Freelance Proofreading

With the right skills freelance proofreading could be a rewarding and profitable home business opportunity for you. Learn about about proofreading jobs at home - from what you need to get started to finding freelance jobs from home, online proofreading jobs and what rates you can expect to earn.

Today more and more businesses and individuals are using freelance proofreaders to check their work and jobs can range from 1000 page websites to one page student assigments!

• What skills and abilities are needed? Good vocabularly, perfect spelling skills, a solid understanding of grammar and sentence mechanics, excellent attention to detail and patience are the essential requirements for a successful proofreader. You will also need to be very familiar with the relevant methods and standard symbols or proofreader's marks. These are the "marks" the proofreader uses to indicate the corrections that need to be made. You can find books in your local library or purchase a style book that list these standard marks such as the Chicago Manual of Style. It is not too difficult to master proofreader's symbols and marks.
• What qualifications are needed? Although you don't need a formal proofreading qualification there are many courses available from home study to day workshops. Proper training can only help you. You also do not require a specific degree however a degree in English, communications or linguistics is very useful. Proofreading work at home is also ideally suited to people with some literature and editing experience such as a teacher, principal, journalist or secretary. Any relevant experience and qualifications that you can present as evidence of your ability and specialist knowledge will certainly help you to find and secure freelance proofreading jobs but publishers consider the most important qualification is an ability to do the job properly regardless of the number of qualifications you may have.
• What experience is needed? Some experience is often called for and there are ways that you can create the relevant experience such as through volunteer work. You can offer your services to the local school or church or any organization that puts out printed documents. Find out more about gaining the right experience and developing a strategy to get work from home at How to get started as a freelance proofreader.
• What equipment do I need? A computer with high speed Internet, e-mail, a good printer, fax machine and phone. Reference books including a comprehensive up-to-date dictionary, thesaurus and style books such as the New York Times Manual of Style. The Merriam-Webster site provides a free online dictionary and thesaurus. Your start up costs are really quite minimal providing you already have a basic computer set up. This type of work requires careful concentration so a quiet workspace that is free from distractions is needed.
• How will I find freelance proofreading jobs? Jobs will not just land in your lap, you will have to be procative and commited to find the right opportunities. The competition for proofreading work is tough. However there are many ways to get started. Go to How to Find Proofreading Jobs to find out more.
• What can I expect to earn? The rates will vary significantly depending on what you proofread and who you are working for. Freelance jobs pay anything between $2 to $10 for a single page. Some proofreaders prefer to charge by the hour and rates typically vary between $15 to $50 per hour. How much money you make is really up to you- the quality of your work, the amount of hours you work and the effort you put into finding freelance jobs. If you are determined and commited you can earn a decent income from home. Go to Proofreader Rates to find out more.

How to get started as a proofreader

How to find proofreading jobs

Online proofreading jobs

Work at home proofreading - FAQ

Proofreader rates

About freelance work from home

Working as a freelance proofreader can be a profitable and enjoyable home business opportunity