Many people believe that their skill in picking out grammatical and spelling errors in printed works qualifies them as budding proofreaders. If it were that easy, anyone would be able to successfully set up shop as a proofreader and start charging for their services. Of course proofreaders need an excellent grasp of spelling, grammar and punctuation, but they also have to be exacting and extremely thorough.
Proofreaders are responsible for checking the final proof of a published document before it moves to the physical production stage. At this point, changes to content, even where there are inconsistencies in the text, cannot be made cost-effectively. The proofreader checks that all changes made by a copy-editor are correctly applied by the typesetter, makes sure that there are no glaring errors and that the client’s house style has been correctly applied. For some people it can be frustrating to be forced to apply style rules that they don’t agree with and to accept text written in a way they do not enjoy reading.
Given these limitations, why do so many people choose to train as proofreaders? The main reason is that it is a flexible job that can be done from home and makes an ideal freelance career. It is also an ideal part-time activity, which can bring in additional income during these tough times and the start-up costs are minimal. Training is required, but after that a space to work, some pens and a computer with email capability are all that will be required.
There is a lot of competition in this field and it is important that aspiring proofreaders do a course through a reputable company and then start to build up a portfolio and references, sometimes by doing work at very little, or no payment.
Evaluating the courses on offer in this field is not always easy and I always refer prospective students to the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP). They are a voluntary organisation run by editors and proofreaders, most of who work as freelances. They are ideally placed to give objective advice on training and starting out in the business. It is also a very good idea to join the SfEP once you are ready to start working as a proofreader, as they have a well regarded accreditation system.
It is generally considered a good idea to first complete a proofreading qualification and become proficient at using the symbols required before attempting an editing programme. Copy-editing involves making the author’s message clear and accessible to readers and requires an understanding of not just grammar and language usage, but also production processes, typography and design conventions. There are a number of courses available on the market that combine proofreading and editing. These courses do not tackle either of the subject areas in as much detail as two full courses do and consequently don’t prepare students adequately to work in either field as a freelance.
The Publishing Training Centre offers distance learning courses in proofreading, editing and other publishing subject, and the course authors are experts in their fields. The courses cover everything a student needs in order to start a business working as a proofreader or copy-editor.
You do not need any prior experience in this field to get started, but do need a very good command of colloquial English grammar, spelling and punctuation, a good eye for detail, the ability to concentrate, a good general knowledge and an enquiring mind.
About us:
The Publishing Training Centre is an educational charity that focuses on developing the skills of anyone involved in publishing activities, particularly book and journal publishers. Visit us at http://www.train4publishing.co.uk, or go directly to our distance learning pages at http://www.train4publishing.co.uk/distance/index.php.