A skilled proofreader weeds out mistakes that slipped through during previous stages in the editing process and ensures your manuscript is perfect when it goes to press. Proofreaders are professional perfectionists, but it’s up to you to find the best proofreader for the job.
What should you consider before you hire a proofreader, and where can you find the best proofreaders for hire?
Why Do You Need a Proofreader? Didn’t Your Copyeditor Take Care of All Those Pesky Errors?
Long manuscripts go through many editing stages before they’re ready to be published. The stages of book editing include:
- Structural editing. When you finish your first draft, you’ll want to explore how you can improve the overarching structure, chapters, and flow. Works of fiction and non-fiction should both be subjected to a thorough structural editing process. Authors should take the first step and can then engage a book editor.
- Line editing. The next stage in the editing process focuses on voice, style, and consistency. Authors play an essential role in this stage of book editing, but a good line editor can offer a fresh pair of eyes.
- Copyediting. Copyeditors zoom in on the details; they look for inconsistencies in tone and weed out grammar faux-passes. These professionals also fix punctuation and spelling errors and ensure your manuscript sticks to your style guide.
If you have already worked with a copyeditor, you may wonder why you need a proofreader at all. You do!
Proofreaders give your manuscript a final once-over once it’s been laid out. Most people think proofreaders catch typos, punctuation errors, and minor style inconsistencies. That’s true, but proofreaders also:
- Fix awkward page breaks.
- Ensure headers are consistent.
- Check that footnotes are correct.
- Make sure captions look good and photos and charts are correctly numbered.
Proofreaders take an already-polished manuscript to truly make it shine, and you definitely need one.
What Should You Consider Before Hiring a Proofreader?
Proofreaders work across niches and can proof all sorts of texts — from marketing materials and blog posts to full-length manuscripts. You may not be as concerned if you’re looking for a proofreader for a series of short articles. However, if you’re hiring a proofreader to proof a manuscript, you want to make sure they are the best person for the job.
Actively evaluate all these critical factors before you hire a proofreader, and you’re good to go:
- Does the proofreader have experience in your niche? Proofreaders often specialize in a particular field, just like book editors and ghostwriters do. Choosing a proofreader who is deeply familiar with your niche is especially important if your manuscript aims to reach a particular audience. Legal proofreaders, Christian proofreaders, historical-fiction proofreaders, and poetry proofreaders are some examples of specializations in this field. You would not want to hire a proofreader specializing in poetry if you are planning to publish a medical journal article.
- Does the proofreader have great references? A proofreader’s work blends seamlessly into the background. You will have to ask for references to find out how good a proofreader is.
- How much experience does the proofreader have? What qualifications do they bring to the table? Everyone has to start somewhere, but you’ll want a seasoned proofreader if you’re looking for the best. Many proofreaders have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a field like English or Communications. If you require specialized knowledge, you may look for other qualifications; for example, proofreaders in the legal field may be Paralegals.
- How quickly can the proofreader work? Do you have a deadline, and can your proofreader candidate meet it?
- Do you click with the proofreader? The ability to develop a pleasant working relationship matters.
Where to Find the Right Proofreader for Hire
You now know what you’re looking for in a proofreader. The next question is where you can find a proofreader who will polish your manuscript to perfection.
You have a few viable options.
1. Ask for Recommendations
You may have friends, relatives, and professional acquaintances who can recommend a wonderful proofreader for your manuscript. Take advantage of these connections! Even if people in your network can only recommend proofreaders who aren’t quite right for your manuscript, those proofreaders may be able to suggest colleagues.
2. Look for Proofreaders in Online Marketplaces
Reputable platforms that connect proofreaders and authors in search of proofreaders include:
- Reedsy. This “matchmaking service” for all book-related jobs vets the proofreaders that make it onto the platform thoroughly. The platform even lets you search for proofreaders who live and work in the same region.
- Book Editing Associations. This organization connects you with book editors and proofreaders with strong track records.
- Scribbr. Are you looking for a proofreader for an academic paper? Scribbr is one of your best options in this niche.
- The famous freelance platforms Upwork and Fiverr are also worth considering. You will have to do the bulk of the vetting yourself, but you can find great proofreaders on these platforms if you are willing to wade through sub-optimal candidates.
3. Use Google to Look for Proofreaders for Hire
Skilled proofreaders often have professional websites. They are also active on social media platforms that range from LinkedIn to Facebook. Googling proofreaders for hire can be a great way to find the right proofreader for your job.
Make sure to create specific search criteria that include your location and your niche. Be as precise as you can. You will, of course, have to vet candidates before you hire them.
Hiring a Proofreader: Final Tips
Once you find a proofreader candidate you have faith in, it is best to ask for a small sample. Excellent proofreaders understand you want the right person for the job and will usually agree to proof a few pages before you commit to hiring them for your project.
Remember to agree on the deadline and fee ahead of time, and you’re good to go.