The
Syntax Stone
Proofreading
The final accuracy check that ensures your academic work is clear, clean, and error-free.
After all the research, all the writing, all the restructuring and revisions, your manuscript reaches its final stage: the precision pass. Proofreading is the quiet, careful sweep that catches the last typos, punctuation slips, repeated words, formatting inconsistencies, and overlooked errors.
The Syntax Stone gives your work a final layer of stability and professionalism — the kind that helps readers, supervisors, or reviewers focus on your ideas, not the distractions on the page.
The Transformation
Proofreading is the final safeguard in academic writing — the stage where clarity is protected and small errors are removed so your ideas can stand unobstructed. Even minor mistakes can disrupt the flow of a well-crafted argument or affect how supervisors and reviewers perceive your work.
The Syntax Stone provides a steady, precise final check, ensuring your manuscript feels polished, consistent, and ready for submission. It’s the quiet finishing step that reinforces the professionalism of everything that came before it.
The PRocess
Once you send your manuscript, I begin by reviewing any style sheets, formatting requirements, or submission guidelines you’re working with. This ensures the proofreading aligns with your academic expectations.
I then make a slow, methodical pass through your work using Track Changes, correcting surface errors without altering content or tone. Dialogue, tables, appendices, headings, captions, and footnotes are checked with the same level of care.
You receive:
1. A marked-up version showing every correction
2. A clean version with all fixes applied and ready to submit
3. An optional Certificate of Language Check if required by your institution.
If you’d like to understand particular changes or prepare a final submission proof, we can discuss the final document together.
What’s Included
A typical Syntax Stone proofread includes:
• Full error check across the entire manuscript
• Grammar and punctuation corrections
• Fixes for spacing, formatting, and layout inconsistencies
• Track Changes markup throughout
• Comments only when something needs clarification
• A clean, corrected version ready for submission
This stage comes after structural editing and copyediting — it’s the final polish, not the place for heavy revisions.
Price & Turnaround
Price:
Academic proofreading is €0.01 per word, including full Track Changes markup and a clean corrected version.
Turnaround:
Typically 3–10 days, depending on document length and complexity.
Shorter pieces (like articles or chapters) may be completed even faster.
FAQs
Will proofreading change my writing?
No, it only polishes what is already there, leaving your voice and style intact.
How does this differ from copyediting or line editing?
Proofreading is the finishing stage. It’s not for major edits, style refinement, or structural changes. Instead, it catches typos, formatting issues, and other minor blemishes.
Do you check citations?
Only for typos — full citation checks are part of The Lexicon.
Do you proofread tables, captions, and appendices?
Yes — all visible text is reviewed.
Which English variant do you use?
I work comfortably in both UK and US English. Just let me know your preference (or your institution’s requirement), and I’ll apply it consistently throughout your document.
Can you bill my institution directly?
Yes. Many universities and research organisations prefer direct invoicing, and I can bill your institution if needed. If your department requires a cost centre, project number, or specific invoicing details, simply include them when you book the service.
Many scholars say that proofreading gives them the confidence they need before submission. Small errors disappear, formatting steadies, and the manuscript finally feels finished. The Syntax Stone provides that last essential layer of clarity and correctness.
