Do you
have a background in editing or reporting? Do friends and family constantly
want you to look over their writing for typos and spelling errors? Do you
think you'd like to find a proofreading job that
you could do from home?
Well, then keep reading as
you will be introduced to a company that will allow you to do just that.
What Exactly is ProofreadingServices.com?
As its name easily implies,
ProofreadingServices.com, is an online company which allows you to work from
home proofreading a variety of written works from authors, academia, and
businesses.
Founded in 2011 by Yale
graduate, Luke Palder, it was originally called ProofreadingServices.US until
2013.
Based in Florida, the
company claims to have 5,000 clients in 90 different countries. Many of their
clients would be names that you would recognize, such as Cisco, MIT, IBM,
Vogue, Pearson, CNet, Harvard, and the University of Cambridge.
While their main focus is
on proofreading, they also offer 50 other services such as resume writing,
eBook cover design, transcription, translation, and ESL tutoring.
Most of these skills are
advertised for using other channels. However, to keep this post focused and on
point, we will only discuss proofreading.
What is the Difference Between Proofreading and
Editing?
Even though many times the
two terms are used interchangeably, there are differences.
Proofreading is the finding
of overall mistakes in grammar, spelling, verb and noun agreement, correct
sentence structure, and anything considered “structured”. I like to think of
proofreading as finding the “embarrassing” mistakes in writing.
On the other hand, editing
can do that, but more importantly its purpose is to enhance the writing and
give it more “voice” and flow within the context to which it belongs.
Good editing can create
stronger descriptions and better overall style. For example, instead of
writing: She wore a red dress; editing
might suggest: She wore a scarlet
evening gown. (See how editing can enhance the content?)
What Are the Professional Requirements to Work at
ProofreadingServices.com?
The main professional
requirement is to pass the 20-minute proofreading test with a score of 95% or
higher. You won't be able to create an account or do anything else until then.
According to the owner,
only about 1 in 300 can pass the test. It is not clear as to how soon if ever
that you are able to retake the test.
The good news is that you
do not have to be from the United States to work there. As long as you can pass
the test, location is not important.
If accepted, you would be
given style guidelines to follow. This is typical of any company offering
proofreading, editing or writing services.
What Are the Pay and Hours Like at
ProofreadingServices.com?
The hours are flexible and
you may work full-time or part-time 24/7 in any time zone. The site quotes the
pay as ranging from $19 to $46 USD. This will depend on the:
·
urgency
of the deadline.
·
type
of document being proofread.
·
length
of the document being proofread.
Reader Feedback
According to one of our
readers, ProofreadingServices does ask you to take a grammar test when you
apply. Then, after the grammar test, you have to work on sample edits and this
is unpaid time.
It is possible to be
rejected when you are at that stage, so this is a risk.
How Would Interested Individuals Apply to
ProofreadingServices.com?
Simply go to their website and click on Apply. Click on the link to go to the
proofreading test.
Good luck to all who apply.
Would you rather work for yourself as a proofreader and
make MORE money?
Working for yourself is
usually the most profitable route to take because you can set your own rates
and seek out higher-paying clients.
You'll likely earn more
doing this than you would if you were applying for entry level proofreading
jobs online such as those listed above.
If you'd like some guidance
in getting started, we recommend checking out this free 45-minute workshop explaining
how to go about starting your own freelance general proofreading side hustle
from home.
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