What is Proofreading And Can You Do It Yourself

What is Proofreading And Can You Do It Yourself What is Proofreading? And Can You Do It Yourself? Whether you’re a student, a mechanic, a doctor, or a professional writer, you’ve probably come across proofreading in some form or another - though you might not be aware of it. So much of the work people do these days revolves around the written word. Mistakes in their writing can have a massive impact on their success - which is where proofreading comes in!In this post, we’ll have a look at the ins and outs of proofreading, from the perspective of experienced proofreaders in the publishing trade.What is proofreading?Proofreading is the act of reading written work and marking any errors. These mistakes most commonly involve spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency.In publishing, proofreading comes into play at the very end of the editorial process, after a manuscript has been corrected by a copy or line editor. The proofreader’s job is to comb through the document and look for any mistakes that may have slipped through the cracks. Regardless of h ow meticulous the writer and editor have been, there will almost always be errors when you’re dealing with a book of 80,000 words or more. Find out what proofreading involves right here. What Are the Meaning of Proofreading Marks? Read post Can you proofread your own work?Many writers can and do proofread their own work. Simply reading back something you’ve written will usually reveal typos and ungainly passages. In situations where your writing isn’t intended for a massive audience (for example, in an email to your boss), you can usually rely on an online spelling and grammar checker such as Grammarly to catch any major mistakes.However, when it comes to a longer piece of writing meant for wider consumption - like, say, a book - there’s still nothing that can beat a trained professional.Who should use professional proofreading?In traditional publishing, every book will be proofed before it’s released to the public. If a reader were to find more than a handful of typos or grammatical mistakes in a novel, for example, it could negatively color their reading experience (and damage the publisher’s reputation).In self-publishing, where independent authors often look for ways to reduce th eir costs, proofreading is becoming a non-negotiable part of the editorial process. As indie authors become more professional in their approach, the specter of the â€Å"poorly edited self-pub book† is quickly becoming a thing of the past.Outside of trade publishing, proofreaders will often find work in areas such as academia, journalism, and even advertising. In some corporate settings, they can even be hired to check through slide decks before presentations. Find out how much it costs to hire a pro proofreader. How much does a professional proofreader cost?Based on statistics from Reedsy’s marketplace, proofreading a book costs $10 per thousand words, on average.Of course, this is only a ballpark figure and the final rate will depend on a number of other factors. For example, if the proofreader needs to cross-check the index, this would naturally escalate the cost.In non-publishing industries, costs may also vary. A proofreader with a deep background in technical writing may choose to charge extra for their expertise, for example. But whatever the cost, you can be sure that getting a professional proofreader is worth it. They might just be the difference between a few frustrating typos and a perfectly polished piece.Looking for a proofreader? Sign up for a free Reedsy account and browse through the best freelancers in the business.