Your writing deserves a real human editor

We provide editorial services to writers at all stages of the writing process, from concept to final page proofs.Our clients are academics, students, businesses and private individuals—anyone who needs to produce high-quality written content as part of their work.What do you need help with today?

If you need advice on the right service for you—or if you need a specific service that's not listed here—get in touch. We can help you make the right decision and get the editorial support you need.

• Ask a human

We stand by the power of the human touch in editing. Every single edit we make is enacted by a human editor.Our subject-matter experts are real people with real education and experience. We work only with highly educated native English speakers to refine your text, and all of our editors are experienced in working with EFL authors writing in English.

We promise authentic human edits inspired by genuine understanding and creativity, not generic AI-generated quick fixes.Our human-centric approach means that your work is not only refined but retains its original voice and spirit—the essence of what makes it truly yours.

Large language models like ChatGPT can't account for their actions. If you use them to write or edit, you're engaging with a black box—you never know what you're going to get, and you can't rely on their outputs. That's a real problem when your professional reputation hinges on your writing.When truth and accuracy matter, you need a real human editor—someone who can answer your questions, explain their edits, and account for their editorial decisions.

When you're stuck on structure, concept, design or focus, you need a sounding board—someone who will look at the big picture and tell you what's working and what's not.Our developmental editors will work closely with you to understand the needs of your audience and your vision for your publication.Then we'll help you create a document that gets the job done.

Manuscript assessment

During an initial scoping call, we'll talk about where you are with your manuscript and where you'd like to go.

Editorial report & development plan

Our developmental editors review your manuscript and draft a comprehensive editorial report and development plan.

Collaborative development

Once you're happy with the proposed direction, we'll work with you to refine the structure, content and voice of your manuscript.

Need help refining your language?Our expert editors review your manuscript line by line and improve your wording, grammar, syntax, flow, and clarity.We use subject-matter experts, so you know your manuscript will be edited by someone who understands your content.

Place an order using our order form

Send us your document and tell us about any special requirements you might have.

Receive your quote and payment link

Receive your quote and make payment using our secure payment link.

Receive your edited document

Receive your tracked document with personalised comments from your editor.

You've done all the hard work of developing and refining your text, and it's time to submit or publish.Our human proofreaders will give you the confidence you need to release your work to the world.We methodically and meticulously work through your manuscript to make sure your text is perfectly publication-ready.

Place an order using our order form

Send us your document and tell us about any special requirements you might have.

Receive your quote and payment link

Receive your quote and make payment using our secure payment link.

Receive your proofread document

Receive your tracked document with personalised comments from your proofreader.

We charge flat per-word rates for documents undergoing copy/line editing or proofreading (subject to a minimum order value of 1,000 words).If you'd like us to humanize AI-written text, order a copy/line edit and leave a note with your order—we'll remove the tell-tale signs that AI was involved in drafting your writing and make sure you sound fully human.

For developmental editing, we charge by the hour to allow for the fact that no two projects are alike.We'll send you a payment link for the initial one-hour scoping call once you've booked time in our calendar. Further developmental work will be charged by the hour on retainer.

EFL specialists

We have years of experience in working with EFL wirters. Our editors understand the unique needs of authors writing in their second or third language. We adopt a coaching approach when working with EFL writers, so you get not only a thoroughly edited document but also guidance on how to become a more fluent writer.

Customer focused

We show up for our customers. We're here when you need answers, whether it's before, during or after your edit. If you have a question about the order process or want to confirm something about your edit, just drop us a line; we'll be here.

Quality guaranteed

We work only with highly educated native speakers, all of whom have years of experience in business, academia, and editing.Still, every document we edit passes through a quality check before being returned to you. That means we consistently deliver high-quality edits—every single time, no exceptions.

We’ve worked with hundreds of satisfied clients; feedback from a few of them is reproduced below with their permission.

Who will be editing my document?We'll assign your document to an editor with expertise in your field to make sure your reviewer truly understands your text.

Do you use AI to edit documents?Our editors selectively employ AI-driven tools to speed the workflow process when undertaking mechanical checks (spelling, grammar and punctuation), but every editorial decision passes through human hands. We use enterprise-grade AI applications so your work is never used to train a model.

My journal article has been rejected after being edited by another service; can you help?We specialize in correcting documents that have been rejected by journals on the basis of language errors. We can help you ensure your document is edited to the stringent standards of top-tier journals.

Will my document be delivered on time?Your document will reach you on time, every time. If it’s late, the edit is free.

Do you check for plagiarism?We don’t currently offer plagiarism checks.

Do you rewrite text to lower plagiarism scores?No, we don’t rewrite text to lower plagiarism scores.

Are my files safe with you?Yes; all of our human editors are bound by strict confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Your documents are always safe with us.

How do I calculate my document’s word count?Click on the “Word Count” function in the “Tools” section of your main toolbar in Microsoft Word, or in the “Review” section of your ribbon. If your paid-for word count doesn’t match the number of words in the document itself, we’ll need to contact you to verify which parts of the document to edit, so please double-check your word count to avoid delays.

My document is too big to email or upload; how can I send it to you?We recommend WeTransfer, which allows you to send files of up to 2 GB with a free account.

Can I request the same editor as before?Absolutely, although we can’t guarantee availability on short notice. However, you can rest assured that all of our human editors are hand-picked for their quality of work and provide the same outstanding level of service.

Can you provide me with an editing certificate?Absolutely; just send us a message and we’ll supply you with a certificate for your completed order.

How do you ensure the quality of your work?Every edit passes through the hands of one of our human QC editors for a final quality check before being released to the client. This ensures every single document is edited to the same exacting standards.

Which file types can you edit?We prefer Microsoft Word documents, but we can accept LaTeX files in Overleaf, PDFs and Google Docs, as well as other document types by arrangement.

What do your services include?Each service focuses on a different aspect of your manuscript and is usually undertaken at a specific stage of the publication. We advise carefully reading the service descriptions to make sure you’re ordering exactly what you need.

Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee?If you’re not happy with your edit, for any reason, we’ll revise your document free of charge.

How quickly can you edit or proofread my document?Standard turnarounds for proofreading and line/copy editing editing are 48 hours for orders up to 10,000 words. Rush jobs can be accommodated at a 20% surcharge; send us a note and we’ll confirm whether we can meet your desired deadline.

I only want certain parts of my document edited; is that possible?Yes; please highlight the sections you’d like us to edit. Also take care to ensure that the paid-for word count matches your highlighted sections to avoid delays.

Real Human Editors was founded in response to the advent of large language models.We saw that something precious was being lost when writers started turning to AI to help them write and edit their work, leaving human editors—and the invaluable feedback they provide—out of the creative process.Simply put, when writers use LLMs, every text starts sounding the same as every other. AI-written text is inherently unoriginal—a poor imitation of the real thing. The more we rely on automation, the more robotic, generic and derivative our writing becomes.Our clients can't afford to risk the humanity, and the impact, of their writing, so they use real human editors to help them connect with their readers.

We recognize the importance of your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, manage, and protect your personal information while you use our website (the "Site") and services.Real Human Editors is located at [Address], and is a company incorporated under the laws of [State], [Country].Collection and Use of Personal Information
Visiting the Real Human Editors Site
Server Logs: Our server logs collect information about the pages you request, your IP address, and the success of your requests. This information is used for diagnostic purposes and to improve our services.Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and tracking technologies (like Google Analytics) to understand customer behavior, track sales channels, and for marketing purposes. You can manage your cookie preferences in your browser settings.Contact Information: If you contact us, we use your provided information to respond to your queries and may retain this information for future assistance and service improvement.Using Real Human Editors Services
Personal Data
To place an order, we require your name, email address, billing address, document details, and payment information. This data is used to fulfill your order, process payments, and communicate with you.Security
We employ SSL/TLS encryption for the secure transmission of your information. It's your responsibility to ensure your browser or computer's security features are activated.Payment Processing
Payment information is disclosed only to necessary financial institutions for identity verification and payment processing.Data Retention
We retain order information for legal, tax, and customer service purposes. Documents edited as part of our services are treated with confidentiality, and personal information within documents can be replaced with placeholders by you for added privacy.

Feedback and Accounts
Feedback
We value your feedback and may use it to improve our services. With your consent, feedback may be published on our Site's testimonials page.Third-Party Vendors
We use the standard range of third-party vendors, e.g., WeTransfer for file transfers, Microsoft Word 365 for word processing, and Google's range of workspace services, including email and website analytics.Legal Disclosure
We will not share your personal information or documents with third parties, except as required by law or as detailed in this policy. In certain cases, we may disclose information to comply with legal processes or to protect our rights and safety.Your Rights
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections. Please contact us with a proof of identity to make such requests.Cookies
Use of Cookies
We use cookies to enhance your experience, improve our service, and personalize content. You consent to our use of cookies by using our Site.Managing Cookies
You can change your cookie preferences or disable them through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the Site's functionality.Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at hello[at]realhumaneditors[dot]com.

Welcome to the Real Human Editors website, owned and operated by Real Human Editors ("Real Human Editors" or "RHE"). Our services are provided to you under the following terms and conditions. By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully. Furthermore, when you use any current or future RHE service or product, or conduct transactions with any business affiliated with RHE, you will also be subject to the guidelines and conditions applicable to such service, product, or business.Electronic Communications
By using RHE's services or communicating with us electronically, you consent to receive communications from us in an electronic form. We will communicate with you by email or by posting notices on our website. All agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications that we provide electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.License and Site Access
RHE grants you a limited license to access and make personal use of our website, not to download (except for page caching) or modify it, or any portion of it, without our express written consent. This license does not include any resale or commercial use of this site or its contents; any derivative use of this site or its contents; or any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools. Unauthorized use terminates the permission or license granted by RHE.Copyright
Our website and its content are owned by RHE and are protected by international copyright and trademark laws. You may not modify, reproduce, or distribute any material from our site without our express written consent. Authors retain copyright of materials submitted for our services, and we do not claim any rights to such material, except as necessary to provide our services.Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability
RHE strives to be as accurate as possible but does not warrant that descriptions of services or other content are accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. Our services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. RHE disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

RHE will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this site or from services provided, including direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.Transactions and Refunds
RHE reserves the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, remove or edit content, or cancel orders at its sole discretion. Any refunds will be provided at RHE's discretion, according to the policies stated at the time of purchase.Account Responsibility
If you create an account on our website, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password and for restricting access to your computer. You agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account or password.Privacy
Your use of RHE's website and services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these terms by reference.Governing Law
These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of [State/Province, Country] without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes will be resolved in the appropriate courts in [State/Province, Country], and you consent to the jurisdiction of these courts.Changes to Terms
RHE reserves the right to make changes to our site, policies, service terms, and these Terms of Use at any time. If any of these conditions are deemed invalid, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that condition shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining condition.These Terms of Use represent the entire agreement between you and RHE and supersede any prior understandings or agreements, written or oral, regarding the subject matter hereof.Last updated on 16 April 2024.