WordPatch.co.uk is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency with our readers. This page explains how our publication is funded and how we manage advertising, affiliate links and commercial arrangements. We believe that clear disclosure is essential to the trust you place in our editorial coverage of writing, language, books, publishing, media and digital culture.
How we are funded
WordPatch.co.uk is operated by Patchwork Digital Media Ltd., a privately owned company registered in England and Wales. Our journalism and editorial content are supported by a diversified funding model that includes display advertising, affiliate commissions, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships, content licensing and educational partnerships. A full breakdown of our ownership and funding sources is available on the Ownership & Funding page.
Affiliate links explained
Many articles on WordPatch.co.uk contain affiliate links. These are links to third-party retailers, bookshops, software providers or other commercial services. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, WordPatch.co.uk may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
We use two standard disclosure statements across the site:
- “This article contains affiliate links. WordPatch.co.uk may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.”
- “This article may include book retailer or software affiliate links. WordPatch.co.uk may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
These disclosures appear either immediately before or adjacent to any affiliate links within an article, or in a prominent notice at the top of the article. Our aim is to ensure that you are always aware when a link has a commercial component, so you can make informed decisions about your purchases.
Display advertising
WordPatch.co.uk displays standard graphical and text-based advertisements from third-party networks and direct advertisers. These ads are clearly distinguished from editorial content. We do not allow advertising that mimics editorial style, and all advertisements are labelled as such. Display advertising never determines the topics we cover or the conclusions we reach. Our editorial team operates independently from our commercial operations, as outlined in our Editorial Policy.
Review copies, trials and promotional access
We occasionally accept review copies of books, software trials, product samples and promotional access to digital tools. All such materials are accepted on the basis that the provider has no influence over the content, timing or outcome of any review or feature. Any product or service provided free of charge for review purposes is disclosed within the relevant article. Full details of our approach to reviews, samples and trials are set out in our Reviews Policy.
Advertising and editorial separation
Commercial relationships never control editorial conclusions. Our newsroom and editorial teams are operationally separate from our advertising and partnerships teams. No advertiser, sponsor or commercial partner has the right to review, approve or influence editorial content before publication. Paid recommendations or promoted placements are never presented as independent editorial selections. Where we publish content that has been commissioned or funded by a commercial partner, it is clearly labelled as sponsored or branded content. Our Sponsored Content Policy provides further detail on how such material is managed.
Contact us
If you have questions about advertising, affiliate relationships or commercial partnerships, please contact us using the following function email addresses:
- Advertising enquiries: advertising@wordpatch.co.uk
- Affiliate programme enquiries: affiliate@wordpatch.co.uk
- Partnership enquiries: partnerships@wordpatch.co.uk
General editorial or legal enquiries can be directed to contact@wordpatch.co.uk.
This page is part of our commitment to honest, accessible and trustworthy journalism. For more information about how we work, please also see our Editorial Policy and our Fact-Checking Policy.