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​ALLY OAKES
​Dorset proofreader
+44 (01) 305 250433
sfep.org.uk/directory/ally-oakes-oak-proofreading
allyoakes@oakproofreading.com
Great ​job done on proofreading our paper for a UK journal. I particularly appreciated Ally's further explanations on the reasons for her corrections. Very clear and prompt communication as well. 
Ksenia Silchenko, postdoctoral researcher

​Ally was extremely professional.  I needed a proofreader and copy editor for my novel and she did the job very carefully. Even more importantly, she was very attentive, asking and wanting to know exactly what I was looking for. She understood the style of my writing very well. The result was excellent, and delivered quickly.
Simona Moroni, author of Hollywood Daze ​
                    
​                                                                 THE NITTY-GRITTY​
​IF YOU'VE GOT THESE, I'll proofread them for you: 
  • books 
  • dissertations, theses, articles and papers
  • business material – annual reports, extended job applications etc.
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MY SPECIALISMS:
  • social sciences
  • humanities
  • business
  • arts
  • fiction
If you're thinking: Ah, my subject-matter isn't exactly one of these specialisms – fear not. Many people have employed me, knowing that my wide experience and knowledge about the English language are crucial. I know whether a sentence works, whether a phrase is grammatical and whether there's consistency in your phraseology, punctuation and layout – even if you don't hear me speak your exact jargon in my own everyday life. Flexibility: it's to do with the growth mindset.

​HOW DOES IT WORK?
If your work is a Word document, I work with Track Changes. If it's a PDF, I use the commenting tools. If you'd rather I work on a hard copy of your document, that's fine.
First you send me a sample of your work, from the middle of the piece so that it's typical of the whole. I read it, explain my quote and my terms and conditions. You accept – hopefully!
We then go for it – I go quiet while I work on your document, then send you some queries along with the proofread document. Once we've finished, I return your document to you. I ask you for a quick review on Find a Proofreader, the main directory that draws in clients; I can then use this review elsewhere also.
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YOU WANT AN IDEA OF PRICE?
Of course you do. I'm open about this, because I'd rather you know now. 
For all proofreading, my price ranges from £16 to £20 per 1,000 words. The lower end is for material that needs fewer changes; the higher end is for text that needs more intervention. (If you're a student or academic, then references/ bibliography need a separate hourly quote.)
So what's your word-count? Your annual report of 5,000 words will come in between £80 and £100. For your thesis of 70,000 words, you can expect to pay between £1,120 and £1,400. You get the idea. I ask for 50% of the payment upfront, by online bank transfer. When we decide that the project is complete, I invoice you at the end of the project, and request payment of the balance within seven days of the invoice date. 
That's how we work.
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