Showing posts with label proofreading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label proofreading. Show all posts

Sunday, March 29, 2020

How to Become a Work at Home Proofreader

Are you quick to spot a typo or bothered when a writer uses “then” in a sentence that calls for “than”? If so, you might make a good proofreader.




All sorts of companies hire eagle-eyed proofreaders to ensure their written documents are free of errors before being seen by others. Misspellings, incorrect grammar, and similar mistakes reflect poorly on a business and can cause problems or confusion. (Imagine, for instance, an ad that promotes a product on sale for $14 rather than the intended $41—big difference!)



Think proofreading sounds like a possible match to your interests and talents? Read on to learn all about how to become a proofreader.

What Is a Proofreader?

Each proofreader job description contains company-specific responsibilities, but the heart of any proofreading role involves meticulously reviewing a piece of writing to ensure it is at its best. Proofreaders catch spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. They also look at the format to make certain all elements are included and appear as they should—spotting things like a sentence printing twice or accidentally getting omitted, a headline failing to show as bold, or the date missing from a document.

Proofreading vs. Editing

Despite similarities, proofreading and editing are not the same thing. Editors generally perform duties such as planning content, assigning work, reviewing submissions, and making revisions. By the time copy reaches a proofreader, all rewrites should be complete. The proofreader ensures the final product is free of errors.

That said, proofreader job descriptions may contain elements that venture into editing territory. Smaller businesses especially may expect proofreaders to assume greater responsibilities. In larger companies, proofreaders sometimes use their experience as a stepping stone to higher-level editorial positions.

How Much Money do Proofreaders Make?

Proofreaders earn a mean hourly wage of $20.17, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industries with the highest levels of employment of proofreaders include newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers; scientific and technical services; business support services; employment services; and advertising and public relation firms.

Educational Requirements for Proofreaders

Proofreaders oftentimes hold a bachelor’s degree in English or journalism. However, graduates in other disciplines also can succeed as proofreaders by demonstrating their understanding of written language. Employers frequently require candidates to take a proofreading test to show competency.

Certain proofreading positions call for an advanced degree and/or experience in a particular industry. A background in law, for instance, proves useful for proofreaders of legal documents.

Skills Proofreaders Need

Aspiring proofreaders should be strong communicators who pay close attention to detail. Applicants also need the ability to work independently and to meet deadlines consistently.

Most modern-day proofreading gets performed on computers. Familiarity with word processing (especially change-tracking features), editorial software, and spreadsheets proves helpful.

Some employers seek candidates who are familiar with specific editorial styles. Knowledge of the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook and/or the Chicago Manual of Style before hitting the market provides a definite advantage.

You can also find freelance  proofreading side hustles  via upwork, fiverr  for starting place 


Finding Flexible Proofreading Jobs

Like writing and editorial positions in general, proofreading lends itself to remote and work-from-home arrangements. Besides filling full-time roles, companies often hire proofreaders on a freelance/contract basis.

If this is something you’d be interested in, FlexJobs has you covered. We post full-time, part-time, contract, and freelance proofreading positions that are fully vetted and verified.


Here are some recently one posted 

Proofreading 
Seeking a proofreader for a freelance, variable shift position requiring a strong focus on details, computer proficiency. Will review documents, ensure grammar is correct, resolve errors, make recommendations, verify information.

Proofreader Los Angeles 
Proofreader needed for a freelance position responsible for reviewing multiple types of print and digital content. BA degree in English or journalism required and proofreading experience.

Proofreader Orange County

Temporary position. Must have two years' professional experience as a proofreader and be detail oriented. Edit marketing collateral, advertising pieces and product information, proof work before before going to press, correct spelling and grammar.


Proofreading and Editing

Candidate sought for a telecommute proofreading / editing position requiring a graduate degree and five+ years' editing experience or equivalent. Will read and edit academic papers. Previous related experience, computer proficiency required.

Editor, Proofreader

Remote candidate will work on reviewing and proofreading the authors' content, contributing to the overall course quality, and evolving the course content. 3+ yrs of experience and Bachelors required. Part-time contract with flexible schedule.

Editor, Proofreader

Freelance proofreader will work remotely providing editing and proofreading services on assignments you choose. Candidate must have a college degree and 3+ years of experience writing, editing, or language teaching. Requires a PC and MS Word

Proofreader- Insurance Transcripts

Seeking independent contractor editors and proofreaders with proofreading experience to make corrections to drafted versions of audio transcriptions within various all-in-one transcription platforms. Strong English skills are needed.





Saturday, June 11, 2016

How to Make Money as a Proofreader as a work at home job

As a freelance  wahm  writer there are so many kinds of online writing assignments that are open to you. From articles, to blog posts, to ghostwriting, you enjoy a variety of assignments for writing.  


What about the other side of the story, the side that needs you to actually go through pieces of writing and comb them for errors, ensuring they are readable and free of grammar or construction lapses? This in its essence is the vital job that proofreaders do. Without people willing to take on proofreading jobs most pieces of writing would not be all that great to read, with small errors marring the flow. A proofreader needs to fulfill a variety of criteria in order to take up online proofreading jobs. Take a look at some of these criteria:

An eye for detail: This is a key requirement for success in proofreading jobs, online or off it. A person who proofreads needs to have an innate eye for grammatical lapses, sentence constructions that somehow read wrong, and of course, spelling mistakes. Practice at proofreading is also helpful in honing this ability to quickly pick out all the errors and make a piece of text readable.

A sound knowledge of the language: An eye for detail and a thorough knowledge of the language usually go hand in hand. Before looking for online proofreading jobs, a proofreader should brush up their knowledge of grammar, and in brief, cross their t's and dot their i's every time.

How to get Started with Upwork

Knowledge of the proofreading symbols: A specific set of symbols is used in proofreading universally. The proofreader must know how to use these symbols. Online proofreading jobs need people who can handle the symbols comfortably. Many basic entry-level jobs can be a good practice ground to pick up standard proofreading skills. Advanced jobs may need a more detailed set of criteria specific to the job at hand,

A willingness to read and learn: While this criteria is not confined to online proofreading jobs, and actually relates to any job or task, proofreaders especially benefit from a willingness to learn. Knowing about various subjects helps, as being familiar with a particular subject gives a slight advantage in going through a piece of writing without much effort. You may actually call it somewhat like the home ground advantage. It can also be helpful to specialize in proofreading texts on a particular subject. A small tip: If you are a beginner, be ready to take up any job for the experience. Keep specialization for the long haul.

Comfort with working online for long stretches: Proofreading can be quite a hectic and sometimes tedious job, needing the proofreader to be comfortable with stiff deadlines. Online proofreading jobs needs the proofreader to be comfortable scanning and correcting documents in an electronic format.