Hours and Environment

Freelance proofreaders work from home with hours to suit themselves, based on the availability of work. Employed proofreaders will usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They might need to work additional hours in order to meet deadlines. Part-time and flexible work may be available.

Skills and Interests

To work as a proofreader you will need:

• a good standard of English, particularly grammar and spelling
• concentration, accuracy and attention to detail
• good IT skills
• self-motivation and a methodical approach
• the ability to cope with repetitive tasks
• tact and diplomacy
• clear handwriting.

Entry

You do not need any particular qualifications to be a proofreader. However, many proofreaders are graduates, so it could be an advantage if you have a degree, perhaps in English or or in a subject which could become your specialist field for proofreading. For example, a science degree would be useful for proofreading scientific textbooks or manuals.

If you have journalism qualifications this could also be useful. You can find more information in the Journalist: print profile.

To search for colleges and universities offering degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)  Please check with colleges or universities for their entry requirements.

Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in proofreading you can do short courses through the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) and the Publishing Training Centre. You can also study the Publishing Training Centre Basic Proofreading course by distance learning. See the Further Information section for contact details for both organisations.

Employers will usually be more interested in your experience than your qualifications, and many proofreaders have had previous careers in publishing, journalism or other related areas.

Training

In some publishing companies you will receive in-house training and there is also a range of external courses.

When you have completed the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) courses you can get support from an experienced mentor by applying to join the SfEP mentoring scheme.

As an experienced proofreader you can join the SfEP accreditation and registration scheme. This involves passing a proofreading test and gaining endorsement by clients.

It will be useful to become a member of professional bodies such as the SfEP, Women in Publishing and the Publishers' Association, as this will give you opportunities for support and professional networking. As a full member of SfEP your details can be entered on the society's directory, which is a resource for those needing proofreading and editing services.

You could study for a degree or higher education diploma in Publishing.

You will need to keep up to date with developments in publishing and with technical skills such as changes in relevant computer software. You can do training in these areas by seminar and distance learning through the SfEP and the Publishing Training Centre. Please see the contact details in Further Information.

Opportunities

Most proofreaders are self-employed and work as freelancers. There are very few positions for full time, in-house proofreaders and there is a lot of competition for work. It is more common to work as a copy-editor or sub-editor. Jobs may be advertised in the national press or in specialist publications such as Publishing News and The Bookseller, which can be ordered through newsagents or may be available in reference libraries.

Few proofreaders earn a full-time living from this work, many combine proofreading with another job.

The growth of internet publishing has resulted in new employment opportunities in proofreading and editing material for websites.

With experience proofreaders may build up their reputation as specialists in a particular field, or be offered more high-profile work.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only

Salaries vary depending on the type of work and the employer, starting at around £16,000.

Freelancers are usually paid by the page or by the hour. SfEP recommend minimum rates of pay for freelancers. The latest figures can be found on their website. Please see the Further Information section.

Rates of pay depend on experience, with those new to proofreading often being paid a lower rate.

Further information

29B Montague Street
London
WC1B 5BW
Tel: 020 7691 9191 45 East Hill
Wandsworth
London
SW18 2QZ
Tel: 020 8874 2718 Riverbank House
1 Putney Bridge Approach
Fulham
London
SW6 3JD
Tel: 020 7736 3278