Our critique guidelines were recently changed to specify that proofreading and requests for mere grammar correction should be off-topic. We've had two recent critique questions requesting grammar changes: Help me to improve the grammar of this question and How can I improve this paragraph about the role of the internet.
The earlier discussion of whether or not to allow grammar questions settled on no, that such questions belonged on English.SE. However that question predates our critique guidelines and even more important predates the change in policy from SE headquarters with regards to critiques on Writing.SE. Plus proofreading a paragraph is explicitly disallowed on English.SE per their FAQ. So while someone may ask a grammar question there, full critiques would, I'm guessing, be referred here by the English.SE mods and 3K users unless we teach them not to. Which means if not writing, then where? Or is the proper answer nowhere.
There was another question on questions that say please restyle me that was related to homework but also touched on copy-editing where the accepted answer is that we should allow such questions if there is demonstrated work on the asker's part. That answer was upvoted 7 times. So there's some precedent for allowing questions that demonstrate work that ask about style, at least.
I'm actually inclined to allow these proofreading type questions if:
- They are a short paragraph or shorter, as we aren't a source for free copy editing
- They explicitly ask for improving grammar and punctuation rather than simply "Fix my paragraph and make it read well" as some general, now-closed critique questions have asked.
But this should obviously be up for community discussion and debate.