FAQ

Wordy’s copy-editing and proofreading process involves correcting grammar and punctuation and ensuring correct usage, internal consistency in usage and coherent logical structure.

Wordy editors will always provide corrections for incorrect or nonstandard grammar or usage; they will sometimes reorder or consolidate sentences. Occasionally, they may suggest reordering paragraphs, although larger-scale reorganisation, particularly of long documents, is outside of Wordy’s scope. This process may be called copy-editing or line editing.

Wordy editors do not fact check or do research, and they typically do not edit or cross-check references. They may change references from one style to another or reformat a document according to your specifications, but if there are more than a few references or the document to be formatted is more than a page or two, the job should be entered as a content rewrite.

A content rewrite is a more substantive edit than a basic Wordy edit. For a content rewrite, your Wordy editor will substantially reword and reorganise your content to improve consistency, flow and readability. They may, if requested, condense a document to a given word count. This process is what many editors call a substantive edit.

You should also request a content rewrite if you require any significant work beyond the scope of a basic edit, such as reformatting a long document or restyling references.

Note that Wordy editors do not do research or fact-checking. They will not expand your text significantly or provide substantial new material. They do not complete incomplete references or cross-check references. Also, copywriting is not within the scope of rewriting.

When you request a content rewrite, you should provide a brief message telling the editor exactly what you’re looking for, including information regarding any length limits or other restrictions you must work within.

Please note that editors can request a rewrite upgrade if deemed necessary. You’ll have the option to cancel the job or accept the rewrite upgrade (and added cost).

Per february 2018 we offer proofreading, editing and rewriting in variations of English (UK, US, CAN, etc.).

Programs like PowerPoint are meant to reduce thoughts to the barest form of expression: bullet points and slogans. Elegance is completely beside the point. For the same reason, Wordy editors aim for good consistency and proper wording.

Since PowerPoint doesn’t have Word’s Track Changes feature, editors will make changes directly on the slide. You can use PowerPoint’s “Compare” function to compare the original and edited presentation. If relevant, editors can also leave comments on a slide, using the “Comment” feature.

See also “How can I view the changes in a Microsoft PowerPoint file?”.

Open the original PowerPoint presentation, then click the ‘Review’ pane and choose ‘Compare’.

You can track your spending under the ‘Billing’ tab on your profile page.

All invoices/receipts are available from your Billing window:

Please note that jobs which are paid for with credits don’t have invoices/receipts – invoices/receipts are only generated for cash payments of jobs and credit packages.

All receipts are available for download on the ‘Billing’ page.

This is probably due to an unsuccessful transfer of your payment information from the old Wordy platform. Go to your Billing window and update your payment details:

If you have a promo code, you can apply it on the checkout screen.

If you’ve worked with a specific editor before, you can write the editor’s name in your brief when ordering. If you require an editor with specific competences, you can also write these in your brief. If you do not choose a specific editor, the most relevant editor will claim your job.

The currency you see on the ordering page depends on two factors:

1) If you aren’t logged in, the currency depends on your IP address/physical location. If you are logged in, the currency depends on the country settings for your account.

2) If you’re in the UK, Wordy shows prices in British pounds. If you’re located somewhere in the rest of Europe, Wordy shows prices in euros. If you’re located somewhere in the rest of the world, Wordy shows prices in U.S. dollars.

If your company is based outside the UK, all your purchases will be zero-rated (i.e. you won’t pay VAT). If your company is based in the UK, we’ll add 20% UK VAT to all purchases.

You can update your credit card information under the ‘Payment details’ tab of your profile page.

To delete saved credit card details, simply delete the saved credit card from ‘Saved credit cards’:

Invoices are generated at the time of purchase. Any additional or amended company information will appear on future invoices.

Under Editor team and House style, you can find the settings for both your editor team and your house style.

With the editor team, you can set a team of editors with a specific professional or educational background.

When you’ve uploaded your house style, all editors working for you will have access to it for maximum consistency among jobs. Please note that selecting a very small editor team and then locking it can have a big impact on your turnaround times!

Yes, if you log in to your account and go to Buy credits, you can still buy credit packages that all the users of your account can use. You can use credits for one or multiple orders and for all users of your account. Credits don’t expire, so what you don’t use today you can use next week or next month.

Yes. There’s an automatic discount of 5–20% for jobs of between 5,000 and 300,000 words.

Yes, you’re welcome to take the UK English editing test as well.

When your editor has delivered the job, you can see the revisions by choosing ‘See revisions’ from the dropdown menu.

We acquire editors through an online testing process. We also run a background check to verify the editor is really who he or she claims to be.

Yes, we do have a minimum order size of 300 words. If you have several smaller jobs, you should consider putting them in the same document. That said, there’s no minimum words per job (we get short emails, for example).

Some of our add-on services will increase your price per word. Setting an editor team or having a house style will both increase your price per word by 10%. Selecting the rewrite option will increase the price per word by 100%. You can select/deselect the house style and rewrite options when you order to decrease the price per word.

We use the TIKA word counter for files with different formats like DOC, PDF, DOCX, PPT, etc. In general we deem a 5% variation as acceptable.

We count all words, so perhaps you could convert the screenshots into pictures or simply cut them out if you’re sure they are consistent.

A page is defined as 400 words.

Yes. Our editors will treat your information as strictly confidential.

Yes, all information and content on Wordy is kept confidential.

All editors are individually checked and verified by Wordy. All data between your computer and Wordy is encrypted and all editors work from a non-disclosure agreement which can be individually signed and sent to you if needed.

Non-disclosure is part of our privacy policy. If requested we can have editors sign NDAs individually.

Our pay rates have been established in line with statistics taken from a survey conducted in 2006 by the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) in the UK. SfEP reported that, on average, editors involved in on-screen complex editing processed 1696 words per hour. As of 28 february 2018, we pay our editors €7.20 for 400 words. Working at the average speed, our editors can expect to earn €30.53 per hour. The rate for rewriting is double this amount. For more information regarding editor payments, please see https://www.wordy.com/terms-of-use-for-editors.

All prices listed are exclusive of VAT. We charge VAT for Europe-based individuals and companies in the UK. For all other VAT is zero-rated.

The rewrite option doubles the price compared to an editing job.

No, you’re welcome to create an account, upload your text and pay as you go.

You can access all receipts for your account on the ‘Billing’ page.

The price is based on the original document.

Credits do not have an expiry date. You can send in jobs until you reach the word count / credits in your account. You can use credits for one or multiple orders and for all users of your account.

Click GET STARTED and upload your text to get a free instant price quote and an approximate delivery time.

Yes, we can set up separate invoicing for corporate/enterprise clients. Invoice clients receive a monthly invoice with 30 days credit. In addition, we offer to set up multiple users for the account (if needed with individual invoicing), a comprehensive SLA (and NDA), 24/7 support and a dedicated editor team – including any editors you’ve already worked with. Any current credits, etc. will of course be moved to the new account. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Yes, all editors on Wordy are native English speakers based in the UK, the US, New Zealand or Australia.

When you’re ready to claim a piece of work on Google Drive, make sure that you’ve entered the Google email address you’ll be using to access jobs on Google Drive on your ‘Profile’ page. Using your own Gmail address is the only way you can access Google jobs. Now you can claim the Google job in the same way as you would any other job.

Remember to change to ‘Suggesting’ mode before you start editing. This is the equivalent of switching on ‘Track Changes’ in Word:

When you’re done editing, simply close the Google document and finish the delivery process from the jobs page on Wordy. Of course, there is no need to upload the document.

You’re welcome to get back to us on [email protected] after a six months period.

All work is done on an ad-hoc basis. Please find more information on Terms of use for editors.

We’ll process your application and review your test as quickly as possible. Please allow 14–21 days for someone to get back to you.

No.

Since Wordy Limited is based in the UK, as a Swiss client you do not pay VAT – your VAT payments are automatically zero-rated based on your country of business.

We don’t have the means to comment individually on each test, but below is a brief summary of the marking process. We are marking on two criteria: accuracy (the main one) and intervention. By intervention, we mean whether sensible queries are raised, in what quantity and whether any inaccuracies are introduced. Candidates must perform acceptably on both scores.

• Candidates must find and correct at least 36 errors per test (i.e. 90 per cent).
• There are a few ‘must haves’ in each test, e.g. principle/principal, and missing one of these counts as two errors. If a candidate gets 35–36, there is room for discretion depending on how they do in the next category.
• Anything introduced that is plain wrong is an instant fail.
• Sensible amendments are acceptable and have neither a positive nor a negative effect on the final outcome unless the candidate shows signs of tinkering too much (say more than three interventions/queries per test).
• If we have reason to think someone is a non-native speaker, we will note this.

We’ll process your application and review your test as quickly as possible. Please allow 14–21 days for someone to get back to you.

Please contact [email protected] for staff.

Please contact [email protected] if you want us to merge two or more accounts on Wordy.

Our editors are available 24×7. We also try to offer live support 24×7.

We mostly work on marketing texts / localisation for these clients. For a lot of clients we also work with their communication and web departments.

We have ~1,000 clients from all over the world. Some are very small and only use us once every six months, others use us several times every day.

We can only assign one editor to each job. If you split your document up into multiple jobs and send them in at the same time several editors can work on the different pieces, but this requires a very specific brief, even a house style, to maintain consistency of the document. Alternatively, create a small team and only let one or two editors work on your documents.

We don’t offer compensation since our editors are paid a specific amount for each job. If you’re not satisfied with an edit, you can send the job back to the editor or even claim your money back.

We will start editing right away according to your brief.

As an account owner you can track the usage of users but you cannot see the actual jobs.

From home.

Yes, we do have select editors on a retainer basis though.

We currently have a little over 100 UK and US English editors based in the UK, US, New Zealand and Australia. Basically we can create editor teams as large as they need to be, so you’re able to process/have edited more than 800,000 words daily.

Yes, we have proofreaders with a working knowledge in 56 subject fields. In addition, all editors on Wordy are well-rounded in a range of subjects.

Yes, all editors on Wordy are native English speakers based in the UK, the US, New Zealand or Australia.

Yes, after you’ve signed up you can browse editor profiles.

While jobs are running you cannot modify your editor team. You’ll either have to wait for all open jobs to have been processed or cancel any open jobs, then delete your editor team on the ‘Editor team’ page.

We have about 100 editors in the UK, US, New Zealand and Australia. We can definitely help you set up a team of editors. We cannot guarantee the same editor will process all orders (especially if you send through a lot of content).

We have quite a few different editor profiles. You’re more than welcome to write to us or sign up to view some of our editor profiles. We can put together quite diverse teams, so get in touch if you need something in particular.

No, but you can send them a message from the job’s page.

Most of our editors are in the UK, the US and Australia.

Firstly, we source professional editors with many years of general experience. Our editors are based in different countries so we can operate 24×7. You can add an editor you like to a team. They will check only your English though if they spot an error in your economics they will raise a query with you.

Yes, the re-edit is done by the same editor.

Send a message to the editor saying it was a mistake. They will re-send the job without making any more changes.

We have a Facebook-type messaging system for each job so you can write directly to the editor. You can also communicate with the editor after the job has been delivered.

The editor may be taking a break, depending on what time zone they are in. If they haven’t answered your message within 12 hours, please contact us.

First, send a message to your editor explaining what you think is wrong. The editor can make more changes and upload a new file for you. If this doesn’t work, ask for a re-edit. Also send a message explaining what you want fixed. This forces the editor to look at the document again. If you are still not happy, contact support at [email protected] and we will help you.

You can upload your house style into the House style section from your dashboard.

To a certain extent, though, please contact support if you have any special requirements. Also, please note we offer rewriting services.

No, the editor will edit the MS Word document with tracked changes on. You can easily accept or reject each or all changes. You can read more about track changes on http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/track-changes-while-you-edit-HA001218690.aspx.

Wordy editors adhere to a high ethical standard. That means they always strive to provide the highest standard of service, offering educated and well-considered edits and responding quickly, clearly, and courteously to client queries and concerns.

Wordy editors will only accept jobs they believe to be within their sphere of competence. If on closer examination an editor finds he or she does not have the skills or knowledge needed to complete a job to the highest standard, the editor will return the job or seek guidance.

A Wordy editor may refuse to edit material he or she finds personally offensive for any reason. Once he or she has accepted a job, however, the editor must provide the highest level of service, regardless of his or her feelings about the ideas presented in the work.

At no time will a Wordy editor insert his or her beliefs into the author’s work, by modifying text or through marginal comments, or offer commentary that is argumentative or denigrating to the work.

Some kinds of work are by nature outside our ethical code. Wordy editors will not:

1. Provide content editing on university or school assignments, though they will happily provide a light-handed standard edit.
2. Provide editing for materials that are clearly intended to be deceptive or fraudulent or that appear to be intended to support illegal activities.
3. Editors should report jobs that appear to fall into these categories to Wordy Support.

We will format references if you tell us what style to follow (APA, MLA, Chicago, CBE, etc.). We will not fact check references, research missing information in incomplete references, or cross-check references (match in-text citations to the reference list).

No, we don’t currently offer that service.

We do intrusive editing, which means editors will rewrite sentences but flag if major rewriting of entire passages is needed. If you need your text rewritten please select the ‘Rewrite’ option when ordering.

After the job is returned to you, you can ask the editor to fix things you don’t like. If you rewrite the text or add new content, you would need to create a new job.

Yes, if you send in a Word document or paste your text you’ll be able to see the changes. If you send in PPTs, PDFs or XLSs, tracked changes is not available.

It’s the time for getting the document back.

Go to ‘Users’, enter the email address and select the permissions for the new user. Then click ‘Add a new user’. You can control all aspects of added users to your account and even track each user’s expenditures in ‘Billing’.

When you create an order, we give you an approximate delivery time. The approximate delivery time is not a promise but an indication of when you can expect your job returned to you.

If your job hasn’t been picked up, or even if the approximate delivery time has passed, please know we’re working hard to assign your job to the first available editor.

Please also check whether you’ve locked in your editor team, which can have a big impact on the expected delivery time (but will not show in the approximate delivery time).

To contact your editor go to the job’s page from your dashboard. Under ‘Messages and events’ write and send your message. Your editor will be notified right away.

Once your editor has answered you you’ll get an email notification and see the new message in your conversation history. You can continue the conversation as long as the job is open.

Wordy handles most common file formats, such as Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx), Rich text format (.rtf), Plain text (.txt), Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), HTML (.html), LaTeX (.tex).

All other formats are quoted manually, this usually takes no more than one hour. If you’re under deadline pressure, please convert your file into one of the common file formats before sending it.

Yes, all editing is done by skilled professionals who have been individually tested and verified by Wordy. If you’re looking for a great academic copy-editor, chances are you’ll find more than twenty instantly available on Wordy.

Yes, simply select all the files you need to upload to Wordy. If you need to paste several pieces of text, you can either paste them all into the same window, or one at the time until your order is complete.

Any comments or instructions that can help the editor do a better job. This might include a description of the target audience, problems you are aware of, whether the writer is a native English speaker, preferred spellings or things you want the editor to change (or leave alone).

We accept PayPal, as well as Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Yes, once you’ve added your name and company to your account, this information will be printed on your invoices.

If you register as a company client, always fill out the ‘Company’ and ‘VAT’ fields in your account settings. You are subject to 20% added VAT if you register with a UK address. The same goes for clients from the rest of the EU without a valid VAT number. Clients from the rest of the EU with a valid VAT number fall under the law of zero-rated VAT. Clients registered outside the EU are not subject to VAT.

We will refund any unused credit in your account minus a 20% handling fee.

Yes (see ‘Re-edits and money-back guarantee’), and if you’re not completely satisfied with our work, you can claim up to three re-edits from your editor, free of charge.

If your credit card information has been updated since your last order, you will be prompted to update your details when reordering. You can also update your credit card information on the ‘Billing’ page.

90% of jobs are allocated to an editor in less than one hour.

No, we aim to start processing jobs right away, and you can always mention your deadline in your brief, but at the moment you cannot set a deadline.

No, but 80%+ of all jobs are returned within the estimated delivery time and we have support editors in multiple time zones to make sure jobs are processed as quickly as possible.

Deactivating your account deactivates your account information and order history, and will mean that you are no longer able to access your files, invoices and order history. Account deactivation is carried out instantly, so please choose this option with caution.