Lots of frequently asked questions
What does Writefish do?
Writefish checks content for style, sense and facts. In other words:
Does it follow the rules?
Does it make sense?
Is it actually true?
Do you mean you’re an AI-checking service?
No. Writefish provides human editorial judgement to any kind of content that helps make sure it is accurate, consistent and sensible.
Why does AI-assisted content need checking?
For much the same reason any content needs checking: people and tools make mistakes. An emerging problem is that AI tools sometimes produce extremely confident, plausible mistakes. An experienced human editor can help spot where something deserves a closer look.
What is style checking?
I check spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency, terminology, tone, plain language and other style requirements. I can also check against your organisation’s style guide or a standard such as the Australian Government Style Manual.
What is fact checking?
I check agreed factual claims against reliable sources. That can include names, dates, figures, quotations, references, links and other verifiable information. I flag material that appears incorrect, unsupported, out of date or unverifiable.
What is sense checking?
I read the content as a human. I look for gaps, contradictions, odd conclusions, missing information and passages that might be grammatical but don’t make sense in context. This can be particularly useful when material has been drafted, rewritten or summarised using AI tools.
Can I choose just one kind of checking?
Yes. Some projects need a straightforward style check. Others need more extensive sense or fact checking. Most sit somewhere in between. We’ll agree on what the project needs before we start.
Can Writefish work on business and government projects?
Yes, Writefish has worked with many business, government and corporate clients, offering editing and document design services.
Are services available for book authors?
Yes, Writefish provides editing and advice for manuscripts and books, including line-by-line copyediting and feedback.
Can Writefish help with academic papers and theses?
Yes, services include editing journal articles, theses and other complex academic texts, with careful attention to style, structure and clarity.
Can Writefish help make documents accessible?
Yes, Writefish can create or convert Word and PDF files to meet accessibility standards, making them usable by people with disability.
Do you also use AI?
Yes, where it is useful. AI tools are excellent for certain tasks, but I don’t outsource judgement to them.
What kinds of content do you work on?
Reports, policies, manuals, websites, articles, academic material, technical documents, communications and many other kinds of professional content.
Can you guarantee that every fact is correct?
No, and who could? I can apply careful human judgement, check agreed material against reliable sources and flag uncertainty.
Will you change my content?
Absolutely. I work using tracked changes and comments, so you can see what I’ve changed, what I’ve queried and why.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the length, complexity and depth of checking required. See the Rates page for useful ballpark figures.
What’s it like to work with Writefish?
Working with Writefish is easy, professional and productive, with transparent quotes, clear communication, regular updates and flexibility around changing needs.
Who owns the copyright to my work?
Once the project is paid for, you own the intellectual property (IP) of any content that Writefish has worked on.
How do I start a project with Writefish?
Fill out the Brief me form to share project details. This saves us time on initial email discussions.
What should I include in my project brief?
Provide details such as document type, audience, word count, deadline and any special requirements. The more you tell me, the better estimate I can give you on cost and availability in return.