Your Writing, Expertly Edited
Get your work meticulously edited and proofread by PhD-qualified academic writing specialists, who know exactly what markers want.
Your All-In-One Solution
Our flagship service includes both editing and proofreading. Here’s what we take care of:
- Fix typos, misspellings, punctuation issues and ensure consistency of your spelling format (e.g., UK or US English).
- Undertake light rewriting of poorly presented sentences, to improve readability and ease of understanding. If substantial rewriting is needed, we’ll provide suggestions.
- Highlight areas where clarification and additional explanation are needed.
- Ensure that your in-text references are in the correct style, formatted correctly and are included in the end-text reference list.
- Ensure that your reference list is correctly formatted.
- Highlight areas where additional references are needed (e.g., sweeping statements, unfounded arguments, etc.).
- Generate the table of contents page, lists of figures and tables.
- Ensure consistent style for figure and table captions.
- Insert captions where we are able to, or highlight areas where captions are needed.
- Ensure consistency of heading levels and styles.
- Ensure correct page numbering (e.g., roman numerals for pre-matter).
- Ensure that your format/page layout is in line with your institute’s requirements.
The Grad Coach Difference
Editors are a dime a dozen.. Here’s what’s make us different.
Academic Writing Specialists
Our PhD-qualified language editors specialise in academic writing, so they know exactly what markers want to see.
Combined Editing & Proofreading
Our flagship service includes both editing and proofreading while others charge for these services separately.
100% Manual,
Human Approach
We edit the old-fashioned way. No AI tools or automated software. With us, it’s all about accuracy – no shortcuts.
Here are some of the most popular editing-related questions we receive.
Editing & Proofreading
How do you edit and proofread?
Our editing and proofreading process is 100% manual - in other words, it's handled by a team of highly qualified human editors, not machines. We don't use any automation software or tools, as nothing can beat the quality and accuracy of human editing.
Our editing team consists of a diverse mix of Doctoral and Master's-qualified language specialists. The team is managed by Dr Eunice Rautenbach, who holds both a Master's and Doctoral degree in language practice. All team members have extensive academic editing experience, are native English speakers (from the US, UK and SA) and have worked on numerous dissertations, theses and research projects.
Can I see an example/sample of your editing?
Certainly. You can download a sample editing and proofreading project here.
Will you sort out my references and citations?
Yes. As part of the editing process, we will ensure that your references and citations are in the correct format (e.g., Harvard, APA, etc) as per your university's requirements (you'll need to advise us what these are).
However, keep in mind that we can't fill in incomplete references or find the relevant sources for you (as it's impossible for us to know which sources you've referenced). We also cannot check whether the references you have are accurate or suitable for the arguments you make in your writing.
Can you fix/build my table of contents?
Yes, we can create a table of contents based on the headings and subheadings throughout your dissertation or thesis. This table of contents will include the respective page number for each heading or subheading.
Can you lower my word count?
Yes - as part of the editing process, we will edit your work for concision. However, we cannot guarantee a specific word count or percentage reduction, as this would risk cutting out important content.
How long does the editing and proofreading process take?
It depends on the length of the document, the overall quality of the writing (i.e., the number of issues to be resolved) and our project load at the time of submission.
Generally speaking, we can complete a standard dissertation/thesis of 20,000 words within 2-3 days, but this varies depending on the factors above. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you pre-book your editing with us for a specific date. For pre-booked projects, we can provide a guaranteed timeline, which is generally shorter than that of "walk-in" projects. Please email us to pre-book your project.
Can you provide a certificate of editing?
Yes, certainly. We can issue a certificate according to your university's requirements. We can also sign any paperwork required by your university as proof of editing.
Will my document be treated as confidential?
Yes, absolutely. Your work will be treated as strictly confidential and will never be shared or published. We will gladly sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with you if you wish.
How much does editing cost?
Our fee is based on the total word count of the document. This includes the body content and the reference list (as we need to review this). You can also include the appendices if you wish, but it's generally not required.
Click here to view our pricing or book a free consultation to discuss your project.
When should I submit my document to you?
Generally, editing and proofreading should be the very last step in your writing process. This ensures that you don't "undo" any editing work, or introduce new typos or grammar issues.
However, if your supervisor has specifically instructed you to get your work edited before submitting it to them for final review, you should follow their instructions. If you're unsure which approach to take, get in touch with us.
Can you edit my dissertation/thesis as I complete each chapter?
We can, but we don't recommend it. By editing chapter by chapter, consistency is reduced and there is a strong chance that there will be conflicts between document versions in terms of references, page, table and figure numbers, and so on. As a result, a lot of the work will be "undone" and you'll need to spend a lot of time revising and checking each section.
How much time should I factor in post-edit to make corrections?
We recommend that you factor in a day or two to make your final corrections after receiving your document back from us. This is not essential (as you can just accept all our edits "as is"), but it is a good idea to have a buffer in case you want to make any additions or revisions. You might also need to fix issues highlighted by the edit, e.g., regarding clarity of meaning or problems flagged with your referencing.
Can you do a second review of my document after the first edit?
We can review your document as many times as you need, but each review is charged separately. In other words, we cannot provide a second review (after we've edited and proofread) free of charge.
Can you check that my Conclusions and Recommendations represent all my findings?
This is beyond the scope of language editing, as it involves data analysis and interpretation. If you would like assistance with this, we can assist with 1-on-1 coaching, where we review your work critically and provide in-depth feedback.
Can you write my abstract (or exec summary) for me?
No, we can't. As part of the editing process, we will improve the quality of your writing, but we cannot write any section for you. Having any section written for you would constitute academic misconduct.
Can you rephrase text to reduce my plagiarism score?
No, we can’t. While we may undertake some very light rewriting of poorly constructed sentences to improve readability and ease of understanding, we cannot revise content to reduce plagiarism, as we are not familiar with the articles/sources being referenced.
Can you arrange the separate sections of my document?
No, we cannot arrange (or rearrange) sections of content on your behalf, as this may impact the core meaning and/or the thread of argument.
That said, if we feel that a section could be structured better for clarity, we will comment on this and make suggestions. Additionally, we will check that your headings and subheadings are numbered sequentially and are consistent in style.
I still have questions…
No problem. Feel free to email us or book an initial consultation to discuss.
Still have a question? Email us or book a no-obligation consultation.
What Our Clients Say…
We’ve worked 1:1 with 5000+ students. Here’s what some of them have to say:
"She was there every step of the way."
I am not sure I could have completed my thesis without Lani's support. From the very beginning and throughout the entire process, she was there every step of the way, offering thoughtful guidance, structured feedback, and reassurance when it was most needed. Her academic expertise is exceptional, and her advice consistently elevated the quality, clarity, and rigor of my work.
What truly sets Lani apart is her ability to combine deep subject-matter knowledge with a genuine commitment to her students' success. She challenged my thinking in the best possible way, helping me sharpen my arguments and strengthen my methodology, while always remaining encouraging and constructive. More than anything, Lani is a wonderful person who is genuinely delightful to spend time with. Her warmth, positivity, and sincere investment in her students made the entire experience not only successful but truly enjoyable.
I could not recommend Lani more highly. Any student would be fortunate to have her guidance.
Alice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Far exceeded my expectations..."
As a distance-learning MSc student, navigating the dissertation journey was initially overwhelming until I discovered GradCoach on YouTube. While their free vlogs are already incredibly helpful, I chose to opt for their paid coaching services as I was determined to excel in my dissertation.
From the start, the platform offered structured guidance, useful templates, and detailed resources that helped me at every stage of the research process. But what truly set GradCoach apart was the coaching support — whose clarity, patience, and insightful feedback consistently elevated the quality of my work. Their guidance was instrumental in shaping my literature review, refining my methodology, and structuring my findings according to academic best practices.
The quality of support I received far exceeded my expectations, and it helped me secure a Distinction grade for my dissertation, scoring 76% — a result I'm truly proud of. GradCoach is not just a coaching service, it's a confidence-building companion for anyone undertaking independent academic research.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to any student seeking clarity, structure, and support in their research journey.
Aankit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The man is a legend!"
Doctor E! What can I say. The man is a legend. He can translate academia into English, calm down the panic and help with structure. All while not being as dry as a packet of stale biscuits! Thanks to him I have passed my MSc dissertation first time — after failing the previous 3 modules due to my lack of writing ability. I am utterly delighted. For anyone who is wondering if this is a service you need, the answer is unequivocally yes.
Suzie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I wound up landing a distinction!"
Grad Coach absolutely saved me during the dissertation process. Going back to university for a master's degree 30 years after undergrad is not for the faint of heart, much less in another country where the writing and grading standards are different.
Coach Ethar really helped me develop a clear strategy for organising my research, references and paper and gave me great feedback on what to prioritise and what to cut. His understanding of what academic markers want to see is so helpful. I would have been way off the mark without his insights. He also let me just vent when I was struggling and made me laugh, which was much needed during a really challenging process.
I wound up landing a distinction on my paper thanks to his amazing support. If you are struggling with academic writing in any way, shape, or form, reach out to this company ASAP — they are a Godsend!
Erika ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"First Class Honours on my dissertation"
It's hard to put into words how grateful I am for Grad Coach and Dr. Kerryn Warren. When I started writing my dissertation, I felt completely lost after my supervisors informed me they could no longer dedicate time to my project. As this was my first time tackling a project of this scale, I was directionless and unsure of how to proceed.
From our initial consultation, Dr. Warren was absolutely incredible. She transformed my feeling of being completely overwhelmed into a clear, executable guide. The feedback she provided was explained thoroughly, helping me understand not just what to do, but why. Dr. Warren gave me the support, knowledge, and skills that were instrumental in helping me achieve First Class Honours on my dissertation. Everything I learned will be invaluable throughout my research journey.
I cannot recommend her and Grad Coach enough.
Erin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I'm not just getting through the work. I'm actually understanding the material and building new skills."
This was my very first time reaching out for help, and honestly, I'm so glad I took that step and gave myself a shot.
Tara was incredible. She really took the time to help me break down exactly what my professor was asking for and made everything feel so much less overwhelming. Because of her guidance, I'm not just getting through the work, I'm actually understanding the material and building new skills I didn't have before. I can't even explain how much that means to me. I truly couldn't be happier, and I'm beyond grateful.
Thank you, Tara, for making such a difference.
Jazmenly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Get A Quote For Your Project
Get an online quote in less than 60 seconds, or book a no-obligation consultation.













