Since using an editing service is bound to increase the value and mark you receive for an academic essay, some might argue that it is dishonest to take advantage of these services. If this is really the case, then the morality of the millions of students and academics who have leveraged editing services as of January 2021 could be called into question.
Nevertheless, all UK universities, as well as most students, academics, and editors, do not believe that using editing services is unethical or dishonest. It is well-known that higher education relies on a culture of collaboration, and that a person’s decision to work with an editor shows a strong commitment to learning and academic development.
Is it dishonest to use a calculator, even if you have been told by your math teacher or professor that you can? This question is essentially the same as the one that serves as the title for this blog post. It is an interesting question that some people would debate, and some would certainly argue that, even if you can use a calculator, it is slightly dishonest to do so. These people might argue that you should never do so. However, from the standpoint of most people, it is clearly unobjectionable to use a calculator.
An editor, just like a calculator, a computer, or a slide rule, is a tool. Editors are human resources who are available for hire. It would be remarkably silly not to use these human resources if given the opportunity.
Of course, if you use a calculator on a math test where calculators have been expressly forbidden, this is unquestionably cheating. Similarly, if you are a language student learning the basics, or if you are a child learning about grammar in early years education, hiring an editor for your vocabulary test is undoubtedly dishonest.
However, editors – just like Grammarly and other spellcheckers – are intended for writers who have already learned the basics, and who already know how to write. Universities and most academic institutions recognize this (if you are in doubt about this, simply Google your university and attach the term “proofreading policy” or “editing policy”).
Therefore, using an editor for your academic essay or research paper is basically the same as using a calculator for your calculus or number theory exam. As all professional academics and non-fiction and fiction writers recognise, having a fresh pair of eyes check over your written work helps to catch all the things that may be missed when working alone.
When an editor begins to offer answers to an essay prompt, or when an editor starts doing your research for you, this is getting into the realm of dishonesty. But this is not what we’re talking about in an editing and proofreading services intended to convey your ideas in the clearest possible way and should ensure your work is presentatinally correct for the intended purpose.
Professional Proofreading Services 