Picture courtesy Elijah Hail, Unsplash WHAT is it about proofreading and editing that academics find so hard to understand? Yet again a university student has requested my help in preparing their thesis for submission. And yet again, and much as I would welcome the work, I have had to say no. There are several reasons for refusal, but the main one is time. The student has set a deadline for return of the completed edit five days on from sending the request. No fees have been quoted or agreed. None of the specifics have been discussed. Nothing has been signed. Continue reading