Proofreading is becoming a highly lucrative job. Many people are opting for online proofreading jobs from the comfort of home although, not all proofreading jobs that we find online are legitimate. Many companies are found to be scams. It is, therefore, essential to find out the genuine ones that pay for your proofreading work. 

It takes very short period to acquire proofreading skills and you can start earning from it. Proofreading is the final work before publishing the article. It is a critical stage after writing and editing. Proofreading is an assignment of revising the edited file for error checks. Technical corrections may be minor as the text is already in an edited version. This work involves examining the accuracy of the content before sending it for approval for submission.

How is Proofreading different from Copy editing?

It may sometimes demand different types of proofreading for there are different types of documents. Without proofreading, no literary work in this world would have made sense and people would have acquired an incorrect understanding of the language. So, if you have a knack for catching mistakes in a given sentence then there are high chances that you will prove to be a good proofreader.

People in the writing industry already know that proofreading and copy editing are two separate jobs to do. For beginners, copy editing involves:

•         Correcting spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar
•         Word rephrasing and structuring
•         Well-versed with a writing style guide to avoid legal confrontation

It is only after editing, that the content is given for proofreading. A good proofreader should be familiar with the writing style guide, be it Associated Press Stylebook or the Chicago Manual of Style.

The writing industry is only booming and there is nothing to stop it. Where writers are hiring proofreaders to avoid typographical errors, its demand is simultaneously increasing which is evident from the types of content we see on the social platform.  

Two sides of a Coin: online proofreading jobs

Starting a proofreading business comes with advantages and disadvantages. It is not always smooth sailing in the business. While it is highlighted that a proofreading job is easy that pays you well, it can be challenging as well at times.

We shall narrow down the bright side and also the tough side of this job:

•         Scheduling your work shift at your convenience
•         Investment is less in proofreading business
•         Work from home
•         Sign up for the job on multiple platforms
•         Work flexibility

Disadvantages of proofreading jobs online

•         Time-consuming on finding the authenticated website for the job
•         Deadlines may be tight to take up other work.
•         Requirement of formal educational qualifications by companies may become a hurdle.
•         Distractions can be a hindrance while doing the job

Tools for proofreading

Various tools are available online to check the accuracy of your content. To name a few, they are:

1.       Grammarly – Beginners can use the free version to start with and examine for corrections.
2.       Google Docs – it is the most efficient medium to keep a transparent exchange of files between you and the client where any change is visible to both parties.
3.       Spell Checkers – checks for grammatical and spelling errors.

As a beginner at proofreading, advertisement of your past work and enrolment in social media is important for your work to attract clients.

Role of a Proofreader

There are different services of proofreading available in the market which are listed below:

   Essay Proofreading: 

This proofreading is mostly called by students from college and even High school where essay competitions are held.

  Typesetting: 

This is often confused with typography because it sounds similar and is assumed to be the same. Typesetting is the art of designing and placing the text on pages that  include deciding the right text size and font, margins, and styling of the pages. This process is usually kept until the end of the publishing process.

  Design of the Book Cover:

  Everything is judged by the cover of a book. It's design and graphics are significant to attract readers.

  The copyright page of a book:

A copyright page is usually kept right after the title page that is back of it. This page covers

•         disclaimer,
•         ISBN,
•         rights and permissions,
•         information of book print, edition, ordering, author website, and address of the publisher,
•         trademark notices,
•         editing, production, design, and illustration credits
•         environmental notices
•         name of the country where the book was printed

  Academic Proofreading:

This work is the same as that of essay proofreading. The difference lies in the standard. The standard of proofreading is much higher and needs decoration of the paper for publication. Journals, dissertations, and thesis are a few examples in this category.

 Book proofreading: 

Proofreading books and eBooks is another service which is in demand.

 Business Proofreading:

Whether be it a small or big business, the need for content to advertise its products and services is always in demand to publish either on the internet or paper. The content prepared for advertisement also requires proofreading.

 Technical Services:

For this type of proofreading, people with technical backgrounds prove best to understand the technical terms and jargon.

Proofreading jobs can start from correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation to reaching a whole different level of legal, technical, and scientific documents. This comes with experience and growth in your professional arena, nonetheless, you can start when you think you are ready for the job and make your way to the top in this industry.

Several authentic websites hire proofreaders where you can work as a freelancer. You may not find jobs under Proofreader title because their work is integrated in the profile of content developer, editor, copy editor, and such other relevant names.

FAQs on Online Proofreading Jobs

1. What are online proofreading jobs?

• You can choose to work either remotely in co-working space or from the comfort of your house in online proofreading jobs. Although, the role and responsibility is same as a proofreader but mode of working is online. This work profile involves tasks like checking for grammatical errors, spot spelling checks, punctuation and other formatting errors also. For more details of proofreading work, read Proofreading.

2. How do I get into an online proofreading job?

• You can register yourself on websites like Upwork, Fiverr, SkillMonde, and others and start earning. These websites are popular among freelancers.

3. What is the bright side of joining an online proofreading job?

        Work from anywhere

        Time flexibility

        Work with various clients

        Earn extra money

        Exploration gets diverse

4. What are the essential elements to join in an online proofreading job?

• Basic necessities to join online proofreading job are-

        Computer system with good Internet connectivity

        Software tools like Microsoft Office, Google docs, etc

        Proofreading tools like Spell-checker, Grammarly, and others

        Good command of the language

        A sharp eye to spot errors in a written content

5. What are the common challenges that an online proofreader has to face?

• The hurdles that online proofreaders face, while doing their job are-

        Effective time-management

        Tight deadlines

        Feedback from clients

        Inconsistent income

        Hunting new clients

6. What is the difference between proofreading and editing?

•  Click here to read the differences : Copyediting vs Proofreading

7. What are the disadvantages of working as an online proofreader?

• The disadvantages are -

        Compromise on the price set for the work

        Constant lookout for work and new clients

        Self-motivated and disciplined

         Time management becomes ineffective sometimes

        Lack of social interaction

8. How do I apply for online proofreading jobs?

• To apply for online proofreading job, you can-

        Create a strong, impressive, and appealing portfolio

        Highlight skills and experience

        Highlight certification on the relevant subject and domain

        Constant upgrading skill and knowledge

        Reach out to potential clients and enhance network

9.   How much do online proofreaders earn on an average?

•  It greatly depends upon the complexity of the content, your experience in the domain, and the platform. On an average, online proofreaders earn between Rs.300 and Rs.1000 per hour. This figure may vary depending on the market rate.

10.   What is the qualification to apply for an online proofreader?

• A strong command of the language is all one needs to become a professional online proofreader. There is no requirement of a specific academic qualification to become a proofreader but a Major in English subject or Mass Communication subject is preferable in this domain.