Proofreading and Editing Services in Singapore
Need a report, tender, translation or thesis checked before it goes out? Two editors work on every file: one checks spelling, grammar and punctuation, and a second reads for flow, clarity and consistent terms. Every change is shown in Microsoft Word tracked changes, so you accept or reject each one. We also check translations, including a translation done elsewhere before it is notarised, and review machine translation output so it reads like a person wrote it.
Quick answer: Proofreading starts from S$0.04 a word and editing from S$0.08 a word. Files under 2,000 words are usually ready in 24 to 48 hours, and longer files in 3 to 5 working days. It is for companies, law firms, hospitals, engineers, translators' clients and students. Translation or machine translation to check? Send both files for a fixed quote within an hour.
Get Your Free Quote
Proofreading, Editing or Machine Translation Review: Which Do You Need?
Pick by how finished your text is. Final draft that needs a last check? Card 1. Draft that needs clearer, tighter English? Card 2. A translation or machine translation to check against the original? Card 3.
1. Proofreading
- What we do: Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, numbers and formatting. Your words and style stay the same.
- Used for: Final reports, press releases, websites, contracts in English and documents going to print.
- Time: 24 to 48 hours for files under 2,000 words.
- From: S$0.04 per word.
2. Editing
- What we do: Everything in card 1, plus clearer sentences, better flow, consistent tense and terms, and comments where a point is unclear. Your meaning and voice stay the same.
- Used for: Annual and board reports, tenders, white papers, handbooks, journal papers and theses.
- Time: 3 to 5 working days for a 50-page file.
- From: S$0.08 per word.
3. Translation and Machine Translation Review (MTPE)
- What we do: A linguist checks the translation against the original, line by line, for meaning, missing text, numbers, names and terms. For machine translation (DeepL, Google or an AI tool), we post-edit it to read like a human translation.
- Used for: A supplier's or overseas translation, an in-house draft, machine-translated manuals and policies, and a translation done elsewhere that must be checked before notarisation.
- Time: Usually 1 to 3 working days, depending on length.
- From: Quoted per word after a short sample, never more than a new translation.
One thing we will always tell you straight
Some machine translations are not worth fixing. If a sample shows the meaning is wrong in too many places, post-editing costs nearly as much as a new translation and is riskier, so we tell you and quote both. We also cannot certify or notarise a translation we have not checked against the original. If you bring a translation done elsewhere, we review it first, mark every change, and only then can our translator sign it as their own. And no editor can promise that a journal, university or office will accept your document. We make it clear, correct and consistent.
Proofreading and Translation Review in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and More
We proofread and edit English, in British or American spelling, kept consistent across the file; Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), including checks of English↔Chinese translations; Japanese and Korean, including checks of English↔Japanese and English↔Korean translations; Malay and Indonesian; Thai, Vietnamese and Tamil; and French, German and Spanish.
Also: Other language pairs on request
For a translation review, the reviewer reads both languages and is a native speaker of the target language. Rarer languages may cost more and take longer, so tell us the language pair and we confirm both before we start.
Documents We Proofread and Edit
Send your file in Word if you can, so every change shows as a tracked change. PDFs are marked with comments.
Business, HR and Training
Annual reports, proposals, tenders, white papers, press releases and website text. Employee handbooks, policies, SOPs and training slides.
Legal
English contracts and letters, and translated agreements checked against the source. New translations go to legal translation.
Medical, Scientific and Technical
Patient leaflets, consent forms, research papers and journal manuscripts. Manuals, specifications and method statements. New technical translations go to technical translation.
Translations and Machine Output
Any translation into English or from English, and DeepL, Google or AI drafts.
Books
Self-published books, memoirs and long-form drafts.
Thesis Proofreading in Singapore
For theses, dissertations and journal papers, we proofread and edit the language only: grammar, clarity, consistent terms and the citation format (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, AMA or Vancouver). We do not rewrite your argument, add content or check your sources. Follow your university's rules on editing help. For coursework and assignments, see our assignment translation page.
How to Get Your Document Proofread in 4 Steps
Four steps, from your upload to a clean file and a tracked-changes file.
NDA and upload
Companies can sign an NDA with us first. Upload the file, tell us the level (proofreading, editing or translation review), your style guide and British or American English. For a translation review, send the original and the translation.
Fixed quote
We reply within an hour with a fixed price based on the word count and level. For machine translation, we check a short sample first and tell you honestly if a new translation is the better choice.
Two editors
The first editor works through the file with tracked changes. A second editor checks numbers, names and terms, and reads for flow. For long or repeat jobs, we keep a word list so terms stay the same.
Delivery
You get a clean file and a tracked-changes file, with comments explaining bigger changes. A translation that passed our review can then be certified, or go on to the notary and SAL. We delete your files on request.
Why Companies Trust Us With Their Final Drafts
What you get with every file we check.
Editors Who Know the Subject
Legal, medical, financial and technical files go to an editor who works in that field. We do not claim credentials we cannot show.
A Second Check of Numbers and Terms
Every file is read by two people. Figures, names, dates and key terms are checked against your source or your glossary.
Confidential by Default
NDA on request, files used only for your job, deleted on request, and no public AI tools for your documents.
Honest Timelines
Files under 2,000 words in 24 to 48 hours, a 50-page file in 3 to 5 working days. If your deadline is too tight for two careful readings, we tell you on day one.
A Typical Job: Checking Transcripts Someone Else Typed, Before They Go to Court
A client has English transcripts of several recordings that they prepared themselves. They do not want us to redo the work. They want a professional to check it and certify it as true, because it is evidence for a court case. The same client also has Tamil videos of 1 to 5 minutes each that need translation into English.
Transcript Review
Client's Own Transcript
English transcripts of several recordings, typed by the client.
What the client needed
Client with self-typed transcripts for a court case
- They did not want the work redone, only checked by a professional.
- They needed it certified as true, because it was evidence for a court case.
What we did
Check, mark, then certify
- We check the existing text against the source, here the audio.
- We mark every correction in tracked changes.
- Where the text is right, we leave it alone, so the client pays for checking, not retyping.
- We only certify a version we have checked line by line.
- For court use, the set then follows our legal transcription route.
How Much Do Proofreading and Editing Cost in Singapore?
Proofreading and editing are priced per word, by level. You get a fixed price before we start. Large or regular volumes? Send them together for one bundled quote; discounts apply above 50,000 words.
Proofreading
24-48 hrstwo people, tracked changes
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation and numbers
- British or American English, kept consistent
- Clean file plus tracked-changes file
Editing or Machine Translation Review
3-5 daysediting; MTPE quoted after a sample
- Clarity, flow, tone and consistent terms
- Checked against your glossary or style guide
- Translation checked line by line against the original
Certified, Notarised or Urgent
24-48 hrsNext step
- Short official documents: certified translation from S$40 a page
- Notarised for ICA: from S$202.20 for a 1-page document (S$40 + S$75 notarial certificate + S$87.20 SAL), 3 to 7 working days
- Same-day: +S$20 a page for short documents sent before 11am on a weekday (translation only)
Worked example: a 6,000-word employee handbook machine-translated from Japanese into English. Short sample check, to confirm post-editing is worth it: included. Machine translation review against the Japanese source, about 6,000 words × S$0.08 = S$480. Second reader for terms and numbers, glossary of 40 company terms kept for next time: included. Total: from S$480, usually ready in 3 to 5 working days. If the sample shows the machine draft is poor, we quote a new translation instead and show you both prices. English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean are standard for us. Rare language pairs, handwriting, scanned PDFs and very technical files may cost more or take longer, and we tell you before we start.
What Clients Say
Read what our clients say about our service.
Real Client Experiences
Swipe to read more success stories
Pleased With Final Document
"Sending my English academic transcript for Malay translation was part of my embassy task. They handled dates and grades properly. I felt relieved after seeing the copy. It was accepted..."
English to Malay Agreement for Regional Hire
"For a Malaysian staff member, we needed the employment contract translated from English to Malay. It was for internal record and clarity. Delivery took two days. The staff understood every..."
Satisfied With Embassy Submission Result
"My Malay business letter had to be translated into English for Malaysia embassy. I compared both copies line by line. Everything looked correct. The process ended without any problem."
My Research Looks Professional
"Amazed at how my French dissertation became easy to read in English. Every point stayed correct. My professor didn't need to ask any questions. This translation service really helped me..."
Scholarship Submission Ready
"The Arabic academic essay translation kept all details accurate. I used it for my scholarship form. Every paragraph is readable in English. Felt relieved knowing I could submit it without..."
Supplier Issue Solved
"Supplier document language caused delay. Translation fixed it. Logistics team approved. Shipment moved."
French Website Version for Market Entry
"Expanding into France meant our company website needed proper French translation. We submitted the translated version to our overseas partner for approval. They accepted it without revision. This helped us..."
Online Portal Accepted
"Government upload portal accepted the translated permit. No error shown. Process finished smoothly."
Great Choice For Expats
"Your team helped me with English translation. Steps were simple. I sent pictures by WhatsApp. Traffic Police accepted immediately."
My Thesis Feels Complete
"Seeing my Chinese Simplified dissertation in English made me smile. All my explanations are clear. I understood it fully. Submission was easy. I feel really satisfied and proud."
Other Services and Guides
Need a new translation instead of a check? These pages cover the main fields.
Helpful guides
Several Files? One Bundled Quote
Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Common Questions About Proofreading and Editing in Singapore
Short, direct answers to the questions clients ask us most.
FAQ Group
Can you certify a translation after you proofread it?
Yes, once our translator has checked it line by line against the original and corrected it. The signed certificate then comes from us, and most offices, including MOM, accept a certified translation by a translation service provider. ICA needs a notarised translation, so the checked translation then goes to a Notary Public and SAL.
How much does proofreading cost in Singapore?
Proofreading starts from S$0.04 a word and editing from S$0.08 a word, so a 2,000-word report is from S$80 to proofread. Machine translation review is quoted after a short sample. Short official documents cost from S$40 a page for a certified translation. Send the file and you get a fixed price within an hour.
I have a translation done elsewhere. Can it be notarised in Singapore?
Often yes, after a review. A Notary Public needs a translator who stands behind the translation, so our translator first checks it against the original and corrects it. Then it goes to the notary (S$75) and SAL (S$87.20), usually 3 to 7 working days in all. If it has too many errors, we tell you a new translation is cheaper.
My deadline is tomorrow. Can you still help?
Often, yes. Files under 2,000 words are usually ready in 24 to 48 hours, and shorter urgent files can sometimes be done faster. Long files need 3 to 5 working days for two careful readings. Message us on WhatsApp with the word count and your deadline, and we tell you honestly what is possible.
What do I get back, and in what format?
You get two files: a clean final version, and a Word file with every change tracked and comments on bigger edits. PDFs are marked with comments, or we can work in a converted Word file. Certified translations come as a signed PDF, with a paper copy on request.
Can you review our machine translation (MTPE)?
Yes. We check DeepL, Google or AI output against the source and edit it until it reads like a human translation, with the meaning, numbers and terms checked. We look at a short sample first. If the draft is poor, we tell you a new translation is the better choice. We follow the steps that ISO 18587 describes for this work, but we are not ISO certified.
Can you keep our company terms and style the same across all documents?
Yes. Send your glossary and style guide, or we build a word list from your first job and use it every time. For regular work, we keep the same editors on your account, so tone and terms stay the same across reports, policies and translations.
Do you sign an NDA, and do you use AI tools on our files?
Yes, we sign an NDA on request before we open your files. Your documents are used only for your job, handled under Singapore's PDPA, and deleted on request. We do not paste client documents into public AI tools.
We have regular volume. Do you offer monthly invoicing and a fixed process?
Yes. Companies with regular work can get volume rates, a monthly invoice and one account contact. Every file follows the same process: an editor, then a second reader, with tracked changes and a shared word list. This is the same two-person method that ISO 17100 describes for translation, though we do not hold an ISO certificate.
Will you change my meaning or my voice?
No. Proofreading fixes errors only. Editing makes sentences clearer but keeps your meaning, your argument and your voice. Bigger suggestions are left as comments for you to decide. You can reject any change, and errors we missed are re-checked free within 14 days.
Get Your Document Checked by Two Editors
Upload your file, tell us the level and your deadline, and get a fixed price within an hour.