Proportion of proofreading requests versus original writing requests

I know that most essay writing and example paper editing companies also provide proofreading services, and I was wondering how many requests come in for purely proofreading jobs, compared to writing jobs.

It seems like a student could get free proofreading from their educational institution (or via the already advanced grammar checking and proofreading software), so do companies actually make much revenue from offering that service? I guess it doesn't cost them anything extra to offer it in conjunction with writing services, but I was just curious. Besides proofreading, there is also revision and rewriting service, but these typically take more effort than just plain proofreading.

To my experience, there are only a very few instances in which students ask for proofreading only. Thus, there is not much money in this specific kind. Most of the students come to the company for original essay models which need to be properly proofread by the writer.

So then I'm guessing that companies will really only hire people who can "do it all" instead of those who specialize in a particular service (in this case proofreading)?

Do you think that the lack of proofreading jobs stems from the availability of free proofreading services, or from students not being able/willing to write a paper themselves to start with?

Yes, usually, essay writing industry requires writers that are proficient in a number of writing areas and are able to independently "finish the product" for higher customer satisfaction.

Many students find it really hard to write a research paper - my experience. I don't think there are many free proofreading services available.

Aren't the vast majority of people seeking writing services enrolled at a college or university? Don't most of those institutions offer free tutoring as part of their tuition fee? (I guess it's not technically free then, but it's at no additional cost to the student after paying enrollment fees.)

I work at a community college and they offer a half hour of tutoring to each student per week as part of their tuition, and more if they qualify for special Student Services. At the university where I attend, they even offer free tutoring sessions over internet chat with students employed and vetted by each department.

Do you think students are unfamiliar with the services their educational institution provides, or is it that they just want everything done for them?

Free tutoring and free proofreading (in the essay writing industry) are two different things. Yes majority of the students come from colleges, universities, and other similar institutions.

I'm asking whether students don't request proofreading because they can get it elsewhere (for example, at their school) or because they don't write papers on their own to begin with.

I know tutoring is different than proofreading; I was just saying that the free tutoring services that colleges provide also include proofreading help under the tutoring umbrella.

actually it's true that schools are offering tutoring, but no proofreading. poor us foreign or foreign origin students - mere 30-60 % of student body - lined up with our papersw :)

What city do you attend school in? 30 to 60% of students are not US born?

usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2011/11/01/10-universities-with-the-most-international-students

This study suggests that the national university with the highest foreign student enrollment is New School in New York with 25% enrollment. For regional colleges, it's Webber International University with 26%, and for national liberal arts colleges, it's Soka University of America with an impressive 42%, the highest of any in the statistics. The college was founded on Buddhist principles and has an undergraduate enrollment of 438 students, so it's kind of an anomaly.

You do say "foreign origin" but someone who was born in the US to foreign parents shouldn't need more help with English on average than their peers if they've been academically successful enough to get into college. I'm sure there are exceptions though.

I'd recommend asking a classmate to proofread/edit your paper in exchange for a meal/movie/bookstore gift certificate. I know I would have done it for nothing, just to be nice to a struggling classmate.

this is soo funny
i am actually in NYC and it really feels like my particular school has 60% foreigners. LOL
maybe because the first generation from unprivileged families also sound (and write) like it. thy would for sure still my line to the proofreading service ;)

It's certainly true that students can "fall through the cracks" and feel like they're alone.

Another source of help could be foreign language/culture clubs. You could start attending your school's club in whatever your native language is in, and then exchange conversations with a native speaker for homework help. Meaning, you would talk to them in your native language to help them improve, and they would help you with writing assignments. Do you think something like that would work?

AllanJohn
Mikedanny

wrote:

It seems ishy and miki (are you both relatives) are the only one around here.

Sweep before your own door first.

Because our usernames both contain two syllables with similar vowel sounds?

I did want multiple perspectives on the issue, but I realize that the topic is dull compared to the hurling of insults that goes on in other threads, lol.

Perfect :D

Another perspective perhaps?
Here in the UK we also have sizeable foreign student cohorts at most universities but proofreading support is conspicuous by its absence. Many (most?) universities assume that all students have reached the required (unstated) level in written as well as spoken English and do not target resources at addressing any 'prerequisites'. In my experience, a significant number of students (home and overseas) would benefit from this help but, as they are not substantionally penalised for poor punctuation, etc. as undergrads, there is little incentive to seek help (professional or otherwise). Maybe explains the lack of demand on this side of the Atlantic.

In my experience, the number of students requesting for original writing requests outnumber the proofreading requests because a larger portion of the students seeking services are mostly ESL students enrolled in colloge. I have worked with a number of students who do avail of the free proofreading and tutorial services at their university but they still require additional help in the writing section due to their lack of confidence in their writing skills. The lack of confidence comes from their home educational system being far different from that of the US or UK. So, while they do academically qualify as a student, their learning skill, in this case research or essay writing, is almost non-existent.

That is why some ESL students prefer to simply hire the services of an academic writer for their paper right from the start. It lessens their stress when it comes to trying to accomplish the required tasks, allows them to focus more on academic aspects they are good at, and still maintain their required GPA in most instances. In the end, the academic writing companies recognize this need within their client base and do their best to cater to the original paper writing needs first, with editing and proof reading jobs coming in second. That is also the same ranking for the income that the mentioned services provide for the company.

I know some of you will find this funny because my company sometimes, as in extremely few and far between, gets a work request for proofreading AND editing. They place the order based on the understanding that the writer will create a totally new essay for them if they find the essay problematic or lacking in research. I go back to the client and tell them, "My writer will not proof read, and edit your paper to give you a new paper. I am refunding your order immediately. If you should decide to have my writer compose an original paper for you, then get back to us for that service." Students do not always understand what "proofreading" means and how it is accomplished. Most of them just tick that order box because that is what they can afford to pay for. It is up to the company to set the client straight in such instances as proofreading is far cheaper than original paper writing. I get only a handful of those mistaken order placements per semester. I don't accept these orders for my writers when I see that the student is trying to underpay my company and my writers by placing a proofreading order for an original paper.

Projects proposed for "proofreading" almost never require only proofreading; likewise, projects proposed for "editing" rarely require only editing. Usually, they both require so much work that those jobs amount to a full rewrite or nearly a full rewrite. I remember exactly ONE request all of last year of each kind that really needed only proofreading and editing, respectively. I took the editing project but I told the proofreading client that I'd be happy to take her future business, but the project in question really didn't need anything that the client couldn't do herself without paying anybody.

I have encountered requests that were initially labeled as proofreading. However, upon conversing with the client, I found that the client actually sought for rewriting services and got merely baffled with the terminologies. In fact, I do find that there is a thin line between these two tasks. An individual can seek for isolated proofreading services because they do not want their writing to be changed in any way, shape, or form; however, there are also others who would want to have full-on rewriting because they outright mention that they feel incompetent in this part.

I agree with Write Review, there are some students who think that proofreading means they will get a new paper from the writer. They don't understand that proofreading only entails correcting their written mistakes, not a rewrite of the whole paper. That is why I found myself offering paraphrasing services to the students. It took the place of proofreading and the students seemed to understand that paraphrasing is what they actually want, not proofreading. I get ample orders for paraphrasing from both ESL and ENL students. Let's face it, there are students who would rather buy pre-written essays and just have it rewritten to suit their needs. It's more difficult to paraphrase so I charge a premium for that service.