Update own-instance.rst

Improved English grammar and punctuation for professionalism.

1 files changed, 27 insertions, 27 deletions

diff --git a/docs/own-instance.rst b/docs/own-instance.rst
index 62099ce23..c52f2ace8 100644
--- a/docs/own-instance.rst
+++ b/docs/own-instance.rst
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 Why use a private instance?
 ===========================
 
-.. sidebar:: Is it worth to run my own instance?
+.. sidebar:: Is running my own instance worth it?
 
-  \.\. is a common question among SearXNG users.  Before answering this
+  \.\.\.is a common question among SearXNG users.  Before answering this
   question, see what options a SearXNG user has.
 
 .. contents::
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ Why use a private instance?
    :local:
    :backlinks: entry
 
-Public instances are open to everyone who has access to its URL.  Usually, these
+Public instances are open to everyone who has access to their URL.  Usually, they
 are operated by unknown parties (from the users' point of view).  Private
-instances can be used by a select group of people.  It is for example a SearXNG of
-group of friends or a company which can be accessed through VPN.  Also it can be
-single user one which runs on the user's laptop.
+instances can be used by a select group of people, such as a SearXNG instance for a
+group of friends, or a company which can be accessed through a VPN.  Instances can also be
+single-user instances, which run locally on the user's machine.
 
-To gain more insight on how these instances work let's dive into how SearXNG
+To gain more insight on how these instances work, let's dive into how SearXNG
 protects its users.
 
 .. _SearXNG protect privacy:
@@ -26,26 +26,26 @@ protects its users.
 How does SearXNG protect privacy?
 =================================
 
-SearXNG protects the privacy of its users in multiple ways regardless of the type
-of the instance (private, public).  Removal of private data from search requests
+SearXNG protects the privacy of its users in multiple ways, regardless of the type
+of the instance (private or public).  Removal of private data from search requests
 comes in three forms:
 
- 1. removal of private data from requests going to search services
- 2. not forwarding anything from a third party services through search services
+ 1. Removing private data from requests going to search services
+ 2. Not forwarding anything from third party services through search services
     (e.g. advertisement)
- 3. removal of private data from requests going to the result pages
+ 3. Removing private data from requests going to the results pages
 
 Removing private data means not sending cookies to external search engines and
 generating a random browser profile for every request.  Thus, it does not matter
 if a public or private instance handles the request, because it is anonymized in
-both cases.  IP addresses will be the IP of the instance.  But SearXNG can be
+both cases.  The IP address used will be the IP of the instance, but SearXNG can also be
 configured to use proxy or Tor.  `Result proxy
 <https://github.com/asciimoo/morty>`__ is supported, too.
 
-SearXNG does not serve ads or tracking content unlike most search services.  So
+SearXNG does not serve ads or tracking content, unlike most search services.  Therefore,
 private data is not forwarded to third parties who might monetize it.  Besides
-protecting users from search services, both referring page and search query are
-hidden from visited result pages.
+protecting users from search services, both the referring page and search query are
+hidden from the results pages being visited.
 
 
 What are the consequences of using public instances?
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ What are the consequences of using public instances?
 
 If someone uses a public instance, they have to trust the administrator of that
 instance.  This means that the user of the public instance does not know whether
-their requests are logged, aggregated and sent or sold to a third party.
+their requests are logged, aggregated, and sent or sold to a third party.
 
-Also, public instances without proper protection are more vulnerable to abusing
-the search service, In this case the external service in exchange returns
-CAPTCHAs or bans the IP of the instance.  Thus, search requests return less
+Also, public instances without proper protection are more vulnerable to abuse of
+the search service which may cause the external service to enforce
+CAPTCHAs, or to ban the IP address of the instance.  Thus, search requests would return less
 results.
 
 I see. What about private instances?
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ If users run their :ref:`own instances <installation>`, everything is in their
 control: the source code, logging settings and private data.  Unknown instance
 administrators do not have to be trusted.
 
-Furthermore, as the default settings of their instance is editable, there is no
-need to use cookies to tailor SearXNG to their needs.  So preferences will not be
+Furthermore, as the default settings of their instance are editable, there is no
+need to use cookies to tailor SearXNG to their needs and preferences will not
 reset to defaults when clearing browser cookies.  As settings are stored on
-their computer, it will not be accessible to others as long as their computer is
+the user's computer, they will not be accessible to others as long as their computer is
 not compromised.
 
 Conclusion
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Always use an instance which is operated by people you trust.  The privacy
 features of SearXNG are available to users no matter what kind of instance they
 use.
 
-If someone is on the go or just wants to try SearXNG for the first time public
-instances are the best choices.  Additionally, public instance are making a
-world a better place, because those who cannot or do not want to run an
-instance, have access to a privacy respecting search service.
+For those on the go, or just wanting to try SearXNG for the first time, public
+instances are the best choice.  Additionally, public instance are making the
+world a better place by giving those who cannot, or do not, want to run an
+instance access to a privacy-respecting search service.