How do I earn an income as a proofreader?

What is the job of a proofreader?

A proofreader checks the spelling and other mistakes on the final writing for web pages, articles, books, documents, translations and academic work while the role of an editor and copy-editor are to make more significant alterations as needed.

Do you have an interest in working for us as a freelance proofreader?

Who makes use of a proofreader?

The normal users of proofreading facilities in are publishing companies, magazines and newspapers.

What is the path to become a proofreader?

Any person can acquire a job as a proofreader, and this comes more easily if a guide is put into use to get you going, one such guide is “Freelance Proofreading and Copy-editing – A Guide” by Trevor Horwood, skill-builder “Proof Reading, Revising and Editing Success: Success in 20 Minutes a Day” by LearningExpress or internet material like www.dailywritingtips.com, www.freelancewritinggigs.com along with others.

What expertise does a proofreader require?

A proofreading job usually needs paying specific attention to small details, being accurate, an excellent level of English and Information technology skills.

No special educational qualification is required but some simple training is preferred, for example, to familiarise the way a specic proofreading job is conducted. (see www.journalismcareers.com/articles/proofreadingsymbols.shtml).

The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) (www.sfep.org.uk) and the Publishing Training Centre (www.train4publishing.co.uk) have on offer quick training for proofreaders. But if you are seeking a proofreading role or a specific assignment in a precise area suitable experience and preferably an academic degree (up to Masters or PhD) in it might be required from the candidate.

How much proofreading work is there actually out there?

The competition to get an assignment is hard and the nearer your knowledge relates to the role or assignment on offer the more the chance you will get a look in. When you have made the decision to  go further with your idea you could try to get a job as a self-employed proofreader.

Will becoming a self employed proofreader be a suitable option for me?

Taking on self employment can have certain  benefits – such as being adaptable with your daily routines, but the opposite of this brings about fulfilling certain government requirements such as the necessity to file your own tax return documentation annually.

Additionally, becoming self-employed denies you specific employment fringe benefits including pay when you are sick, pension benefits and private medical cover.

Viewpoints differ, with a few people pointing out that only a small number of people can withstand work as a freelance proofreader and to be realistic you should view this type of job as an addition to your primary employment. But, it is not a surprise to find journalists looking out for freelance proofreading jobs`.

Individuals also state that with the correct angle this can be a nice and satisfying way to work from your home offering you all the benefits and adaptability of freelancing. Working from one’s home as a proofreader can provide a suitable way for some disabled individuals.

Pay SfEP 2008 guidelines indicate that the pay rates start at £19.25 for an hour for proofreading while the mean rate can change from £10 to 16 pounds for each hour with copy-editing pay rates being much higher. If you get an opening for an in-house job you could receive .an annual income in excess of 35000 pounds.

Locating work / assignments as a proofreader

To search out proofreading assignments or projects you can advertise your services or go about finding a business which is on the look out for freelance proofreaders for a period of time.

A few professional proofreaders and editors also endeovour to set up and market their own web pages online. Advertising and promotion activities need financing  (therefore if you advertise in Google you have tthe responsibility to pay for each click on your advert), conversly putting the information about your business on the advertisement sites might be free ( e.g Gumtree in Britainwww.gumtree.com).

And, site www.freelancersintheuk.co.uk might be worth thinking about in addition, www.copyediting.co.uk have a the list of freelance editors and proofreaders in British Standard English.

There are many sponsored links in Google which give reference to the sites of professional proofreaders. Directly making contact with publishing houses / related websites managers / other likely clients through email with the offer of your services might  be of help. With this plan you must consider your specific good points and what allows your services to be markedly different from alternative proofreaders (it might be price, your qualifications, experience, relevant work record as well as references). Many proofreaders put reviews from their customers on their online web pages. Some might find it useful to work with particular businesses such as www.editfast.com (which puts the specifications of its proofreaders on its web pages), www.book-editing.com, www.wordfirm.com, http://www.proofreadnow.com who encourage applications from skilled proofreaders. These businesses need prooof of experience as a proofreader and editor.

As well as registering with specific companies that might offer assignments that require proofreading it might be of use to search other plsaces which offer freelance proofreading job openings, like www.online-writing-jobs.com, www.freelancewriting.com, www.writingbids.com, www.worldwideworkathome.com, www.elance.com For more permanent salaried opportunities you could look at www.guardian.co.uk and www.telegraph.co.uk, www.totaljobs.com. www.thebookseller.com who also advertise jobs for proofreaders now and again. For proofreading roles that include translations you can look up www.worldwideworkathome.com and www.proz.com

Academic Writer Jobs are on the look out for proofreaders as well. To apply today, just fill out our application form or discover more: