Proofreading vs Editing vs Rewriting: Which Do You Need?

Proofreading catches surface errors (typos, spelling, punctuation, basic grammar) without changing your meaning or structure. Editing improves clarity, flow, sentence rhythm, and argument coherence - the editor may rephrase sentences and reorder paragraphs but does not rewrite your ideas. Rewriting replaces large sections of text with new wording while preserving your overall argument, suitable for non-native English speakers or first drafts that need a second pass.

Proofreading rates in Canada: CAD $0.012-$0.025 per word. Turnaround: 24-72 hours for typical essays. Use when your draft is structurally finished.

Editing rates in Canada: CAD $0.025-$0.055 per word. Turnaround: 48 hours to 7 days. Use when sentences feel clunky or transitions are weak.

Rewriting rates in Canada: CAD $0.050-$0.100 per word. Turnaround: 3-10 days. Use when whole paragraphs need to be reworked or when English is your second language.

How to choose: read your draft aloud. If you stumble over typos, you need proofreading. If you stumble over awkward sentences, you need editing. If you cannot say what each paragraph means, you need rewriting (or another draft).

Canadian-specific editing note: Canadian English uses British spellings (colour, behaviour, organise) and American punctuation (commas inside quotation marks). Confirm your editor knows this.