Proofreading is one of the most essential jobs within the publishing industry, and it’s a career that draws thousands of freelancers each year – as well as hundreds of thousands of writers, who all need to hire from the worldwide pool of professional proofreaders.
Almost all articles and blog posts have been through at least one proper proofreading by the time they are published. The majority of books will have seen several rounds of proofreading before it makes it to print.
If you are a writer who wants to know where to find the best proofreaders to hire, read this complete guide that will tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know (but were probably afraid to ask) about the proofreading industry.
What is Proofreading?
Proofreading is a specific type of editing, just like copywriting is a specific type of writing.
Editors are brought in for developmental, large, or final changes to a manuscript. Proofreaders are brought in to check for sentence structure, grammar, and spelling mistakes – and of course, it’s the proofreader’s job to eliminate these mistakes in the final draft.
A manuscript can be proofread once, but might also be proofread several times during the writing or editing process.
Proofreaders are trained in language skills for their job, and most proofreaders have prior experience in proofreading, editing, and/or writing.
What’s the Difference Between Proofreading and Editing?
As most of the readers might have guessed at this point in the article, proofreading and editing is not the same thing – and they each have their own task in the process of publication.
A proofreader focuses on grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.
Editors might make more drastic changes to a manuscript, and prepare the bulk of the text. Editors will make changes to the storyline or draft, whereas a proofreader is less likely to make plot or storyline changes – while they can make recommendations, that’s not what a proofreader does.
If you would like to make sure that your manuscript is perfect, you’ll need a proofreader to do it.
Who Needs Proofreaders?
Freelance proofreaders might be hired by any number of different clients, including writers and bloggers who would like to make sure that they always release the best quality work into the world.
Proofreaders might be hired by writers, but also their editors.
Publishing houses and larger corporate copy agencies also make use of professional proofreaders, which can sometimes be different to their team of writers.
If you are a proofreader who is looking to get hired, a good portfolio is an essential part of it and you will need it to approach new clients.
Where Can I Hire a Proofreader?
If you are someone who needs to hire a proofreader, then platforms like Reedsy are one of the best ways to get in touch with a professional list of freelancers who are at the height of their careers.
Reedsy allows clients to list their needs, and allows proofreaders and other creatives to advertise their services and connect.
Some of the biggest names in the industry can be found on Reedsy, and they’re all for hire.
What Are Specialized or Niche Proofreaders?
Proofreading isn’t just a general job title, but it can also become more specialized or complicated when there is a need for it.
A specialized or niche proofreader has added experience, and often qualifications, which allow them to proofread within the tech, medical, or legal field.
Legal, medical, and other niche proofreading can often fetch higher rates than standard proofreading just because these jobs require experience, more detail, and sometimes the added guarantee of complete confidentiality for sensitive information.
What About General Proofreading?
General proofreading can be divided into two categories: fiction and nonfiction.
Some proofreaders do both, though there are also proofreaders out there who choose to specialize in fiction or nonfiction just because they are more comfortable with their direction – and thus, stick to their guns.
If you want to hire a proofreader online, it’s a good idea to check out their profile on a platform: their profile should tell you what kind of proofreader they are, and most of the details about the kind of clients they seek.
If there is more you want to know as their next possible client, get in touch.
How Much Do Proofreaders Make?
A proofreader can charge (and thus make) anything from $20 to $50 per hour, while some proofreaders charge a rate depending on the size of a writing project and the amount of work that will need to go into a finished proofreading.
Specialized proofreaders can often earn more per word, page, project, or hour than standard proofreaders.
How Long Does Proofreading Take?
It depends on the project, the amount of work, and the speed of the proofreader that you’ve hired for the job. There is no single answer to how long a professional proofreading might take, though an individual freelancer should be able to tell you how soon their turn-around-time is.
As a proofreader’s client, you are allowed to ask for regular progress reports.
Should I Hire Any Proofreader?
No.
Hire the proofreader that has the right amount of experience in the right field, and find the one that charges the rate which matches your budget (or save up until you can afford the freelancer you’d like to hire for the project).
Work with a shortlist, and speak to several proofreaders before you decide on the final one.
How Can I Become a Proofreader?
If you are a writer who wants to give proofreading a shot, the first thing you should know is that it can take language and grammar skills – often ones that are far more refined.
There are many excellent courses that can teach you how to proofread well, and that will teach you how to proofread better. Specialized proofreading courses for the medical, legal, and other fields also exist.