specific questions related to the edit you received, such as:

• What do you mean by this comment?
• You forgot to answer my question about the use of pronouns. Can you address this?

Our quality management team can provide a quick review of revised sentences and answer general questions such as:

• When should I use “chapter” or “section”?
• Why is “parliament” capitalized in some sentences but not in others?

Our editors and quality management team cannot answer any of the following questions:

• I changed my title. Do you think this is better?
• I shortened my abstract based on your advice. Is this what you meant?
• Could you look at these sentences? I based them on your recommendations.
• Can you look at how I rephrased my problem statement based on your feedback?
• Does this sentence sound right?

For feedback on these questions, you will have to upload a new order.

Have you received your Word document but are having problems opening the file? If you have problems with accepting the changes, please read our manual. For any other problems, please contact us directly.

Your editor may be located in a different time zone than you. The time stamps in your edited document do not show this. This is why it might seem like the editor only worked on your order during the night, while it was actually daytime in the editor’s location.

Furthermore, some of our editors simply prefer to work in the evening or at night because they are more productive then or because they are working on other projects during the day.

In general, the time stamps in the document are not an indicator of editing quality.

When Word crashes or runs very slowly, this could be caused by the Reviewing Pane. Due to the number of changes and comments, there is a lot of content in the Revision Pane, which causes Word to run slowly and possibly crash.

The Reviewing Pane is the Pane on the left side of your screen that you can extend when you go to the Review tab.

Close this Reviewing Pane while you keep on working on your document.

If this does not solve your problem, please contact Scribbr via the chat or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Don’t panic! Sometimes you cannot see the changes straight away when you open the Word document, even though the changes of the editor are in there.

Step 1: Go to the ‘Review’ tab and select ‘All Markup’ in the drop down menu (Word 2019).

Step 2: Click on ‘Show markup’ below ‘All Markup’ (Word 2019) and make sure all options are ticked.

• Word 2019
• Word 2013
• Word 2010
• Word 2007
• Word 2003
• Word for Mac 2011

Show Track Changes (Word 2019)

Show Track Changes (Word 2013)

Show Track Changes (Word 2010)

Show Track Changes (Word 2007)

Show Track Changes (Word 2003)

Show Track Changes (Word for Mac 2011)

Step 1: Go to the Review tab and select ‘All Markup’ in the drop down menu (Word 2019).

Step 2: Click on ‘Show markup’ below ‘All Markup’ and tick ‘Comments’ (Word 2019).

• Word 2019
• Word 2013
• Word 2010
• Word 2007
• Word 2003

Show comments (Word 2019)

Show comments (Word 2013)

Show comments (Word 2010)

Show comments (Word 2007)

Show comments (Word 2003)

This red line is there because there are still changes in the document that need to be accepted (which can be minor changes like double spaces or a wrongly placed comma).

Step 1: Go to the Review tab and click on ‘Accept’ (Word 2019).

Step 2: Click on ‘Accept all changes and Stop Tracking’.

• Word 2019
• Word 2013
• Word 2010
• Word 2007
• Word 2003

Accept all changes (Word 2019)

Accept all changes (Word 2013)

Accept all changes (Word 2010)

Accept all changes (Word 2007)

Accept all changes (Word 2003)

You might come across redundant changes, where a word or punctuation mark is replaced by the same word or punctuation mark.

Changes like these occur during the routine editing process, so there’s no cause for concern. There are two common reasons you might see such changes:

• Our editors work in the “simple markup” view, so they can ensure they don’t introduce errors during the editing process. However, this means that editors sometimes delete a word and then retype it, and Word’s track changes will count this as an edit.
• This can also happen when editors use spell check or other advanced editing tools, which allow the editor to review multiple instances of a word at once. Tools like this enable us to deliver a consistent edit, but they sometimes result in “unnecessary” changes.

If you see redundant changes in your text, you can simply accept or reject them.

Yes, you can delete your order from your Scribbr account. The document you’ve uploaded will automatically be deleted from our server.

Please note that deleting your order is an irrevocable process. The Scribbr team will no longer have access to your document and will not be able to deal with complaints concerning your order if you delete it. Only delete your order when you are 100% satisfied with our services.

How to delete an order:

1. Log on to the Scribbr website.
2. From your dashboard, open the order you want to delete.
3. Select the “Details” tab.
4. Click “Delete order.”
5. A form will appear on the page. Read the information carefully and enter the order number.
6. Press “Delete” to delete your order.

Log on to our website and go to ‘Manage Account’ and click on ‘Delete account’.

At Scribbr, we are committed to protecting your personal information. That’s why our employees and editors follow specific guidelines to ensure the confidentiality of your work:

• Pledge of secrecy
• Signed statement prohibiting publication or third-party sharing
• Obligation to delete files
• Secure connection (SSL)

Both the original and edited versions of your document are saved on our secure server for 12 months. After this period, the files are automatically deleted. However, you can manually delete your files at any time via your user profile.

Tip: If you still have concerns about confidential information in your document, you can take additional measures to anonymize this data. We advise you to do the following:

• Change company names and other identifying details
• Delete data and analyses that do not need proofreading

Can I ask Scribbr to sign an NDA?

As a policy, we do not sign NDAs. Every NDA is complex and unique, and our legal team does not have the capacity to review each individual contract we receive.

However, we take extensive measures to protect the confidentiality of your documents. You can learn more about how we handle confidential information on our privacy policy page.

All Scribbr editors are native speakers, which means that they have spoken English since early childhood. We only work with native speakers because these editors understand the cadence of the language and have mastered its idiomatic forms.

It is difficult for non-native speakers to acquire these traits, even if they are fluent and have spoken the language throughout their adult lives. Since our customers wish to work only with native speakers, we have no flexibility in this requirement.

We don’t rely solely on nativeness. Our editors are vetted through a rigorous application process, through which they are asked to demonstrate technical grammar knowledge, familiarity with academic writing and an understanding of editing principles. All successful applicants also complete our Scribbr Academy training program, where they learn how to edit for students.

Editor application process

Editing for students is different from other kinds of editing. In the Scribbr Academy, we train you how to perform Scribbr’s services and edit in the Scribbr style. The training also features practical elements, such as one-on-one coaching, that are beneficial to you.

You must apply through our website and complete all the steps in the Scribbr editor application process.

It is not possible to see the answers to our quiz. If you’re looking for more insights on related issues, check out Scribbr’s language articles and websites that address grammar and writing issues.

If you’re accepted as an editor in the Scribbr Academy, the information package you gain access to includes an article with the correct answers to a previous version of our language quiz.

On average, you can expect to earn approximately $20 to $30 per hour as a Scribbr editor.

The earnings are calculated based on fixed per-word rates that we have set for different kinds of assignments. We will communicate these rates to you as soon as you are in your Scribbr Academy.

The per-word rate for each order is determined by:

• The editing deadline (the shorter the deadline, the higher the rate); and
• The services purchased (whether a Structure or Clarity Check is booked on top of standard proofreading and editing).

In our Scribbr Academy, we train you to edit as efficiently as possible—which will help you to increase the speed at which you work. For example, we include a Scribbr Word macro that you can use to easily utilize standardized in-text comments.

Incoming editors should be highly knowledgeable regarding grammar, academic style, and the conventions of both US English and UK English.

You’ll need this knowledge to not only edit student papers but also provide individualized feedback for students.

We also expect new editors to have read widely in a variety of fields and to feel comfortable editing academic texts in a range of subjects, including the hard sciences and the social sciences. New editors likewise need to be familiar with the structure of different types of academic texts, including dissertations, theses, reports, and essays.

Finally, you’ll need to be comfortable working with Microsoft Word, including its Track Changes feature.

Since Scribbr specializes in academic editing for students, we require our editors to be thesis and academic writing experts. Every Scribbr editor has a thorough understanding of academic writing conventions and research concepts used in higher education.

Most of the papers we receive are theses and dissertations. We prefer to work with editors who know first-hand how difficult it is to write a thesis, as they can offer constructive and relevant advice to our students.

Therefore, we only accept applications from editors with a university degree.

However, a university degree alone is not enough. All applicants must also demonstrate technical grammar knowledge and fundamental editing skills during the application process.  Applicants must also complete our rigorous Scribbr Academy training program before they can join the editor team.

Incoming editors must be familiar with the conventions of both US English and UK English and able to consistently follow the related rules. However, if you’re only familiar with one of these dialects, don’t despair! Getting up to speed on the major differences between the two systems is definitely doable. Our Knowledge Base is a good place to start.

If you are familiar with the conventions of US and UK English and can edit according to them, you are more than welcome to apply. At this time, however, we cannot accept applicants who are only familiar with other English dialects. The reason is that the vast majority of our clients require their papers to be written in US or UK English.

The application process consists of three steps that you must successfully complete to become an active editor within our system:

1. Scribbr language quiz: 30 minutes
2. Scribbr application assignment: 2.5 hours
3. Scribbr Academy: 4 to 16 hours depending on your experience

The speed at which you are able to complete the application process depends on your availability and the level of your work you submit. For us, it is important not only that you edit according to our guidelines, but also that you feel you have enough experience with us to make the leap to being an active Scribbr editor.

Throughout the process, you will receive feedback from experienced editors – so no matter what happens, you won’t be wasting your time!

When we receive a new order, we choose the most suitable Scribbr editor based on the following factors:

• Availability. If you would like to receive a lot of orders, you can indicate that you are available immediately. We will then try to send more assignments your way.
• Interest in the subject. We will not be as fast to send you orders that are from fields you have not marked as preferred.
• Returning client. We will automatically send you orders from a returning student whose work you have already edited, unless he or she specifically requests otherwise.

The moment we have a new order for you, we will send you an email, an SMS and a notification via your Scribbr account on our website. You may then choose to accept or decline that assignment. You make this decision for every order we send you.

All orders are classified into 1 of 9 categories:

• Business and Management:
  Business Administration, Hotel Management, Accounting, Marketing
• Economics:
  Commercial Economics, Econometrics, Finance
• IT and Engineering:
  ICT, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Industrial Design, Electrical Engineering
• Natural and Life Sciences:
  Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry
• Geography, Agriculture and Environment:
  Ecology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning
• Health and Medical Sciences:
  Medicine, Obstetrics, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Dentistry
• Arts and Humanities:
  Philosophy, History, Literature, Cultural Studies, Theology
• Law and Policy:
  Law, Political Science, Public Policy, Human Rights
• Social and Behavioral Sciences:
  Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Communication Science, Education
• Other

You can specify the fields that you are interested in. When we send you an order, we always take your preferences into account.

More information about the categories

No, you don’t.

As an editor, you are affiliated with us on a freelance basis. You can work for us from anywhere in the world and from any time zone.

It is important that you are frequently online and have a phone with Internet access, as we will send you both an e-mail and an SMS as soon as we have a new assignment for you.

The Structure and Clarity Check can only be purchased in conjunction with Proofreading & Editing. Providing feedback on structure and clarity requires extensive knowledge of the text, which the editor acquires while proofreading and editing your text.

However, our Paper Formatting Service, Citation Editing Service and Plagiarism Checker can be purchased separately.

Yes, you are able to indicate which sources in your reference list you would like us to check.

Please highlight the sources that you would like to have checked in yellow in the reference list in your Word document. This way, we know which sources to check.

Do keep in mind that:

• We’ll only correct the sources that you ask us to check.
• We’ll improve the format of your reference list. We’ll modify the font type, font size, indentation and line spacing of the complete list. Additional formatting that depends on the type of source (e.g. italicizing titles) will only be improved for the selected sources.
• We will not check and correct the in-text citations. For us to properly correct the in-text citations, we need to crosscheck all sources in the reference list. Since we are not able to check all your sources, this is not possible.

Therefore, we recommend having your entire reference list checked.

We can only check an automatic reference list when it is created using Word’s references tool.

In case you have an automatic list created by a third-party software (such as Mendeley, Refworks, Zotero, and Endnote), we can only help you if we change your reference list to a non-automatic format. In this case, you will not be able to make further automatic corrections to your reference list or add in-text citations. However, we can provide you with more detailed feedback and make sure that your citations follow the rules of your reference style exactly as they should.

Note that in general we can better help you when we can convert your list to a non-automatic format.

We can check most reference styles, including university-specific style guides. For us to do this, you would need to upload the manual during the uploading process.

Unfortunately, due to their complexity, we cannot check law-based reference styles.

Yes, your citation expert can add missing information where possible. However, we cannot complete your reference list for you.

The citation expert will correct your individual citation entries if you have provided the right information but in some cases may ask you to add the missing information.

No, unfortunately that’s not possible. Our citation experts will improve your current reference list and in-text citations, but they cannot create the citations for you.

We’ll ensure that your references meet your style guide requirements, improve the overall format, provide feedback on incomplete reference list entries, add missing details to in-text citations (based on the reference list) and crosscheck your in-text citations against your reference list to highlight any missing sources.

Unfortunately, we cannot create a complete reference list for you. Our Citation Editing Service focuses on perfecting existing sources, not creating a list from scratch.

If you are having trouble creating a list, we recommend using our APA Generator and checking out our articles on referencing.