# A (probably) dumb question **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 28, 2006, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048 "2006-11-28T09:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048/1 "2006-11-28T09:18:21Z")
Well, I searched for the terms, and got nothing, so I’ll go ahead and ask… I am well aware that this board does not help with schoolwork, for reasons of academic honesty, among others. What I am unclear on, is whether it would be innapropriate to seek a proofreader for a paper of mine here? I wouldn’t have to post the document on the board, I could post it elsewhere and link to it I imagine (or would this be a **BAD IDEA** tm). If not, could someone point me to a good site for that kind of thing? It’s a little last minute for me to use this time around, but the thought occured to me and I figured I might as well ask just for curiosity’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048/2 "2006-11-28T12:05:27Z")
IANAM, but I think it would be okay to post a request in MPSIMS explaining what you need and asking anyone who wanted to help to email you. You should probably email **TubaDiva** or another admin or mod first for permission, though. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048/3 "2006-11-28T13:42:52Z")
We do not have a problem with this; this is something people contract for all the time in various ways. If someone wants to volunteer, that’s great. Some people get paid for this kind of work, so you may need to work something out with them. So sure, make your thread. How much of this do you think you’d need, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![H3Knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@H3Knuckles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H3Knuckles)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048/4 "2006-11-28T18:07:57Z")
Well, as I said, it was too late for me this semester (just handed in my last paper earlier today), but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to find out anyway. Hypothetically, I would probably do it the way you suggested, and make arrangements to e-mail some volunteer the file and ask them to proof it for grammar errors, cite errors, and other basics like that. Right now most of the courses I’m taking don’t assign much more than the usual 3-5 page essays, and this spring I’ll be switching to a computer science major so I doubt I’ll be doing anything much longer than that in the near future. Thanks for the prompt reply though. I’d really enjoy being able to arrange things this way in the future, as the writing center at my school is (in effect) by appointment only, and it’s next to impossible to find a convenient time for a student/part-time worker like me. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048/5 "2006-11-30T01:29:30Z")
Why not ask a fellow student to do it? ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-probably-dumb-question/382048/6 "2006-11-30T14:07:27Z")
This may sound odd, but I’d suggest [CraigsList.com](http://craigslist.com) They have various categories for help, requesting help, swap, and “writing gigs” etc. The nice thing about it is that it’s local. If you put your school in the title, you might find someone on campus to do it, and maybe get yourself a study pal.