What is a Proofreader?
The Cambridge Dictionary states simply: “a person whose job is to check text before it is printed or put online.” Proofreaders strive to ensure a piece is free of errors. They are the final “eyes” before the piece is submitted for publication, whether that be in book form, online, ebook, etc.
Why do I need a Proofreader?
I have spellcheck as well as a grammar checking program on my computer, isn’t that enough? Unfortunately, no. Technology can’t take the place of the human element. There are far too many inconsistencies in the English language to rely on a computer program.
What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
Nutshell? Editors revise. Proofreaders correct. Some use the terms interchangeably. However, while there are some similarities, they are two different pieces of the literary process.
Before copy editing takes place, your manuscript may have been seen by a Developmental Editor who reviews, makes changes and recommendations based on flow, plot, structure, content, character development, dialogue, voice, and style to improve the overall quality of the writing.
A Line Editor may also be engaged. They go through the manuscript line-by-line with a fine-toothed comb working to make the writing as polished as possible. This may be by eliminating redundancies, suggesting word choice improvements; things that improve the flow of the writing.
A Copy Editor reviews the manuscript on a more technical level. Addressing any obvious spelling and grammatical errors, capitalization errors, inconsistency in tense, and similar issues.
The manuscript is then sent to the typesetter and formatted for publication.
Proofreading is about finding errors both small and large that were either missed or introduced during editing or typesetting, such as spelling, punctuation, and some light formatting. Proofreaders are meticulous with an end goal of striving to ensure that the document's final draft is free of spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors; there is consistency in punctuation, capitalization, numbering, typeface; table of contents and page numbers match; links and URLs work. Proofreading falls outside the technical realm of general editing as those have already been completed. The Proofreader serves as the final checkpoint before printing.
Both Copy Editors and Proofreaders review for adherence to a preferred style guide. They will likely follow the rules of either The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook as these are two of the most widely used guides. There are differences between the two, and, regardless of which you choose, your preference should always be consistent. Sometimes, especially in the case of a fantasy novel, there may be invented words, names, etc., and these are reflected in a style guide prepared by the author.
How much should I expect to pay?
You could spend precious time researching this subject but that would be better spent doing what got you here in the first place. There are different schools of thought: am I charged by word, page, hour? The truth is that it’s not as simple as that. It can depend on many factors, such as the type of project, length, first or last pass through. Rest assured I will provide you with quality work for a very reasonable fee. I ask for a sample of your project and will give you a fair quote.
