The Writing Center, part of the Harvard College Writing Program,  is a place for Harvard undergraduates to get help with any aspect of their writing, from specific assignments to general writing skills. The Writing Center is staffed by trained undergraduate tutors who provide individual conferences at no charge to the student.You don't have to be finished–or even started–to come for a conference. You can come with ideas, notes, or a draft.  To learn more about what we do, please read this.

If you are not an undergraduate at Harvard College, please refer to the links at the top of this page for other available resources. If you have any questions, please email us, or phone us at 5-1655. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would anyone want to meet with a writing tutor? 

Writing Center tutors are trained to read academic papers critically and with an eye towards strengthening an argument.  They can talk to you about structure, ideas, and clarity of your paper, and suggest strategies for revision.  Academic writing can be a solitary pursuit--sharing your ideas with a writing tutor is a way to try them out for an audience.

Can I e-mail my paper to you and receive written comments from a tutor?

Writing Center tutors do not provide written comments on your paper, and we cannot read your paper ahead of time. If you make an appointment for an hour-long conference, your tutor will read your paper and talk to you about it during your conference.  Experience suggests that the most productive conferences are those that are truly an exchange of ideas between the tutor and the writer.

Will a tutor proofread my paper?

We cannot proofread or edit your work, but we will be happy to point out problems with grammar and syntax as we discuss your paper, or to discuss these issues more generally.

Should I schedule a conference or go to drop-in hours?

Our schedule tends to fill up quickly during busy weeks of the semester. If you can't find a daytime appointment that fits your schedule, please feel free to come by in the evenings (Monday-Thursday from 7-9 p.m.).   

Will you tell my instructor I visited the Writing Center?

  Writing Center conferences are confidential. We will not discuss your conference, or the fact that you came here for a conference, with your instructor.