FAQ: General Questions About Scribendi

Scribendi was founded in 1997 and has been a world leader in online editing and proofreading for more than 25 years.

Scribendi has been a world leader in the field of online editing for over 25 years. With hundreds of editors worldwide, our global reach is extensive and we have experts in every major field. With a quarter of a century of experience, we have proven quality standards and proven processes for evaluating and hiring only the best editors. Our testing process is extensive and thorough to ensure that new editors with Scribendi have been thoroughly vetted and have the necessary skills and experience to excel.

A typical Scribendi editor has two or more degrees, 15 years of professional experience, and is published in his or her chosen field. Our business editors are experienced with every type of business document, be it a marketing report or an analysis of investment opportunities. See what our customers have to say about our qualifications—view a long list of recent comments and customer feedback on our Client Testimonials page. Since our founding in 1997, our clients have come back to us again and again. If you would like help choosing the editor that is right for your document, please feel free to contact us; our Customer Support Professionals will be happy to provide guidance.

Scribendi accepts personal documents, business documents, and creative manuscripts in which generative AI was used, but authors should always be careful when using generative AI and understand both the best practices for AI use and some of the potential risks.

Best Practice #1—Describe the Use of Generative AI

Depending on the type of document you have, it may be beneficial to describe the use of generative AI in your work. Just as a researcher should note a statistical package used to analyze data (e.g., "We analyzed our data utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 27)"), the generative AI and its specific uses can be clearly outlined. Some publishers, businesses, and style guides may have further requirements. This practice is more relevant for documents that might be published or used in a professional capacity; simple personal documents would likely not require this.

Best Practice #2—Reference Generative AI

If you have a document that might be published or used in a professional capacity, it is a good practice to cite and reference specific content or ideas from generative AI, as with any other source material. The formatting for such references may vary based on a specific style guide or institutional requirements.

Risk #1—AI Hallucinations

Generative AI can completely fabricate information and provide incorrect and unsupported data, even citing and referencing nonexistent sources and publications. Generative AI may provide outdated information; indeed, AI cannot provide any recent information, studies, or breakthroughs that are not found in the AI model’s training data, so current AI models are permanently behind the times (e.g., if an AI was trained on data up to the summer of 2021, material after this point cannot be considered when generating a response to a prompt). Generative AI can also create text or content that is severely biased or even offensive, either via hallucinations or the repetition of problematic online content.

Risk #2—Artificial Intelligence Is Not Intelligent

Generative AI tools are probabilistic language models that draw on language patterns to predict text and content based on the prompts provided, utilizing the store of data and textual material on which the model was trained. They cannot think; they can neither create new ideas nor accurately synthesize materials to draw new conclusions. By their nature, they cannot provide original material, as they merely reformat previously published material or hallucinate content to fit the prompt.

Risk #3—Changed Meanings

While generative AI can help with language concerns during the drafting and revision stages, there is a risk that generative AI can change the intended meaning of text. Generative AI cannot understand an author’s intent, only patterns in the text on which it was trained, and it can thus change the meaning of sentences, perhaps drastically, so care should always be taken if generative AI is used.

Risk #4—Breach of Data Privacy or Security

There are data security and privacy risks when uploading content via prompts to generative AI. Certain materials should never be uploaded. Data arising from human research participants (e.g., personal information or any information that could be used to identify an individual or group) should not be included in a prompt, as the data may be exposed and subsequently shared with others, violating both research and data security standards. Confidential information (e.g., contractual, financial, or security information) related to a study, project, person, group, business, or institution should never be uploaded. Breaching non-disclosure agreements and data security legislation could have serious academic, legal, and financial ramifications. Before uploading any material to generative AI, a thorough risk assessment should be conducted.

Risk #5—Breach of Copyright or Intellectual Property Rights

While the legal landscape in relation to generative AI is still evolving, it is clear that authors are legally responsible for the work they produce with the aid of generative AI, including any libel charges or infringement of intellectual property rights or copyrights.

We have an expert team of real, live human editors doing the work here. While we embrace technology, it is always used to assist editors rather than replace them. Scribendi’s editors utilize the best possible resources so that they can provide the best quality of service.

Scribendi has its own proprietary AI tool, called Scribendi AI, but it’s important to note that this tool is not generative AI, such as ChatGPT, but rather a predictive AI tool that utilizes machine learning to assist editors with proofreading and editing. Scribendi AI does not operate independently from a human operator and cannot directly make any changes to a document. We guarantee that every document submitted to Scribendi for proofreading or editing is fully edited by a human editor and that we never run text through an AI checker without human oversight. Scribendi AI simply helps editors to efficiently find potential issues, such as grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, allowing them to quickly consider options, make changes, and return an order in a timely manner. The aim is always to find the optimal solution based on the context and the author’s intended meaning, and the editor continuously exercises their editorial judgment when determining the best revisions to implement throughout a document. It is the editor who necessarily reviews every section of text in detail and chooses the revisions to be made, not the tool. The aim of Scribendi AI is simply to increase speed and efficiency and ensure consistency. The actual revisions in a document, however, are always the work of the editor.

At Scribendi, generative AI is never used to evaluate a document or its content. All suggestions and critical commentary in an edited document are solely the work of one of Scribendi’s professional editors. Their evaluation of the content within a document is never informed by generative AI. The use of such generative AI technology is prohibited at Scribendi due to the risks associated with it (e.g., data hallucinations, incorrect statements, data security and privacy issues, and copyright and intellectual property right concerns).

We're here, we're there, we're everywhere! Seriously, we have English editors all over the globe. Our headquarters, which is where all communications are channeled, is in Canada. If you've read all of our FAQs and still have a question for us, see our contact page for details on how to get in touch.

Absolutely not. Scribendi and its editors make no claim on your copyright, and we don't require credit, acknowledgment, or anything else beyond the fees for the services we render. Your work is safe on our secure, encrypted system, and no one outside of Scribendi will ever be able to access your work. 

Absolutely! You can take advantage of the free 500-word sample edit that we offer to every new customer. If you haven't placed an order with us before and would like a free sample, just pick the type of editing or proofreading you want from our order page and then click Get a Free Sample and follow the simple steps. There are no strings attached. It’s as easy as that. We know your manuscript is important to you and that it's good to be able to "try before you buy" if you're thinking about sending us your work.

You can also take a look at some of the academic journals in which our clients' articles have been featured and some of the published books Scribendi has edited.

Yes! Scribendi is a global company in every sense of the word. All you need is a valid credit card, PayPal, or Alipay account and you can use our services. If you are unable to pay with one of these direct and easy methods, we also accept wire transfers, but please note that these may cause delays in your order being processed. For more details on wire transfers, please contact Customer Support. 

Yes, we know all about metres and meters, humour and humor, and spanners and wrenches. Just specify what type of English we should be using when you place your order.

This depends on the service you order. We have turnaround times that range from 2 hours to 3 weeks, though the availability of times will vary based on the service and the word count of your document. Longer documents take a longer time to edit, so short turnaround times may not be available for long documents. Go to our home page and pick the most appropriate service for your document, and then use the instant quote widget to price out the turnaround times for your document. 

Our preferred method of payment is via credit card: we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners, UnionPay, and JCB cards. Scribendi has a secure credit card processing system provided by Stripe. In addition, we do not store credit card information, so the security of your card information is always guaranteed.

We also accept Maestro cards through PayPal, as well as PayPal payments. For customers in China, we accept Alipay. Registered retail customers and corporate/government/organizational clients can arrange payments via ACH or wire transfer.

You don't need to register to use Scribendi’s editing and proofreading services, but if you do register, you can save time and money! If you register, you will benefit from a number of features:

• Whenever you place an order, you will save time because your name and address will be remembered.
• You can log in to view all of your current and previous orders.
• You will qualify for special offers, discounts, and customer rewards.
• You can apply to have your orders billed to a business account.

Your personal information will be kept confidential (see our privacy policy for details), and your credit card details will not be stored in your customer profile.

Our quote widget automatically calculates and applies a discount for the following: A) when you choose a service with a longer turnaround time, B) when you want us to work on a large document, and C) when you order during off-peak periods.

Some examples:

• You will save money if you order a 48-hour turnaround time rather than a 24-hour turnaround time or if you choose a 1-week turnaround time rather than a 72-hour turnaround time.
• You will save money if you have a very large document, such as a book manuscript.
• You will save money if you choose to have documents edited during the week rather than on the weekend.

If you are from a business, corporation, institution, or other organization and looking for a customized service, please see our Corporate Services page for details.

You can post your document to us, but Scribendi accepts documents only in electronic format. You can mail us a USB with your files for editing. Just see our contact page for details on how to get in touch via post.

Scribendi comes from a Latin phrase, cacoethes scribendi, which means "the urge to write."

If you have to cancel an order, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you. Once you realize that you have to cancel your order, please try to contact us as soon as possible to reduce unnecessary work from being completed on the document. All cancelled orders are subject to a cancellation fee of up to 50% of the order cost, depending on how much work has already been completed on your document at the time of cancellation.

Your document will be revised based on your selected service and version of English, and you can have elements formatted according to your preferred style guide. Spelling and grammar errors will be corrected throughout, while font and spacing consistency will be ensured. Revisions will be made to improve the flow, clarity, and word choice while maintaining your voice and style as much as possible. The editor will leave comments to indicate areas where further improvements are possible, and they will offer suggestions to help you improve your document and your writing. In the editor notes, your editor will provide a summary of the work that has been completed and may highlight key areas that require further work. Just pick the service that is right for you and select your turnaround time to get a free, instant quote today.

Scribendi has been a world leader in online editing for over 25 years, and we are independently certified by ISO, the gold seal of international standards. We’ve won numerous awards over the last quarter of a century, and we are a member of the Better Business Bureau, which certifies fair business practices.

What’s more, at Scribendi you can try before you buy. We offer a free 500-word sample to new customers.

You can also submit your document in small sections to see how we do, as we have no minimum order size.

For more information about our company and our credentials, you can also see our About Us FAQs and company profile. And feel free to review a long list of recent client testimonials!

Have a look at our About Us FAQ and our company profile.

1. Select Service: Choose the service that fits your needs.
2. Deadline, Word Count, and Quote: Set your deadline and indicate the word count of your document(s) to immediately receive the price for your order. (You can type in the word count of your documents manually or simply upload your files and let our automated system determine the word count.)
3. Upload and Pay Securely: Upload your files (if you did not do so in the previous step) to our secure site and make your payment.
4. Professional Editing: Our expert editors will thoroughly review and revise your work to provide you with an improved document.
5. Pick Up Edited Document: Access and download your revised document when it's ready.
   
   Click here for an illustration of the steps.

A human editor can understand the context and meaning of your writing, and they can figure out what you’re trying to say even if you’re struggling to express yourself. Software can’t do this! Correcting grammar and spelling is only the first step in providing a great edit, and machines can struggle even with this. You can see some of the differences between our experts and automated software tools below.

Human vs. Machine

We have an easy pricing system with no surprises, and it is based on two simple things: word count and turnaround time. To determine your word count in MS Word, go to the Review tab or Tools menu and select Word Count. If you want your footnotes/endnotes to be edited, make sure to check the option to include footnotes and endnotes in the word count. You can also use the Scribendi Word Count Tool to get a word count, and this is particularly helpful if you do not have a Word document (a .doc or .docx file). You can simply copy and paste your text into the Word Count Tool, and it will provide the word count for your document.

Unlike other companies, we don’t offer vague quotes based on hefty hourly rates or confusing calculations. To find the price for your document, simply select the most appropriate service on our home page, type in your word count (or upload your file and let our automated system find the word count), and then use the instant quote widget to generate a free quote.

We can apply any style guide to your work. The most popular style guides are the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), Turabian, Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard Referencing, and Council of Science Editors (CSE). We can also apply a journal’s style guide (just send us a link to the guide or tell us the name of the journal) or a corporate/internal style guide. If you have your own unique style guide that you need applied to your document, you can upload the style guide to the order as a reference for your editor.

We sometimes provide coupons on our social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can check these to see if Scribendi has any current promotions.

You can find the code of the editor who worked on your document by checking your Order Pick Up notice or, if you are registered with Scribendi, by looking at the Order History in your account. If you still can’t find the editor’s code, please feel free to contact us. 

No, we don’t check for plagiarism, nor do we write, rewrite, or paraphrase work. Stringent guidelines are required here to protect our clients against charges of academic fraud. However, Scribendi’s experts can provide the professional editing needed to ensure high-quality original work.  

You can reach us through our contact page, by phone at +1 (519) 351-1626, or get in touch via chat.

Scribendi stands by its work and guarantees that the work will meet the company’s high standards. Our quality processes are certified by ISO to guarantee that client concerns are investigated immediately. If you are not happy with our work, please tell us; you can use the contact form or fill out the feedback form on your order pickup page. We will investigate your concerns immediately; if there is an issue with the work that has been completed, we will take all appropriate measures to address the concern.

Scribendi takes customer satisfaction very seriously. You can provide feedback directly to us (there will be a link on your order details page), or you can get in touch with us using the Scribendi Contact Us page or by calling us at +1 (519) 351-1626, and we will look into your issue immediately.

There is no minimum order size, but we do have a minimum charge of 10 XDR (which is around USD14, depending on currency conversion rates) to cover administrative costs. If you have several small documents, you might consider putting them all in one order to get the best value for your dollar.

We specialize in editing a wide variety of document types, providing academic services, student services, ESL services, author services, business services, and personal services. We have experts on staff in every field and genre, and since we've been in business so long, we've seen just about every type of document possible. So, no matter your subject or field, rest assured that we have someone who can edit it. If you’re not sure what service is the most appropriate for your needs, please feel free to contact us or talk to us via chat.

If you still have a question after reading our FAQs, please see our contact page for details on how to get in touch or use our quick and easy chat function. 

Our website is open for orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our editing professionals are on duty 24/7. Our Customer Support team is available between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST (GMT -5); we answer all emails within 12 hours.