Frequently Asked Questions

Proofreading focuses on surface-level errors: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typographical mistakes. Editing goes further — it also addresses sentence structure, logical flow, clarity, and academic style. If your document is structurally complete and you need a final language check, Basic Proofreading is the right choice. If you want more substantial improvements to how your ideas are expressed, Academic Editing is recommended.

Your manuscript is assigned to an editor with a postgraduate degree (PhD or Master's level) in a relevant discipline. We match your document to an editor based on your subject area — whether that is STEM, social sciences, humanities, medicine, law, or business.

All translations are carried out by native speakers of the target language who hold advanced academic qualifications. For English-to-Turkish translations, the translator is a native Turkish speaker with academic expertise. For Turkish-to-English, the translator is a native English speaker. Every translation is reviewed by a second specialist before delivery.

We support all major academic citation styles, including APA 7th Edition, MLA 9th Edition, Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date), Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, AMA, and CSE. We also work with journal-specific style guides — simply provide the journal's author guidelines and we will format accordingly.

Our detection software cross-references your text against billions of published sources, including academic journals, conference proceedings, institutional repositories, theses and dissertations, internet content, and previously submitted documents. The result is a comprehensive similarity report covering both published and unpublished sources.

Rush Delivery guarantees return of your edited document within 24 hours of confirmed payment. For documents up to approximately 10,000 words, this timeline is standard. For longer documents, we agree on a specific turnaround at the point of order based on current editor availability.

Once you submit your document and complete payment, your order is assigned to an editor with expertise in your subject area. The process unfolds in several stages:

1. Initial Review — Your editor reads through the entire document to understand your argument, identify recurring issues, and note any discipline-specific conventions to follow.

2. Language & Style Editing — Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice are refined for clarity and precision. Awkward phrasing is rewritten, overly complex sentences are simplified, and vocabulary is elevated where appropriate — all while preserving your academic voice.

3. Flow & Coherence — Transitions between sentences and paragraphs are improved so your argument reads logically and cohesively from start to finish.

4. Formatting & Consistency — Headings, citations, reference style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), capitalization, and number formatting are reviewed for consistency throughout.

5. Final Proofread — A final pass catches any remaining typos or errors before delivery.

You receive your document with tracked changes enabled (in Word format), so you can accept, reject, or review every edit. An editor's summary note is also included, briefly explaining the main changes made and any areas that may need your attention.

No. Our proofreaders correct errors only — they do not rewrite your arguments or alter your intended meaning. All changes are returned using tracked changes in Microsoft Word so you can review every correction before accepting it.

Yes. Our editors are trained to improve clarity and correctness while preserving the author's voice and intellectual content. They do not rewrite your arguments — they help you express them more precisely. All changes are tracked so you retain full control over the final text.

Yes. Our translators hold postgraduate degrees and have experience in a wide range of academic disciplines, including medicine, engineering, social sciences, law, and the humanities. We match your document to a translator with relevant subject-matter expertise to ensure accurate rendering of technical terminology.

Yes. Style conversion is one of the most common formatting requests we receive. Whether you are converting from APA to Chicago or from Harvard to Vancouver, we apply the new style consistently throughout the document, including in-text citations, footnotes, and the reference list.

Acceptable similarity thresholds vary by journal and institution. Most peer-reviewed journals consider a similarity score below 15–20% acceptable, provided that matched passages are properly cited and the overall originality of the work is clear. We provide guidance on interpreting your report alongside the score.

Yes. Rush orders are handled by our senior editors and follow exactly the same process as standard editing. The only difference is the turnaround time. We do not accept rush orders when we cannot guarantee both the deadline and the quality standard.

Turnaround depends on the service level selected. Standard is 5–7 business days, Express is 48 hours, and Rush is 24 hours. Exact deadlines are shown before checkout.

We accept .docx, .doc, .pdf, .tex, and .txt files. We recommend .docx for the best experience, as tracked changes can be returned directly within the document. PDF files are accepted but returned as annotated documents.

Absolutely. Academic Editing is our most popular service among researchers whose first language is not English. Our editors are experienced in improving the fluency and academic register of manuscripts written by non-native speakers, while ensuring that the scholarly content and discipline-specific terminology are fully preserved.

Yes. Academic translations are produced to meet the standards expected by peer-reviewed journals and institutional bodies. For English-language journal submission, we can also combine translation with our Academic Editing service to ensure the translated text is fully publication-ready.

Yes. The Formatting service covers the entire document, including tables, figures, captions, appendices, headings, page layout, margins, and font specifications. Everything is formatted to match the requirements of your chosen style guide or institution.

Detection software flags all matching text, including quoted passages that are correctly cited. These matches are highlighted in the report but are not considered problematic as long as they are properly attributed. Our report guidance helps you distinguish between acceptable matches and areas that genuinely need attention.

We only accept a rush order when we are certain it can be delivered on time. If for any reason a deadline cannot be met — which is rare — we contact you immediately and offer a full refund or an extended deadline at your preference.

Yes. Every completed order includes a digitally verifiable Certificate of Professional Editing that you can submit alongside your manuscript.

Turnaround time depends on the delivery speed you select at checkout. Standard delivery is typically 3–5 business days, Express is 48 hours, and Rush is 24 hours. Exact deadlines are confirmed before you complete your order.

The editor's report is a written summary accompanying your edited document. It describes the main types of changes made, highlights any recurring issues identified in your writing, notes areas of particular strength, and may include targeted recommendations for revision. It is typically 200–400 words.

The translated document is delivered in the same format as your original file. Tables, figures, references, and captions are all preserved. For Word documents, the translation is returned as an editable .docx file. For PDF originals, the translation is returned as a Word document.

If reference entries are incomplete (for example, missing page numbers, publication years, or DOIs), we will flag them in a formatting report delivered with your document. We do not fabricate bibliographic information, but we will indicate exactly what is needed so you can complete the entries.

Yes. The similarity report can be submitted as evidence of originality to journals, universities, or funding bodies that require it. Many institutions now routinely request plagiarism reports as part of the submission or examination process.

We accept .docx, .doc, .pdf, .tex, and .txt files. For the best editing experience we recommend .docx so tracked changes can be returned.

Yes. Every order includes a free Certificate of Professional Editing, issued by LexicoEditing. The certificate confirms that your document has been reviewed by a qualified language specialist and includes a unique QR code for online verification.

Yes. When placing your order, you can specify a citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, or a journal-specific format). Your editor will check that in-text citations and the reference list are formatted consistently. For a full reference list audit, consider adding our Formatting service.

Yes. All documents submitted to LexicoEditing — including those for translation — are handled under strict confidentiality. We do not share, publish, or use your work for any purpose other than the translation itself.

Yes. Combining Formatting with Basic Proofreading or Academic Editing is available at a discounted rate. This is the most efficient way to prepare a fully submission-ready document — language accuracy and formatting compliance addressed in a single workflow.

Yes. We can check journal articles, dissertations, theses, research proposals, conference papers, book chapters, and student assignments. The service is available for documents in English, Turkish, or bilingual format.

Absolutely. All documents are treated with strict confidentiality. We do not share, publish, or use your work for any purpose other than editing.