How to Become a Proofreader

A proofreader typically reads a manuscript after it has been edited and set into type, correcting any errors of grammar, word usage or sense the editor may have missed; marking errors introduced by the printer; and sometimes comparing the pages to the copy editor's copy, making sure corrections have been properly made. If you have patience, a great eye for detail, and a passion for reading, you may enjoy proofreading.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Words Into Type
• Red Pencil
• Post-it Notes
• Dictionaries
• Books

1. Begin in high school and college by taking as many English and literature classes as possible.
2. Consider that a good education in a broad array of subjects will also serve you well. General knowledge about a vast number of subjects is invaluable to a proofreader.
3. Work for your school's newspaper or literary magazine; even if you're not proofreading, it's useful to learn about the process of putting together a newspaper, magazine or other publication.
4. Read books that inform you about editing and the publishing process. One of the best is "Words Into Type."
5. Take a class in proofreading (many are offered through local colleges). Here you'll learn concrete skills such as proofreading notation and different methods of book production.
6. Decide whether you are most interested in proofreading books, magazines, newspapers or Web sites.
7. Decide whether you'd like to work for a single publisher or for several; some proofreaders work "in-house" for a single employer, while others work on a project-by-project basis for various publishers.
8. Apply for proofreading jobs that you find in local job listings. If you've taken a proofreading class or two, you might be hired without experience if you can pass a proofreading test.
9. Ask for feedback on the proofreading tests that you have taken; learn which types of errors you're most likely to miss.
10. If you haven't been hired for a full-time job, or if you'd rather work as a freelancer, look for companies that need freelance proofreaders. Often, who gets these jobs is determined by the results of a proofreading test, which might work to your advantage if you don't have any experience but you're able to do the work.
11. If you still haven't succeeded in getting a proofreading job, consider applying for a job as an editorial assistant. These are typically entry-level jobs that require you to do a lot of clerical work, but they can get your foot in the door if nothing else is working.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an area of expertise other than editing - perhaps you speak Spanish, understand quantum mechanics or once attended cooking school - look for publishers that specialize in that field. That gives the publisher an added incentive to hire you, even if you aren't the most experienced proofreader applying.
• A number of online communities offer the opportunity to improve your proofreading skills.
• Proofreading is not a particularly well-paid profession. People who are successful at it typically do it for the love of working with words rather than for the love of money.
• Many people think that all it takes to succeed as a proofreader is a good knowledge of grammar, but this is far from true. You need training to learn how publications are put together and practice to develop your ability to catch inconspicuous errors.

Who Can Help:

• Earn an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix
• University of Phoenix, degree Programs to Fit Your Life.