As humans, we make mistakes! This is why an editing and proofreading service is essential to the writing process. Whether you’re writing a cover letter, article, or novel, you must edit and proofread your work before sharing it with an audience. But how we proofread content is changing – online proofreading via AI software is slowly taking over the role of humans. But are online proofreading tools effective? Or will your work be full of mistakes if you proofread online?

Several options are available to you in both human and artificial intelligence forms. All these proofreading and editing options have their benefits, depending on the mistakes you are looking to remedy. This article discusses the different ways you can acquire online proofreading services and which is best suited to your requirements.

AI Online Proofreading

The first type of editing and proofreading service that we are going to discuss is AI or artificial intelligence proofreading. AI tools provide online proofreading services using natural language processing (NLP). This allows the programme to proofread online content and identify mistakes in vocabulary, spelling, grammatical, and punctuation.

For those who have never used an AI online proofreading programme before, you should know that they are pretty simple. It is as easy as copying and pasting your copy into the programme and hitting a button. Within seconds, any errors in the text will be highlighted and ready for you to edit and proofread. Some even act as add-ons to your favourite word-processing software, allowing you to make edits in real-time. No need to copy and paste; every error gets highlighted as you write.

One of the criticisms of AI online proofreading services is that they fail to take in things like tone and context. When expressing humour, colloquialisms, and common phrases, we often need to communicate outside the rules of the written word. Where AI proofreading services software will pick up on all the grammatical and structural inaccuracies, it won’t understand the complexities of context, tone, and creative expression.

Examples of AI editing and proofreading programmes are Grammarly, Google Translate, and ProWritingAid. They all work to offer grammatically, structurally, and tonally accurate text. Here is a closer look at these three market-leading options:

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is a cloud-based online proofreading tool that reviews spelling, punctuation, grammar, and delivery mistakes. It uses AI to identify errors and search for suitable replacements. You can download the app, which connects easily to many platforms and word-processing software, or copy and paste your text directly into the website to edit and proofread online.

Grammarly offers a free editing and proofreading service that provides basic spelling and grammar editing. A paid subscription is available for more thorough edits that recommend sentence structure and flow changes. While the paid subscription can be costly, its versatility and ease of use make it worthwhile. Grammarly also allows you to choose what language to edit and proofread, and enables you to set a style and tone appropriate to your writing style and content.

2. Google Translate

Google Translate isn’t your typical online proofreading application – it is more commonly used for its machine translations than to proofread online. Nevertheless, the software is versatile, supporting over 109 languages. This is possible through its online database of linguistical information gathered from documents and transcripts of the European Parliament and the United Nations.

Google Translate can thus prove helpful as an editing and proofreading service when writing content in another language. It can translate spoken words, websites, documents, mobile apps, and images. Writing your source text into the AI software and Google Translate will spit out a rendered alternative in your target language within seconds.

Unfortunately, Google Translate has come under scrutiny for its inaccuracy and mistranslations. These errors arise because all text is first translated into English before being translated into its final linguistic form. The text is translated one sentence at a time, which can significantly affect context and tone. Therefore, you should still edit and proofread your translation before distribution.

3. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is a user-friendly and versatile editing and proofreading service that allows you to proofread online in real-time. By connecting directly to your preferred word processing software, the AI tool offers suggestions to replace errors in your copy. The software also helps improve your writing skills by giving tips, quizzes, videos, and articles. As far as online proofreading tools go, this software is up there with the best!

Like Grammarly, you can choose from free and paid subscription options depending on your requirements. The main downside of ProWritingAis is that it has been blamed for lag time with larger documents. Thankfully, there is an easy solution: it is recommended that you edit and proofread anything over 500 words in increments to help speed up the processing time.

Human Proofreading Services

Online proofreading services relying on AI can identify and suggest corrections on grammar, style, and plagiarism. However, AI does not consider things like tone or creative expression when employing its editing and proofreading service to your content.

While tone and context might not be as important in an academic or professional document, they could drastically change how a lack of creative expression could impact a fictional story. Tone is also crucial in all branding and marketing content, reflecting your brand voice and influencing your connection with your audience.

To edit and proofread the more “human” aspects of your work, you need a human proofreader! You can find people to proofread online through freelancing platforms, websites, or agencies. Here we take a closer look at your options.

1. Online Proofreading by Freelancers 

A professional freelance proofreader is an independent person who can edit and proofread your work for spelling, grammar, and structure. In this way, they are much like online proofreading tools. However, freelance proofreaders have the human element to identify freedom of expression, tone, and context while still editing for grammar and spelling.

Another perk of sourcing an editing and proofreading service via the freelance route is that you can establish expectations directly with the individual rather than the company they work for. This gives you the freedom to bargain towards more mutually agreeable terms. Freelancers often take on a variety of clients and work independently.

In the past, it was challenging to work with freelancers. Knowing which freelancers could be trusted was difficult, and there wasn’t always a guaranteed sense of security for either party. Thankfully, the internet has made it a safer place to hire freelancers and find someone reliable to proofread online content. Here are some top tips on finding someone worth hiring:

• Establish the terms of the job, your expectations, and what you are willing to pay before contacting any freelancers. This makes it easier when approaching freelancers to weed out candidates who are not adequately qualified or experienced.
• Check out the websites and social media profiles of anyone that you’re interested in working with. Freelancers showcase their reviews, portfolios, rates, and more online. This gives you a good indication of their standard of work and expectations.
• Provide as many details about the job and your expectations as possible. One of the reasons people go freelance is because they get to decide whom they work with. The more they know about your project, the easier it is for them to determine if you’re an appropriate match.

2. Freelancing Platforms

If you’re unsure about working with freelancers directly, websites like Upwork and Freelancer.com are excellent options. Upwork is a freelancer platform that people worldwide use to hire for both long-term and short-term projects. You can use it to add permanent staff members to your team or hire someone to complete a single project for you.

Like Upwork, Freelancer is a platform that brings freelancer talent to potential jobs and makes it easy to find someone that can reliably proofread online content. Both websites work in similar ways:

1. You submit an advertisement for an editing and proofreading service job that you want to be done. The ad should illustrate the job requirements, expectations, and pay range.
2. Freelancers offering online proofreading can bid on your job via the freelancing website.
3. You review the bid, profiles, and qualifications of each applicant. Once you find someone you want to edit and proofread your content, send a contract to make the hiring official.
4. You then submit your payment for the project, which is held in escrow.
5. You receive and approve the work, and then agree to release the funds to the freelancer.

When hiring a freelance proofreader, there can be some initial uncertainty. However, hiring a freelancer can be a relatively inexpensive way to get a job completed to your standards.

3. Proofreading Services by Companies

Rather than hiring a freelancer to edit and proofread your content, you can hire companies offering professional editing and proofreading services. This is your best option when dealing with important content, such as legal documents. Unlike working with freelance proofreaders or those who proofread AI, the results will be guaranteed.

When acquiring online proofreading services, many companies are available. They will take your copy and pass it to one of their in-house professional proofreaders. These are professional linguists who represent that company. From this point, the company assumes all responsibility for the project until you are satisfied with the results.

The problem with using companies that provide online proofreading services is that they can be costly. Unlike freelance and AI options, there is more overhead involved with running a company. These extra operating costs are typically rolled into the costs of an online proofread. However, these additional fees are also what allows these companies to guarantee job satisfaction.

Human vs AI: What’s the Verdict?

Whether you choose AI software, a freelancer, or a proofreading company to edit and proofread your work, there is one thing that all three choices have in common: They all have the fundamentals of being able to proofread your content well. All three options can identify and offer replacements for spelling, grammar, structure, tone, and style errors.

Nevertheless, each has its benefits. Online proofreading tools have the edge in offering perfection. They can write without human error and stick to all language rules. On the other hand, the human element in freelance proofreaders and companies that offer an editing and proofreading service allows for tone and creative expression.

The best option for an accurate online proofread is thus a combination. By combining the efficacy of AI proofreading with the sense of artistic expression that a freelancer can ensure, you’re guaranteed the best results.

Professional Proofreading Services You Can Trust

When hiring someone to edit and proofread your work, the options are almost endless. All one needs to do is google “editing and proofreading service” to get twenty pages of results! Alternatively, you can go straight to the professionals at Renaissance Translations.

We have pooled the talents of native translators and thousands of professional linguists internationally to offer a reliable online proofreading service to global clients. One of our experienced proofreaders will ensure your manuscript is grammatically, structurally, and stylistically perfect. Add the reliability you get from hiring an accredited business, and our service is an even better option.

We offer impeccable proofreading services at reasonable prices. Contact us today to let us know how we can help proofread online content for your business, or you can simply request a quote online on our website.