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Online proofreading and copy-editing services

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Online proofreading services

Produce great content regardless of whether you’re writing a book, a business presentation, an academic article or an email. Learn more

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Use Wordy to copy-edit, proofread or even rewrite your text quickly and consistently, so you can focus on what you do best. Learn more

56 subject fields covered

Copy-editing services from experts in 56 subject fields – academic, corporate, non-fiction, lifestyle, banking and more. Learn more

First-language editors in all major time zones

Manage jobs in real-time with an expert proofreader and editor in your time zone – from GMT to PDT. Learn more

Built for one file format: yours

Process 11 major file formats – including MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDF, LaTeX, Google Docs and others. Learn more

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Work only with copy-editors under a strict non-disclosure agreement and store all your files behind 256-bit security. Learn more

All online proofreading and copy-editing services on Wordy is done by professional, first-language editors based in the UK, US, and Australia. Each job has its own webpage with a messaging system, so that you can get in touch with your editor – and they with you – at any point in the process. This is great for last-minute changes or when signing off on a job. The messaging page stays open for up to three days after the editor has delivered the job, so if you have any questions – ask them!

Especially online proofreading and copy-editing services are all about understanding the context and concept of your text, and adhering to the tone of voice and rules you’ve already laid down when you send through your document. In our humble opinion, it really takes a skilled, intelligent editor to make the best of your text and ready it for publication. We do rely heavily on technology to make job processing and assigning on Wordy as straightforward as possible, but when it comes to online proofreading, it’s all about good old elbow grease. There aren’t any secrets to it; just the accumulated editing experience of more than 2,000 years. Wordy adheres to the professional and ethical standards laid out by the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading in the UK and The American Copy Editors Society in the US.

If you’re representing a company or an educational institution, the chances are that you’re not used to paying per delivery for your proofreading services, but instead receive an invoice once a month for the jobs you’ve actually processed. We can set up an open credit account for you, which will invoice individual users of the account or an account owner. We’re also here to step in as account managers, if you want to set up a copy-editor team to handle all your jobs or upload a house style you’d like us to follow. Do get in touch if you want to know more about our credit accounts for companies and educational institutions.

We provide online proofreading and copy-editing services to clients from all over the world, but as a company we are located in London. That means that tech support and client support are there for you during UK business hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. GMT – and as quickly as possible the following business day. In short, we’ll reply to your questions or comments as fast as we can, but do note that headquarters staff need our beauty sleep, too. Proofreaders are, of course, available 24/7.

Several things are taken into account. First, how many words does the document contain? Second, are you requesting just proofreading and editing or additional services, such as rewriting or an express delivery? The cost also increases if you have a house style guide that you want editors to refer to, or if you restrict the availability of your job to a team of editors that you have selected. The best way to get an estimated turnaround time for your document is to upload it for an instant price quote and approximate delivery time .  If the turnaround time and quote are acceptable, you can continue with the purchase and place the order. If not, no further commitment is required.

Most of Wordy’s larger proofreading clients are invoiced for their usage at the end of each month. If an account has multiple users, we can invoice each user separately, or send the invoice to a single point of contact – for example accounts payable. Standard payment terms are 30 days net. We’re happy to help you set up your account, add additional users, upload your house style (if applicable) and set up an editor/proofreader team. In addition, we’ll be happy to sign a service-level agreement (SLA) and/or non-disclosure agreement if necessary. You can read more on the Privacy Policy page , Pricing page , and the editor guides pages for either UK English or US English . To discuss your requirements, please get in touch .

First, we check with you exactly what the problem is. If you have an issue with the quality of the proofreading, editing or rewriting – if you found a number of mistakes, for example – we will remove the editor from the job and forward the text to one of our head editors for a review. If we agree that the text does contain errors, we will ask you if you want a new editor to go through the text again in response to your feedback. We may offer you a full or partial refund based on the number of errors and inconsistencies we find in the edit. Please note that we don’t consider deliveries made later than the approximate delivery time as grounds for a refund. The actual delivery time will depend on the quality of the original text and the file format. To check on progress, you can, of course, always get in touch with your editor via a message on the job page and ask them to let you know when you can expect the job to be completed.

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Slick Write

Check your grammar in seconds.

Slick Write is a powerful, free application that makes it easy to check your writing for grammar errors, potential stylistic mistakes, and other features of interest. Whether you're a blogger, novelist, SEO professional, or student writing an essay for school, Slick Write can help take your writing to the next level. Curious? See why Slick Write is the best. Try the interactive demo , or check your own document . No software download or installation is required.

Why Slick Write?

The grammar checker is lightning fast

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We do not redistribute your documents

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Improve your grades

Engage your audience

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English is a difficult language, so using correct grammar and diverse vocabulary will set you apart from the crowd. Using good sentence structure and wording improves your content's impact and readability while building your readers' trust. Slick Write goes beyond spell checking to teach you the habits of effective writers. How does your writing rate?

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The job market is competitive. Gain an advantage, impress employers, and land more interviews by demonstrating professionalism and superior communication skills on your resumé.

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Using an extension is the easiest way to submit your work to Slick Write. They are available for Chrome and Firefox .

Bust your writer's block, and create new metaphors by playing the word association game . To begin, type a word or phrase in the box below, and hit enter. To quickly find associations for your own text, highlight a word or phrase in it, and use the toolbox popup.

The associator learns contextual word associations from real literature, so it may return offensive results.

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• Submission Limit There is a limit of 200,000 characters, which is approximately 30,000 words. Anything longer should be submitted in smaller chunks, or it will be automatically trimmed.
• No document It looks like you forgot to enter your document. Paste it in and try again.
• Structure This tab shows sentence structure within the context of the document. Hover over a sentence to see its word count. Select a word or phrase, or click a sentence to get more information.
• Quotes This tab shows your quotations highlighted as Slick Write sees them.

More information »

• Sentence type flow Pieces with good flow will make use of all four sentence types, varying them to keep the reader interested.
• Sentence length flow Sentence length is indirectly related to sentence type, and is a good indicator of flow. Flow can be altered by adding, removing, lengthening, shortening, combining, or splitting sentences. Long sentences will be indicated by a red line on the graph. Sentences that flow poorly with their surroundings will be orange, and the source of the problem can often be found in a nearby sentence.
• Word length flow Word length is a minor contributor to overall flow, but even minor variations are signs of good rhythm.
• Passive Voice Index This is a measure of how frequently the passive voice is used. Consider revising your document if it scores over 100.
• Prepositional Phrase Index This is a measure of how frequently prepositional phrases are used. Consider revising your document if it scores over 100.
• Average sentence length Sentence length is a major contributor to the level of education required to read a body of text.
• Sentence length standard deviation This is a measure of the amount of variation in the length of a text's sentences. In texts that have broad appeal, this tends to fall between 50 and 90% of the average sentence length. You can increase this number by making long sentences longer, and short ones shorter.
• Sentence deviation to length ratio This is a measure of the sentence variety, and a major contributor to flow. Most novels score between 0.5 and 0.9, and popular ones often score near the high end of the range. You can increase this number by making long sentences longer, and short ones shorter.
• Just the stats preset Use this preset when you're only interested in the stats tab. Critique and Flow will be hidden.
• Honesty preset This preset checks for common indicators of deception, either by lying or omission, and is based on the findings of this study . Areas with high concentrations of these indicators should be viewed with skepticism. Note that the presence or absence of these indicators does not guarantee that a statement is true or false, and that the study was done on spoken communications, so it might be more applicable to interviews and speeches. As always, use your brain.
• Doubled words A word used twice in a row may be a typo.
• Commonly confused words This will check for the internet's most frequently confused words and notify you if it looks like you misused one. It is experimental and probably the least reliable feature. Consult a dictionary when necessary.
• Sentences starting with the same word A word should not be used to start more than one sentence in a single paragraph.
• Misplaced conjunctions It is considered poor style to place coordinating conjunctions at either end of a sentence. Placing a subordinating conjunction at the end of a sentence is against the rules.

It is said that one day, passive voice will bring weakness to your prose.

More information » Even more information »

• Overwriting Words like "very" and "really" make sentences wordier and weaken your message. These can be deleted in almost all cases without affecting the meaning of the sentence.
• Abstract words Abstract words lack specificity and overusing them can make even simple concepts difficult to understand. There are times when abstract words are desirable or even necessary; it would be difficult to write about math or programming without mentioning variables or functions, but you should use more specific terms whenever possible.
• Wordy and redundant phrases These phrases make your writing more difficult to understand. In most cases, they can be replaced with one or two words, or even deleted.
• Legalese These antiquated, arcane words and phrases will make your writing look like a contract.
• Double negatives Double negatives are almost always poor style.
• Adverbs They aren't bad in small quantities, but consider revising your document if more than 5.5% of its words are adverbs. Adverbs ending in "-ly" are considered the worst offenders.
• Adjectives They aren't bad in small quantities. A few of the words on this list can also function as other parts of speech. You have been warned.
• Contractions In formal writing, the use of contractions is considered a fault.

The boxer decked his opponent.

• Profanity Profanity should not be used in formal writing outside of direct quotations.

The critic's scathing review hit the nail on the head .

• Similes Similes and metaphors should be used sparingly. This option will detect most common types of similes.
• "Said" replacements Some people think that these substitutes for "said" are weak or obnoxious, especially if overused.

Her dress was long , and it touched the floor.

Her long dress touched the floor.

• Gender-specific pronouns Avoid using gender-specific pronouns in formal writing when the subject's gender is unknown.
• Weasel words Like abstract words, weasel words and phrases lack specificity. At best, they convey uncertainty. At worst, they can be used to "weasel out" of telling the truth in a straightforward manner. When checking a document that is speculative by nature, you might want to disable this detector.
• Third person pronouns According to this study , high concentrations of third person pronouns may indicate deception.
• Bias language These words and phrases often show the author's bias.
• Uncommon words Uncommon words will increase the document's reading difficulty.

Hot peppers burn my mouth, but I eat them anyway .

Since burritos taste good , I like to eat them.

• Sentence fragments A sentence must have at least one noun and one verb. Anything that does not is a fragment, and if it occurs outside of dialog, it should probably be rewritten.
• Long sentences Long sentences tend to be more difficult to read, making them good candidates for trimming or splitting. Alternatively, parallelism may be used to improve their readability, though this will not decrease the ARI score.
• Success with Style: Using Writing Style to Predict the Success of Novels
• Grammar Girl For your obscure writing questions
• Basic Prose and Style Mechanics An excellent, concise resource
• Television Tropes & Idioms Tricks of the trade
• Writing Realistic Injuries An invaluable article for anyone who writes action or horror
• Online Etymology Dictionary Learn the history of English words
• Scribophile Discuss the finer points of writing with other novelists
• Suggestions from the official See Sharp Press blog Learn about the mistakes that will keep your novel from being published.
• Smashwords Easy ebook distribution for indie authors
• Duotrope Find and learn about publishers
• CreateSpace
• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
• Creative Writing Prompts and Exercises Spark your creativity
• RhymeZone A popular rhyming dictionary
• Seventh Sanctum Name generators and more
• Apache OpenOffice The best free office software
• Literature & Latte Makers of the popular Scrivener editor

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Need editing and proofreading services, the top 10 online proofreading services of 2024.

• Tags: Academic Proofreading , Book Proofreading , Editing and Proofreading , Proofreading

Do you wish to increase the credibility, readability, and overall quality of your document? Online proofreading services not only elevate your document but also save you time. Explore the features and advantages of the top 10 online proofreading services for your document! 

We’ve also mentioned the costs and ratings to help you choose the best proofreading service online. These services are your gateway to academic and professional excellence. So without further delay, let’s begin! 

Here are the best proofreading services of 2024: 

1. PaperTrue

PaperTrue is one of the most trusted online proofreading services. They proofread and edit dissertations, essays, research papers, journal articles, assignments, books, and personal statements. They also check academic documents’ plagiarism scores and ensure that they follow referencing style guidelines. 

Their team of expert editors conducts a comprehensive review of the document. They enhance grammar, punctuation, syntax, and sentence structure and rectify any word choice mistakes and spelling errors. With this, they also offer self-publishing services like online book distribution, ISBN registration, book marketing, and barcode creation. 

The price to proofread and edit a 500-word document costs $23 for a turnaround period of 24 hours. 

Over 1100 customers have rated PaperTrue 4.6 out of 5 on Reviews.io , 4.5 out of 5 on SiteJabber , and 4.8 out of 5 on Google Reviews .  

Scribbr has a qualified team of native editors who provide academic and business proofreading services. They proofread Ph.D. dissertations, essays, theses, business documents, and research papers. They also have an AI Proofreader that can correct any errors with fast speed and accuracy. 

Scribbr enhances the overall quality of the document by rectifying any inconsistencies in language use. They also remove any complex phrasing and correct the overuse of passive voice. Their online editing services also include improving the document’s formatting, clarity, and structure. 

The price to proofread and edit a 500-word document costs $42 for a turnaround period of 24 hours. 

They have a rating of 4.6/5 on Trustpilot. 

3. Scribendi

Established in 1997, Scribendi is one of the best proofreading and editing services online. They offer academic proofreading and enhance papers, assignments, journal articles, research projects, posters, and presentations. With this, they proofread business documents and books, removing spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and typos. 

Scribendi also provides authors with a Query Package service, where authors receive a query letter, outline, and synopsis written for their book. They have more than 400 skilled native English experts to proofread documents. Along with proofreading, they also give detailed feedback, enable you to track revisions, and share any major issues. 

The cost of editing and proofreading a 500-word document with a turnaround time of 24 hours is $23.47. 

They have a rating of 4.5/5 on Trustpilot 

With offices in Tokyo, Seoul, Istanbul, New York, Beijing, and Shanghai, Enago is one of the top global proofreading companies. They enhance documents in various fields like arts, life sciences, economics, engineering, and medical sciences. Their editors help authors improve the overall quality of their articles for publishing in journals. With this, they also proofread research projects and non-academic documents like cover letters and speeches. 

Enago’s subject matter experts check the document’s plagiarism, formatting, grammar, consistency, and the use of technical jargon. They’ve cemented their reputation in the field of research, collaborating with scholars across 100+ countries.

It costs $86 for substantive editing and proofreading of a 500-word document with a turnaround time of 24 hours. 

They have a rating of 4.1/5 on Trustpilot 

Editage has a global team of eight thousand subject experts who work to enhance documents in more than a thousand subject areas. They proofread and edit documents in American English and British English. To help customers meet deadlines, they also deliver proofread documents within twenty-four hours. They proofread scientific papers, essays, dissertations, books, and business material. 

Editage supports and proofreads documents in various file formats including Latex and Tex file formats. They prioritize confidentiality and their data security processes are ISO-certified. Once you submit the document, only the editor working on your job and the client manager have access to your document. 

Their price to edit a 500-word document is $34. 

They have a rating of 4.8/5 on Trustpilot. 

6. Kibin 

Kibin offers expert proofreading services for students, authors, business professionals, and job seekers. Their editors check the document for grammar and spelling errors along with enhancing sentence structure and formatting. After reviewing the document, they provide comprehensive feedback and suggestions to improve it. 

A leader in essay proofreading services, they help students write better essays by giving them access to essay examples on their website. They also check citations and ensure that the document follows the required style guidelines. Their editors are available 24/7 and their Customer Happiness team responds to requests within twelve hours. 

It costs $35 to edit and proofread a 500-word academic document with a turnaround time of 24 hours. 

They have a rating of 3.8/5 on Trustpilot. 

7. Wordvice

Wordvice provides high-quality proofreading services to enhance the readability and clarity of documents. Their editors thoroughly review business documents, books, screenplays, essays, dissertations, research papers, statements of purpose (SOPs), and resumes. They rectify any formatting inconsistencies, improper capitalization, spelling, and grammar issues. 

Wordvice also has an AI Proofreader to eliminate any document errors with precision. They also give a 15% discount on documents having more than 30,000 words. Their downside is that they do not perform plagiarism checks, which can be disadvantageous for students and researchers who need to know their document’s plagiarism score. 

The cost of editing and proofreading a 500-word academic assignment with a turnaround time of 24 hours is $44. 

Providing lightning-fast delivery of proofread documents, Proofed is one of the best options to meet submission deadlines. They proofread Ph.D. proposals, essays, statement of purpose (SOP), research papers, books, business reports, etc. With this, they also help job seekers enhance their resumes and cover letters. 

Along with proofreading, they also offer copyediting, AI content editing, fact-checking, and formatting services. They ensure that academic documents comply with the specified referencing style guidelines. You can upload a sample on their website for free to try their services. 

The price of getting a 500-word document proofread in 24 hours is $30. 

9. ProofreadingPal

Founded by Brian Kaldenberg, ProofreadingPal is a reliable and efficient proofreading service. Their service offerings include business proofreading, academic proofreading, resume proofreading, and book and manuscript proofreading. For academic documents, their proofreaders also help ensure formatting and content organization as per the required citation style (APA, MLA, CSE Chicago, etc.). 

They accept orders 24/7 and provide fast turnaround times of 30-60 minutes for smaller documents. Their editors are subject matter experts, many of them possessing M.A. or Ph.D. degrees. Instead of one proofreader, two proofreading experts work to enhance the document, ensuring accuracy. 

It costs $22 to edit a 500-word document with a turnaround time of 24 hours. 

10. Proofreading Services 

Founded in 2011, Proofreading Services helps students, job aspirants, researchers, and business professionals enhance their writing. They have worked with 25,000+ clients and brands, which include Cisco, IBM, Vogue, and Pearson. They offer combined proofreading and editing services to refine books, academic documents, business material, resumes, and CVs. 

With this, they also offer website proofreading services. They support various file formats like Word, PDF, and LaTeX files. You can try their services for free by submitting a 300-word document as a free sample. 

It costs $18.98 to proofread a 500-word academic document. 

Now that you’ve gone through the best online proofreading services, you can choose the best one for your document. As a trusted brand offering online proofreading and editing services , we’d love to help you perfect your documents. 

Want to keep reading? Here are some useful resources for you:

• 10 Best Self-Publishing Companies of 2024: Price & Royalties
• Self-Publishing Options for Writers
• 10 Best Book Publishing Companies in 2023
• Beta Readers: Why You Should Know About Them in 2024
• Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: Which Is Better?

Frequently Asked Questions

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13 Best Free Online Proofreading Tools to Write Flawless Content

Who else wants to write flawless contents that will impress others? If you are searching for proven ways to improve your writing, make sure to use online proofreading tools.

In this detailed guide, I’m going to show you the 13 best free online proofreading sites to create error-free content on your blogs. Whether you are writing for a blog or creating essays, proofreading is a must.

Here’s where using online proofreading tools will help you rectify your grammatical errors on the go.

Table of Contents

Why is proofreading important?

1. grammarly, 2. google docs, 4. wordrake, 5. paper rater, 6. grammarcheck, 7. language tool, 8. hemingway app, 9. spell check plus, 10. reverso, 11. prowritingaid, 13. stackedit, faqs | free online proofreading tools, final thoughts about using top free online proofreading tools.

Whether you’re a blogger, writer, or student, you need to create flawless content to attract an audience. If you want to create a successful career online, you already know that blogging is one of the best ways.

Blogging is mostly about writing error-free content. Google gives top rewards to the sites that consistently update their pages with flawless content.

If you are not getting top results for most keywords you are trying, you might be writing content that is full of grammatical errors. So finding errors and writing error-free content on your blogs or websites is really crucial if you want to bring more traffic from search engines .

That’s why proofreading is important and you need to always take care of the content you are publishing online. Whether you are writing for blogs or academic articles, you need to proofread your articles before submitting them to someone.

Proofreading softwares have many benefits including correcting your typos on the go and you can easily save them in docs or text files.

That said, if you want to create flawless content, try Jasper. Jasper is a great way to create content automatically and it also works as an incredible writing tool. 

We’ve been using it for some time and so far and it’s working great. You can read our review on Jasper or check out Jasper pricing plans if you want more information before signing up with them. You can also try Jasper 7-day free trial from here.

Few solid proofreading tips to create flawless content:

• Always make sure to re-read your articles or essays before publishing.
• Read your content loudly to rectify your grammatical mistakes or typos easily.
• Ask your friends to easily find out the mistakes on your content. Or hire an editor to easily make corrections.
• Write in small paragraphs so that you can easily figure out where you are making grammar mistakes. Also use short sentences if you want to hone your writing skills.

Make sure to use proofreading sites online to write great content without any typos. Let’s now get into the details.

Top 13 online free proofreading tools

Currently, Grammarly is the most accurate tool for grammatical corrections in the market. This site not only helps you find your grammatical errors but also gives you relevant explanations of each mistake. This is a huge advantage for people whose native language is not English.

It also has an in-built plagiarism checker that will help you find the duplicate contents in a copy. It also checks the word count and gives you precise details about the document you are working on.

Here are a few benefits of using Grammarly to write error-free content .

• Eliminates most writing mistakes
• Works wherever you write online (this tool helps you write mistake-free in Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, and nearly anywhere else you write on the web)
• Built by the world’s leading linguists

Get Grammarly here for free

There’s a reason why I put Google Docs in the second place in the online proofreading tools list. The reason is it’s not only free but Google Docs provides excellent features to edit your writing on the go. You can also include Add-ons such as Thesaurus, Lucidchart diagrams, Template gallery, etc to make your editing process easier while writing.

You can save the files even offline when the connection is lost or if you simply like to write without having Internet connection. All in all, Google Docs is the perfect writing solution for all the writers who are into essay writing, copywriting, etc.

Here are the features of using Google Docs for editing.

• It offers 15GB of free space for all the Gmail users
• You can keep and save almost any file
• Share how you want
• Safe and secure

Start using Google Docs

Believe it or not, Ginger software is the world’s best grammar checker. It’s one of the best online proofreading tools that help you easily correct your sentences without having to worry much.

If you want to improve your writing and productivity on the go, start using Ginger software. It will give you effortless features to hone your writing skills without having errors. If you are always making silly mistakes while creating blog posts or writing essays , try Ginger.

It will ensure that your writing is flawless but it does require you to stay online if you want it to make changes on the go.

According to the Ginger website, it uses the most sophisticated “patent-pending technology to decipher the semantic meaning and context of text input, by comparing it to billions of similar sentences from the web.”

Here are a few powerful features of the Ginger tool.

• Offers great English corrections
• Works in Microsoft Office and browsers
• Lightweight application
• Great design
• Built-in dictionary
• Automatic translator

Try Ginger tool now

WordRake is a powerful writing assistant tool for professionals like bloggers, writers, and editors. WordRake is created by lawyer and writing expert Gary Kinder.

WordRake is the first and only automated in-line editing software that can be used to seamlessly edit in Microsoft Word and Outlook. WordRake uses a ton of algorithmic rules that provide you accurate context suggestions to improve your writing. 

Here are a few powerful features of WordRake;

• Offers you an automated in-line editing software 
• It’s available for Mac or Windows
• Offers one-click editing for both Microsoft Word and Outlook
• It helps you easily find high-level grammar and punctuation mistakes

Start using WordRake

Correctly spelled words used in the wrong context mean embarrassing mistakes for you. So this tool helps you with the most advanced “contextual spell checker” to easily rectify your grammatical errors.

‘Paper Rater’ is a free proofreading software that utilizes Artificial Intelligence to help writers and students write better.

Here are a few powerful features of Paper Rater;

• Grammar & Spelling Check
• Free Proofreader
• No Downloads Required
• It will also check for any duplicate contents using its plagiarism detection tools
• It also gives you writing suggestions to improve your writing

Try Paper Rater

GrammarCheck is another widely popular proofreading tool that checks your text for grammatical errors instantly.

You can paste your content or enter your text into the form on their website.

Here’s what it looks like;

Once you click on the “Free Check” button, the tool will instantly show you the grammatical mistakes if any. 

If you see an underlined spelling error or grammar suggestion in your text, click on it to see more options so you can make necessary corrections. 

Here are a few features of GrammarCheck;

• Free proofreading tool to quickly find grammar mistakes
• Easy to use as you can paste the content or enter text on their tool
• Helps easily find spelling errors, gives style suggestions, and grammar suggestions

Start using GrammarCheck

LanguageTool is an Open Source proof­reading program for English, French, German, Polish, and more than 20 other languages.

This online proofreading software finds many grammatical errors that a simple spell checker like MS Word can’t detect and enables you to write flawless content. If you’re using the LibreOffice or OpenOffice add-on you can also make use of this free tool “Language Tool”.

Here are the awesome features of this amazing proofreading tool;

• It’s completely free to use
• It also offers a free browser extension to proofread on the go
• You can use this tool to check grammar, style, and spelling mistakes in your text

Try Language Tool for Free

The Hemingway app is one of the popular online proofreading apps used for distraction-free writing. It offers an easy-to-use editing tool that helps you improve your writing.

You can paste your content or paragraphs into the Hemingway App editor and it instantly shows you all the writing mistakes (and gives you suggestions).

As you can see above, if you see text highlighted in red, your sentence is complicated to understand. So, you can simplify that highlighted text to polish your writing.

Here’s the list of features offered by the Hemingway App;

• The online version of Hemingway Editor is completely free to use
• Helps you polish your writing
• Helps you identify sentences that are too complex to understand
• Hemingway will provide you with a readability grade 

Start using Hemingway App

‘Spell check plus’ uses an advanced yet user-friendly interface for all of you to check your text to see if there are any errors in your text.

The great feature of this tool is that it targets a number of errors made by second language learners of English. So this tool is a blessing for the people whose native language is not English and who still want to improve their English writing skills .

Spell check plus design almost resembles the MS Word interface but it will catch more grammatical mistakes that MS Word won’t catch. This tool allows you to paste the text into the text box, once you enter the text, you will see if there are any errors in your copy after clicking the button “Check Text”.

This online tool is able to detect problems with words that sound the same. For ex: there versus their, its versus it’s, etc.

This tool catches thousands of commonly confused words that other spell checkers ignore.

Features include:

• It is available online and therefore accessible from any computer.
• It follows a pedagogical approach that encourages learning
• It updates automatically

Try Spell Check Plus for free

Reverso is a free online translation, dictionary, grammar, and spell-check tool that provides you great features to edit your writing easily.

This tool also offers online translation into French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, and Japanese.

Here are a few great features of the Reverso tool:

• You can benefit from a translation service that has been tested on millions of translations and has been constantly improved
• Optimize the translation quality thanks to the automatic spell checking of the mistakes contained in the original text of your documents
• You can improve your oral skills and your accent by listening to native speakers pronunciation of whole texts
• You can also translate idioms and suggest better translations that could improve the translator
• View the dictionaries results on the same page and discover the various meanings of words

So what are you waiting for?

Try Reverso Tool

ProWritingAid is an incredible proofreading platform used by over 1 million authors, editors, students, and professionals worldwide.

It gives you in-depth reports on your content’s sentence structure, punctuation issues, repeated phrases, and more to improve your writing.

Read: ProWritingAid Discount 2024: 20% Off On Premium Plans

Here’s the features list of ProWritingAid;

• Helps you with grammar checking, sentence formation, punctuation mistakes, etc
• Offers free browser extensions so you can check real-time grammar and spell checking online
• Extremely user friendly that can be used as a personal writing coach

Try ProWritingAid Now

Ludwig is a popular sentence search engine used by over 15 million users worldwide to improve their writing.

Ludwig offers highly relevant context examples taken from trusted sources to help you write better in English. Unlike other proofreading tools mentioned on this list, Ludwig helps you write PROPER sentences in English.

As you can see above, once you enter a word or phrase, Ludwig shows you how professional writers have used that word or phrase.

Here are the awesome features of Ludwig;

• You can find your sentence in the best contexts
• Ludwig also helps you easily translate into English in the best possible way
• It currently has over 200 million English sentences 
• Discover the missing word in your text
• Helps you properly paraphrase your sentences

Try Ludwig Now

StackEdit is a popular open-source Markdown editor based on PageDown. If you’re a blogger or online creator who’s looking to use Markdown to create professional-looking content, StackEdit is a great tool for you.

It also offers a live preview function as well as built-in spell checking to improve your writing.

Here are the features offered by StackEdit;

• Works as a spell-checking tool
• The ability to write in this app, and edit your content with Markdown tools as you go
• You can upload your content directly to your blog or online storage drives such as Google Drive and Dropbox
• Allows you to insert inline comments in your files

Try StackEdit For Free

Browse more Blogging Tutorials:

• Top Blogging Skills You Need to Become a Successful Blogger in 2024
• Best Free Plagiarism Checker Websites for Bloggers
• Best Online Grammar Checker Tools to Polish Your Writing
• Powerful New Year Resolutions Every Blogger Should Follow in 2024
• How to Bring Traffic to Your Site from Classified Ads?

Re-read your content loudly, ask a friend, write small paragraphs, use short sentences, and make sure to use some proofreading sites for error-free writing.

For me, it’s Grammarly. I have been using Grammarly to proofread my blog posts from the beginning and it works like a charm for me.

Yes, it’s free to use. Apart from the free version, you can also opt for its paid services to get more features.

Yes, there are so many but I would recommend you go with the Pro Writing Aid, the best free Grammarly alternative . You can also use tools like free plagiarism checkers like Writer if you want to check duplicate content.

Of course, you can earn money from proofreading. As software testers, there are proofreaders for flawless writing work.

There are lots of freelancing sites available like Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, etc. where you can easily get suitable work online.

Here are the three best proofreading software tools for professionals who want to improve their writing.

– Grammarly (uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to assist you with better writing) – Ginger Software (it has developed language enhancement technology that uses statistical algorithms to improve your writing) – WhiteSmoke (can be used as a grammar checker, spell checker, and style checker tool)

A proofreading tool is a writing assistant tool that helps you correct your English grammar, style, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. Most proofreading tools help you check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors with a single click.

Yes, if you’re a student, editor, author, or professional who regularly writes and looking to improve your writing, Grammarly premium is worth every penny as its pricing starts at $11.66 per month.

Here are some of the best free proofreading tools you can use in 2024.

– Grammarly  – SpellCheckPlus – Reverso – Hemingway App

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So next time if you want to write flawless content without having any typos or grammatical errors and want to impress your blog readers with your writing, make sure to use the free online proofreading tools listed in this post. Feel free to bookmark this page as it will come to be handy in the future too.

No matter what type of tool or service you use, there’s always one defect – almost none of them rectifies your grammatical mistakes with 100% accuracy with today’s technology. So don’t get disappointed, just make sure to read better stuff and keep on writing every single day to hone your writing skills.

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Reader Comments (13)

First of all, great list.

I am using Grammarly, and it has been an absolute game-changer for me when it comes to proofreading my writing. It is, without a doubt, the best proofreading tool I have ever used. The real-time suggestions and corrections it offers have significantly improved the quality of my work.

What I love most about Grammarly is its versatility. Whether I’m writing an important email, a blog post, or even a social media caption, Grammarly is always there to ensure that my content is error-free and polished. The seamless integration with various platforms and the browser extension make it incredibly convenient to use.

I will also check out the other options you mentioned in the post.

Cheers, Aziz Malek

I have been using Grammarly from the beginning to proofread my blog posts and it’s amazing.

Chrome extension and MS Word integration work very well.

I will definitely consider the other options you mentioned in the post.

Thanks Amit Garg

The Tools are very useful to the content for the story and the thesis writing to the content writers and the students also. It helps to improve the writing skill and the communication skill for the writers.

Proofreading and editing is just not a cup of cake. A right mix of software is required to support your proofreading. As a proofreader, I think these would definitely help me out in my work.

Proofreading and editing is just not a cup of cake. A right mix of software is required to support your proofreading. Excellent points Min, truly said. Editing is definitely a masters game and you should get access to the right online proofreading tools if you really want to keep your content tight.

Have a look at typely.com. It has some unique features.

Thanks for the suggestion, I’d definitely check it out.

A very useful blog post . I downloaded Ginger and started using it. It proved to be quite helpful. Since I am in writing profession, these kind of tools is an advantage for me. Saves time and corrects mistakes. Thanks for sharing a very useful post. 🙂

Hi Shilpi, glad you found it useful and honestly, Grammarly is the most popular Grammar and punctuation checker tool currently which is literally used by millions of people worlwide. However, there are other solutions like Ginger, Pro Writing Aid and Whitesmoke which are great for online proofreading, so you should check them out as well.

Thank you for the comprehensive review of proof reading tools,

I love to proofread my content myself. We do have a very strong team of proofreaders and enhancers on GuestCrew but I love to proofread my own personal content myself.

However yes, that does leave room for mistakes. Am thinking to give grammarly a try soon – been hearing about it for some time.

will surely check out the rest of the tools that you have mentioned,

thanks, Uttoran Sen,

Hi Sen, Glad you found this comprehensive review of proof reading tools helpful. So what online proofreading tools are you currently using? GuestCrew is great but there are also tools like Ginger, Whitesmoke, Grammarly etc that can help you improve your writing.

This is helpful. Thanks for sharing this online, this is a good start up tips for all aspiring and so as for professional writers. Cheers!

Hey Anil great article. i hope these tools will increase my writing ability. Thanks

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WRITER > GUIDES

Publish confidently by proofreading to perfection

“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.” — Patricia Fuller

We’re pretty open-minded, but we generally recommend that writing be at least partially dressed before sharing it with the world.

Now that just about everyone is a writer, just about everyone is a proofreader too, when you think about it. Which is why we believe now is the time to get clear about what exactly proofreading entails in our modern world.

What is proofreading?

Proofreading refers to carefully checking for writing and formatting errors in a text before it’s published. It’s the final step in making sure a piece of writing is as close to “perfect” as possible by double-checking for punctuation and spelling errors, typos, and any inconsistencies. The most important purpose of writing is to communicate your thoughts effectively. This, however, is better suited for the editing phase, not the proofreading phase. While proofreaders will check for clarity in consistency, they’re more focused on minor errors that may have slipped through. When you proofread, you evaluate the content in what will be its final, published form, or a proof. (Get it now?) Proofreaders look at more than just the words — they’re scanning for any formatting errors as well. Proofreading marks are either made on paper, or in comments and digital notes in Google Docs and word processing software, to alert the writer of suggested corrections within a document. There are both US and UK English conventions for proofreading. The final step of any personal or business writing process, proofreading is the process of identifying and correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

The difference between proofreading and editing

It’s important to note that proofreading and editing are not the same. Editing involves a different skill set and is usually more time-consuming. Though there are various stages to the entire editing process, copy editing and proofreading are the two most common. Coincidentally, they’re also the two that get mixed up the most. Though developmental, structural, and line editing all deserve their time and place , they’re seen less frequently in the world of digital content creation. These parts of the editing process are better reserved for lengthier works, such as books, investigative journalism, essays, instructional works, and magazine articles. The terms copy editing and proofreading are often used interchangeably by those not familiar with the space. These two are not the same, though, and it’s crucial to be aware of their differences if you’re anyone working with written content.

Copy editing Copy editing takes place before proofreading and involves a more thorough shake down of the content at hand. Copy editors will look for things such as readability, grammar, spelling, style, syntax, and punctuation depending on what style guide they’re following. In this stage of the editing process, it’s okay to offer revisions that will require additional writing.

Examples of what a copy editor might comment: Point out wordy sentences, suggest change in word choice, fix punctuation marks in a sentence.

Proofreading Proofreading occurs after copy editing. Though proofreaders look for grammar and punctuation, they’re also focused on the overall formatting of the piece. They’re the last set of eyes before publication, so it’s their job to ensure the text is as close to perfect as it can get. No drastic changes will happen here — that’s the job of all the editors who came before.

Examples of what a proofreader might comment: Fix bad line breaks, change improper punctuation, point out incorrect page numbers.

How to proofread

Traditionally, proofreading is meant to be a relatively rapid and focused process of making sure writing is free of minor errors, such as typos that may have occurred during a more rigorous round of editing. For online publishing and blogging — which often includes transferring of content from a word processing document to a CMS (content management system) — proofreading includes making sure that formatting is correct. Adhering to a style guide — whether that be the Associated Press Stylebook , Chicago Manual of Style , or your own — is another vital part of the process. Consistency is key, and proofreaders need to be aware of what rules to follow for the given copy.

Common things to double-check when proofreading

• Links function properly and direct readers to the right pages
• Words — especially names and organizations — are spelled correctly
• Formatting appears as it was intended — bolds, italics, indentations, new paragraphs, and fonts are correct
• Proper punctuation is used throughout
• Capitalization is correct
• No “bad breaks,” such as widows or orphans
• Helpful information such as an FAQ section exists
• Consistent tenses throughout the piece
• No subject-verb agreement issues
• Headline or email subject is clear
• Citations match the brand style guide
• No misplaced or misused commas
• Voice and style are consistent throughout

When is the best time to proofread text?

The best time to proofread is during every project’s final stage, after revisions are done and copy editing has been completed. Proofreading is the last step. If you’re wondering what time is the best, we advise after morning coffee and before your deadline. Because the proofreading process is intended to be the final step before publishing or hitting “send,” the changes should be relatively minor — meaning, catching typos or errors that may have slipped by. In other words, proofreading is not the phase where you should be completely reworking a paragraph or changing the direction of your main points. Proofreading is not the time to decide that you’ve changed your stance on an important topic — that kind of change should happen during the initial planning, thesis-writing, or outline phase of your writing. In this stage, you also shouldn’t completely overhaul a piece of writing from, say, a 1,500-word blog post to a 3,000-word help article. That work should have been done during the developmental editing phase.

Top proofreading techniques and tricks

Ask someone else to proofread for you Get a pair of fresh eyes on your writing. After spending so much time on your work, you’ll be apt to accidentally glaze over errors and typographical errors. It’s like a crooked painting in your house — you don’t notice it until someone else points it out. If you have to proofread your own work, step away Close your document, shut down your computer, and take a break from staring at the screen for a few hours (the longer, the better). Go for a walk, sip some coffee, and you’ll have a fresher set of eyes when you return. Focus on one thing at a time When you’re on high-alert for every type of proofing error, it’s easier to miss some mistakes. Instead, try combing a paper only for punctuation, then again for spelling mistakes, and so on. Come back to it if you’re tired Don’t ever try to proofread at the end of the day when your attention span is nil, and all you want to do is sleep. Sleep on it and try again in the morning. Proofreading with a set of sleepy eyes is as good as not proofreading at all. Print it out Editing a hard copy — and not a digital one — will help you see your writing from a different perspective. It feels different, and putting pen to paper feels more substantive and also satisfying. Read it out loud Reading your own writing out loud is a great way to catch any misspelled words or wonky sentences you might’ve missed before. While it might feel funny at first, you’ll find yourself noticing things such as run-on sentences that you wouldn’t have otherwise when reading it silently. Allot two days to proofread Ideally, proofreading should happen at least two days before a deadline. This ensures that you’ll have enough time to implement changes with one more round of proofing to come. Take into consideration the length of your writing — the longer it is, the longer proofing will take. Use an AI proofreading tool You can use an AI writing assistant to help with proofreading digital content. Nowadays, the top ones on the market are programmed to catch spelling, grammatical errors, and some even help you adhere to your style guide . For example, Writer uses AI to catch and correct common writing mistakes — as well as ones personal to your company’s style guide — and ensure your text is ready to share. Proofreading example Editors and professional proofreaders usually check a printed “proof copy” of the text and make corrections using specialized marks. In the digital realm, proofreaders work with AI writing assistants. Most of these online proofreading and editing services also include plagiarism checkers to identify duplicate content on the web and provide an efficient solution for the publication.

Improve your proofreading skills with Writer

With edits occurring more frequently in the “tracked changes” on Microsoft Word or in suggestions on shared Google Docs, proofreaders find themselves doing their job digitally. And in a world flooded with copy and content, it’s crucial to ensure your words stand out, for all the right reasons. Writer is much more than just a spell check — think of it as your very own professional proofreader. And if you’re looking to implement language and content consistency company-wide, Writer has that too. Take your proofreading up a notch by publishing a living, breathing style guide that Writer implements almost anywhere you produce copy. With terminology management , custom writing style rules, snippets, and more, you don’t ever have to worry about your content being flooded with errors.

Illustration by Daniel Zender

Level-up your writing with Writer, your very own proofreader.

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What does a proofreader do.

Working with a proofreader is the final stage of the editing process. To ensure your book is ready to hit the presses (or the digital publisher), a proofreader will step in and double-check everything. They’ll make sure that your book is free from spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and other issues that could spoil a reader’s enjoyment of your writing.

A professional proofreader not only has a keen eye for detail, but a tried-and-true method for spotting every minor error in your text, from missing commas to misused homophones. They’ll also keep your proof free from typographical and layout issues, such as the wrong typeface in one of your chapter headings, or awkwardly spaced lines within the text.

Essentially, a proofreader should have the attention of a devoted reader and the sharp mind of an editor — seeing everything, missing nothing. But where can you find a meticulous proofreader to guarantee that every last piece of your book is in place?

Look no further, here are the professionals who can help

Search for editors near you

Jackie has been editing and proofreading for more than twenty-five years; food, travel, fiction.

Jonathan W.

An obsessive copy editor with thirty years of hard-hitting, results-driven copy editing for numerous publishers and individual authors.

I have 18 years of experience and specialize in YA, MG, lit fic, LGBTQ+, women's fiction, and authenticity reads. Tell me about you!

Angela Yuriko S.

Multi Bram Stoker Awards® Winner+, publisher of Space and Time and Authortunities, a free weekly calendar of author opportunities.

Experienced editor & published writer ▪ I have a passion for literature & words—especially poetry, essay collections, & children's books.

What is the difference between a proofreader and other types of editors?

A proofreader is different from other types of editors in that they don’t provide particularly in-depth feedback on your book — proofreaders swoop in at the end to tweak and polish, not to overhaul your content. However, this doesn’t make their job any less important! Typo-free text and a professional layout are non-negotiable if you want your book to be taken seriously by readers, and indeed by the industry as a whole.

Another key difference between proofreaders and, say, copy editors is that proofreaders consider the entire book, not just the body text. For example, a proofreader will cross-check chapter names and numbers in a table of contents. They’ll check the dedication page, the acknowledgements, and anywhere else that text appears.

And again, in print publishing, a proofreader will also look at purely aesthetic elements. They might fix odd spacing or remove widows and orphans (isolated lines on the page) for a more pleasant reading experience. Overall, they make sure your book presents as smoothly as possible — which is why, as an author, you never want to skip the final proof.

Is a proofreader the same thing as a line editor?

It depends on where you are. In the UK, a “line editor” does serve almost the same purpose as a proofreader. The only difference is that the line edit is performed on the manuscript document, while the proofread is undertaken on the formatted document just before it goes to press. So an author in the UK may have either a line editor look at their manuscript or a proofreader look at the final proof, but usually not both.

In the US and Canada, however, line editing is typically used to describe a mix between content and developmental editing — in which the primary concern is the creative substance and style. Other times it describes a slightly more detailed version of copy editing.

Needless to say, if an editor’s résumé includes “line editing,” it’s best to clarify with them directly what they mean. Fortunately, all editors on Reedsy are categorized as developmental editors, copy editors, or proofreaders, so there’s no confusion about which services they can provide.

Do I need a proofreader if I’ve already worked with an editor?

In short, yes. While developmental and copy editors will fix inaccuracies and hone your writing style, they won’t catch every single mechanical mistake — and can even accidentally introduce them in the process of editing! This is exactly why proofreaders exist: to be the last line of defense against errors in your published book.

Many authors still attempt to proofread their own books, but we would caution against this. No matter how eagle-eyed you are, your brain will inevitably skip over typos that you’ve already seen a hundred times, simply because you’ve grown accustomed to them.

Indeed, for an effective proofread, you absolutely need a fresh perspective on your text. The good news is that you’re only a few clicks away from finding one!

How to find the right proofreader for you

On the Reedsy Marketplace, you can search for professionals by genre, location, and keywords, making it easy for you to find proofreaders with experience in your category and subject matter. If you want a nonfiction proofreader with an understanding of Lovecraftian naming conventions and Australian dialects, you can find them.

Once you’ve narrowed down your shortlist, you can send your project brief to up to five proofreaders. This will be a short overview of your book, including: what it’s about, your genre and word count, and whether it’s already been edited by a professional. You can also include your budget and ideal timeline to find the perfect person to work with you logistically.

The clearer you are in communicating your needs, the more likely our proofreaders are to respond with accurate quotes. And remember, for the best chance at landing your first-choice proofreader, try to send your requests as early as possible!

Connect with a professional editor

Create your Reedsy account to request free quotes and advice.

Articles related to editing

What is proofreading? And can you do it yourself?

Many writers can and do proofread their own work. 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. read more

reedsy blog

What are the meaning of proofreading marks?

Proofreading marks are used to highlight spelling, vocabulary, grammatical, and punctuation errors, along with formatting and layout issues. When proofreaders are editing a hard-copy manuscript, they will leave corrections on both sides of the margins. read more

How much does it cost to get a book proofread?

The cost of copy editing and proofreading services is a linear function of the word count. The average cost for proofreading a book is 𝇍0.9 per word, so around $720 for an 80,000-word manuscript. read more

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A reliable proofreading tool for any writer.

A complete environment

Typely is more than just a proofreading tool. It's a complete writing environment.

Thousands of checks

More than a thousand checks are being performed and we've only scratched the surface.

Inspired by the greatest writers

Gain access to humanity’s collective understanding about the craft of writing.

A proofreading tool that does not bark at every tree

Typely is precise. Existing tools for proofreading raise so many false alarms that their advice cannot be trusted. Instead, the writer must carefully consider whether to accept or reject each change.

We aim for a tool so precise that it becomes possible to unquestioningly adopt its recommendations and still come out ahead — with stronger, tighter prose. Better to be quiet and authoritative than loud and unreliable.

Relax, focus, write your next masterpiece...

Writing presumes more than simply laying out words on a paper. Typely helps you get in the mood and keeps you focused, immersed and ready to write your story.

Whether you need a distraction-free environment, some chill relaxing sounds or a pomodoro timer to manage your time we got you covered.

Got questions? We have answers.

No. Typely is completely free and we plan on keeping it that way. We are considering some advanced features however that might be available under a premium plan.

The only limit we have applied thus far is on the number of characters you can submit and that is being set at a maximum of 50,000.

In theory yes but that will require a lot of work and professionals dedicated for this job. We are considering a way of letting the community participate somehow.

Typely does not do grammar checking because it's hard and almost impossible to get right. The aim for Typely is to be precise and reliable.

Paper Editing Services

Maximize your paper’s potential with clear and effective writing.

Expert paper editors polish your writing to reflect the work you put into it. Professional paper editing will:

• Ensure your arguments are judged on merit
• Lift the quality of your paper as a whole
• Make you stand out from your peers

Proofreading & Editing

Personalized editing with human expertise, revisions within 3 hours, 100% happiness or a refund or re-edit.

Get your paper back, free of language errors and inconsistencies

Standard paper Proofreading & Editing is perfect if you’re confident about your writing but need a second pair of eyes to catch:

• Spelling and grammar errors
• Inconsistencies in dialect
• Overuse of passive voice
• Subjective or inflated language

For a more comprehensive edit, you can add one or multiple add-on editing services that fit your needs.

Add-on services

Customize your editing package to get the help you need, structure check, clarity check, paper formatting, citation editing.

Ensures sections and chapters are structured and focused and your writing is free of redundancies.

• Through in-text feedback, your editor will help:
• Organize and focus individual chapters and sections
• Eliminate repetitive and redundant information
• Perfect transitions between sentences and paragraphs
• Align titles and headings with the section’s content

You’ll also receive a personalized Structure Check Report meant to help you identify missing elements in each chapter or section and prioritize improvements.

Ensures ideas are presented clearly, your arguments are consistent, and your audience can follow along.

Through in-text comments and checklists, your editor will:

• Make sure your text tells a clear and logical story
• Check that you’ve clearly presented concepts, ideas, and key terms
• Make sure your key takeaways and conclusions are front and center
• Highlight contradictions within the text
• Ensure you’re keeping your audience’s needs in mind

Ensures a professional look for your document that meets your formatting requirements.

Your formatting expert will ensure consistency for the following:

• Margins, spacing, and indentation
• Body text and headings
• Page numbers
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Choose our Paper Formatting service for a professional finish or our APA Editing Service for the most up-to-date APA formatting.

Citation Editing ensures your citations and references are consistent and meet your style guide’s requirements.

After you provide your document with a reference list, your citation expert will:

• Format the layout of your reference page (margins, indents, spacing)
• Ensure that your chosen citation style is applied consistently according to the guidelines
• Cross-check citations with reference entries
• Provide feedback on reference list entries that you need to complete due to missing information

Your expert is familiar with all common citation styles. Find more information about the service and our requirements in our FAQs .

Get matched to the perfect editor - or editing team

At Scribbr, you can rest assured that only the best editors will work on your paper.

All our 800+ editors have passed the challenging Scribbr Academy, which has a passing rate of only 2%.

We handpick your editor on several criteria, including field of study and document type. And we’ll even expand your team with citation and formatting experts if needed.

I have a doctorate in biology and studied a range of life science subjects. I specialize in editing academic texts.

I researched at Harvard, taught English with a Fulbright in Peru, and earned a master's from Johns Hopkins.

I have a PhD in German studies, an MS in library science, and extensive experience teaching undergraduate students.

I have a bachelor's in electrical engineering and a master's in psychology and am pursuing a PhD in neuroscience.

I am an ESL teacher and academic editor with a research background in the humanities, arts, and culture.

I am an academic editor and book reviewer. I am familiar with many style guides and have edited over 6 million words.

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The price stays the same, no matter the deadline.

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“Hoped for the best and got it!”

“I needed to have a paper proofread that was going to be published. Because English is not my native language, I was unsure about the text’s linguistic quality. I’m all the more grateful that B. & K. from Scribbr took care of my request very professionally, thoughtfully, and above all, quickly. It couldn’t have gone better!”

How it works

Stay in control throughout the paper editing process, upload any time.

Upload your document and easily select the pages that need editing. Next, choose your turnaround time and services and explain your situation and needs to the editor.

Stay in the loop

After placing your order you can keep track of our progress. From finding your perfect editor to potential hand-overs to formatting or citation experts.

Revise and submit

You’ll receive back your document with tracked changes and feedback as well as a personal letter from your editor. The last step is submitting your work with confidence!

Scribbr & academic integrity

Scribbr is committed to protecting academic integrity. Our proofreading service, our AI writing tools ( plagiarism checker , paraphrasing tool , grammar checker , summarizer,  Citation Generator ) as well as our free Knowledge Base content are designed to help students produce quality academic papers.

We make every effort to prevent our software from being used for fraudulent or manipulative purposes.

Your questions, answered.

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

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20 Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (2024 Guide)

by Joanna Kneller

on May 27, 2024

Searching for ways to work from home and considering online proofreading jobs?

It could be a perfect fit if you have an eye for detail and enjoy polishing other writers’ prose.

But how do you get started?

This post has all the answers you need to become a professional proofreader, whether you want to work online, remotely, be an employee, or freelancer — it’s your choice.

Since proofreading is a major part of the writing process, proofreaders are always in demand.

Ready to learn how to become a proofreader, how much proofreading jobs pay, and the top 20 sites for finding legitimate online proofreading jobs?

Great, let’s go!

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is the process of reading and examining a piece of written work to find errors and mark them for correction. A proofreader is generally the last person to read through a document before publication. Proofreaders scour text for errors missed during the editing process.

They look for:

• Improper grammar
• Misspelled words
• Incorrect punctuation
• Inconsistent spellings of words
• Formatting errors
• Incorrect capitalization
• Typesetting issues

Proofreaders work on all kinds of documents for:

• Academic and student clients
• Business and professional clients
• Creative writers, authors, and publishers
• English as a second language (ESL) writers

Now that we have a better understanding of what proofreading entails, let’s see how it compares to editing.

Proofreading vs. Copyediting

It’s easy to confuse proofreading and editing, as the lines between the two are sometimes blurry. However, they are different.

Copy editing involves correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice, inconsistencies, and syntax ( the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences ).

Overall, a copyeditor’s main concern is to ensure their documents are clear, coherent, consistent, and correct. Copy editors often have the responsibility of proofreading, as well.

Proofreading and copyediting do involve some of the same tasks; however, a copy editor is more likely to change the phrasing or structure of a document , while a proofreader is less likely to significantly alter text before it’s published.

In addition, proofreading is considered the final stage of the editing process, so the proofreader can pick up any errors the copy editor may have missed.

The Top 20 Sites for Finding Proofreading Jobs

Before searching for proofreading jobs, consider your interests and what type of documents you’d enjoy proofreading. This will narrow your options and ensure you find suitable jobs.

Some sites listed below include job boards with search bars. Here’s a short list of search terms to start with:

• Remote proofreading jobs
• Freelance proofreading jobs
• Proofreader
• Copyediting
• Editing jobs

Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects buyers and sellers while offering high-quality services at every price point, including proofreading services.

It’s different from other marketplaces in this post because buyers seek you out, instead of you bidding or applying for jobs.

Fiverr is a great place to make money as a beginner because it’s totally acceptable to only charge $5 for your services. And as you gain experience, you can increase your prices.

Simply sign up, set up your “Gig,” and offer your services to a worldwide audience.

2. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a job site that offers high-quality remote proofreading jobs (amongst others) for freelancers and employees.

You can easily search jobs by keyword, category, or title.

Rest assured, all job listings are legitimate since FlexJobs takes extra precautions to protect job seekers from scams. That’s why, in order to view full job details, FlexJobs charges a small (satisfaction guaranteed) membership fee.

Don’t hesitate to check their listings first — it may be well worth it!

Gramlee is a copyediting site that also provides proofreading services done by independent contractors who work from home.

Their website says they are always looking for exceptional editors, which could mean you!

Applying is simple: fill out the Gramlee Employment Application, and if they like your application, they’ll contact you.

Upwork is one of the largest online job marketplaces.

Clients post projects and jobs, ranging from entry-level to expert, for freelancers to choose from. This is beneficial for beginners looking to get started.

Sign up for a free account, create your profile, and search for proofreading jobs via the search bar or by selecting the Editing & Proofreading category. Once you find a fun project or remote job, submit a proposal and bid for the job.

Just know that Upwork can be highly competitive, so you may initially need to accept low wages and submit multiple proposals before getting hired.

5. ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal is a proofreading website that offers a variety of professional proofreading services and utilizes a unique two-editor approach, wherein every document is proofread by two skilled proofreaders. This is a benefit for job seekers since it means a higher demand for proofreaders.

ProofreadingPal editors can earn between $500 and $3,000 per month, but you must be enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student (with at least a 3.5 GPA) in an accredited US college/university OR have a graduate degree and five years of experience as a proofreader.

6. Wordvice

Wordvice is a global leader in providing editing and proofreading services to academic, admissions, and business customers.

They offer remote part-time editing and proofreading jobs to freelancers who are enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree program and have some previous editing experience.

To apply, submit an application (include expected pay rate) and resume, complete an editing sample, and then wait for notification of results.

7. American Journal Experts

American Journal Experts is a team of former academics and publishing professionals who provide manuscript preparation services.

Current proofreader job openings and available freelance job opportunities are listed on the Careers page (scroll down to view contractor opportunities).

American Journal Experts is currently looking to hire independent contractors who are affiliated with specific US research institutions.

8. Domainite

Domainite is a platform that provides marketing services to business owners, including website design, social media marketing, and reputation management.

Before applying to proofread for Domainite, be aware that they may offer low pay. However, if you’re brand new to proofreading, this could be a good opportunity to gain some experience.

The application process is simple: Fill out the short Freelance Editing Job Hire Form and edit the sample text provided.

9. EditFast

EditFast is a platform where freelancers and clients connect to provide and receive services, including editing and proofreading.

Freelancers create their own Web pages (profiles) to promote their skills and talents for clients to view. Clients can either select a freelancer or submit their documents for EditFast to assign an appropriate freelancer for their project.

Complete the registration process to get started, and once EditFast approves your information, your Web page will be activated.

To be hired, EditFast requires a degree from a recognized university and past proofreading experience.

EditFast receives 40% of the project price.

10. ProofreadingServices.com

ProofreadingServices.com provides proofreading, translation, publishing, and professional services.

When you work with them, you’ll proofread “just about everything under the sun” and have access to part-time and full-time online proofreading jobs that pay between $19 and $46 per hour, depending on turnaround time.

To be considered for hire, you’ll need to successfully complete a 20-question proofreading test within 20 minutes and score 95% or above on it.

11. Scribbr

Scribbr provides academic proofreading and editing services to help students earn their degrees.

They look for editors with a passion for language and a bachelor’s degree.

For an editor role, you’ll need to pass Scribbr’s quiz and have your resume reviewed to determine if you’re a good fit. Next, complete an editing assignment, and if you pass, you’ll be invited to join Scribbr Academy to receive training.

After successfully completing two to five simulation orders, you’ll be officially welcomed to the Scribbr editor team.

12. Scribe Media

Scribe Media helps authors write, publish, and market their own books, which includes proofreading services. Scribe Media offers full-time careers as well as freelance and part-time roles.

Full-time employees enjoy plenty of time off, flexible hours, the option to work from home, as well as health and financial benefits.

Check Scribe Media’s “Careers” page for a list of available full-time and freelance opportunities. If there are no open proofreading jobs, simply join the Careers List to receive notification of new roles.

13. Scribendi

Scribendi provides editing and proofreading services to a variety of clients, including those in business, academia, and publishing fields.

They hire both freelancers and in-house employees for editor/proofreader positions.

Freelancers make their own schedules, choose interesting assignments, and interact with in-house staff and other freelancers via an online forum.

Scribendi looks for experienced proofreaders and editors with a bachelor’s degree or higher who are also native-level English speakers (since much of their work is from ESL students and clients).

Simply click on the “Apply Now” button on Scribendi’s Jobs page.

14. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an online business platform for professional networking where you can connect with other professionals to either market your services or find employment.

Open an account, create your profile, and start connecting with everyone you know .

Search for online proofreading jobs by clicking on the “Jobs” icon. When using the search bar, click on the “City, state, or zip code” bar and select “Remote” from the dropdown menu.

If you plan to offer freelance proofreading services to those in your network, be sure to indicate on your profile that you’re providing these services.

15. Polished Paper

Polished Paper offers “world-class” proofreading and editing services to business, academic, personal, author, and ESL clients.

They look for exceptional editors with diverse educational backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

To apply, register for a user account, upload your resume, and take a 35-question editor test. The good news is that Polished Paper encourages the use of outside resources to help you complete this test.

16. Freelancer

Freelancer is an online marketplace that connects employers and freelancers worldwide.

Employers post projects, receive bids from freelancers, and select the best freelancer to complete the job.

Set up your profile and browse proofreading jobs (you can save job searches and get notified when relevant new jobs are posted).

Once you find a job opportunity, write your best pitch , get hired, and deliver high-quality work.

Guru is a platform where freelancers and employers work together.

Employers post a variety of jobs for freelancers to browse and to submit quotes for.

You can easily find proofreading jobs by either selecting the Editing & Proofreading subcategory (under the Writing & Translation category) or by simply entering relevant terms into the search bar.

Sign up on the website, build your profile, view job listings, and submit quotes for proofreading jobs.

Employers evaluate all quotes and choose the best freelancer for the job.

18. Clickworker

Clickworker is an online platform that hires independent contractors called Clickworkers to perform small tasks for clients.

Clickworker takes large, complex jobs and breaks them down into microtasks that include proofreading and copyediting. These tiny tasks are then completed by Clickworkers on a piece-rate basis.

To become a freelance Clickworker, simply sign up on the website, create a user profile, complete some assessments, and then get to work.

19. Get Editing Jobs

Get Editing Jobs is an online community of job seekers and employers that includes a job directory with writing, editing, and proofreading positions.

To find a list of proofreading jobs, start with search terms like “proofreader,” “proofreading,” and “editor.”

It may also be beneficial to create a job seeker account so you can manage your resume, create custom alerts, and receive job notifications.

20. Lionbridge

Lionbridge is a global communications platform with a community of talented, remote workers who help customers with their content.

They outsource various tasks to their workers and often have online proofreading jobs available.

If no proofreading jobs are listed, be sure to join the community , register for proofreading tasks, and take the relevant evaluation tests. Lionbridge will then contact you when proofreading work is available.

How Much Do Proofreading Jobs Pay?

Can you make decent money proofreading?

Salary.com reports that, as of March 29, 2021, the average proofreader salary in the United States was $53,226, with ranges typically falling between $46,709 and $60,779, depending on education, certifications, skills, and number of years in the profession.

For hourly rates, as of April 4, 2021, Payscale.com reports the average proofreader hourly pay to be $18.53, with individual pay ranging from $11.84 to $30.17.

These numbers are likely for full-time proofreading jobs.

When it comes to freelance work, it’s possible to be paid per word, per page, per project, or by the hour. And, as a freelancer, you have the ability to set your own rates .

According to the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), freelance proofreaders can charge between $31 and $45 per hour, OR between $0.02 and $0.039 per word, depending on experience level and type of proofreading job.

This gives you an idea of what to expect, but ultimately your pay depends on your experience and skills, who you’re working for, and how you’re being paid .

Let’s look at the skills and qualifications needed to be a proofreader.

Proofreader Skills & Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in English or a related field is sometimes required, but it’s not necessary to find proofreading work.

Prior proofreading experience may also be required.

If you’re a beginner proofreader, think about your schooling or past employment. For example, did you do any academic editing while attending college?

Or, how about friends and family? Did you ever proofread correspondence, resumes, or creative writing for them?

Include these experiences in your application or resume.

You’ll also need these proofreading skills:

• Strong language skills to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Attention to detail  to spot small errors and inconsistencies, which also requires patience and concentration.
• Communication skills to work directly with clients and be able to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to meet deadlines to submit completed work within specific turnaround times.
• Computer skills  to learn formatting, use software, and utilize the Internet.

You should also become familiar with style guides, like The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and The Associated Press Stylebook (AP).

How to Become a Proofreader

If you have a natural tendency for finding errors and noticing inconsistencies while reading, this is a great start. And if you enjoyed English class and scored well, this is good too.

But if you have no prior proofreading experience, it would serve you well to get some training before applying for jobs.

While you don’t necessarily need a college degree, it’d be wise to brush up on those skills you learned in English class.

A multitude of online training courses are available, and most are reasonably priced. A simple Google search for “online proofreading courses” will provide a list of high-quality options.

Two popular courses are Proofread Anywhere ’s General Proofreading and Proofreading Academy ’s Becoming a Proofreader.

Another option is Udemy.com , which offers many inexpensive editing and proofreading courses-some as little as $11.99 during sales.

Once you take a course or two, start updating your resume.

As you find jobs, create a portfolio to show prospective employers or clients your work.

Next, let’s find out what tools you’ll need to do proofreading work from home.

What Tools Do You Need for Remote Proofreading Jobs?

Besides a computer and internet access, some other tools are useful for completing remote proofreading jobs.

Microsoft Word may be the most common word processing program used for online proofreading jobs. Newer versions of Word include a “Review” menu with useful features for proofreading and editing, such as Editor, New Comment, Track Changes, and Compare.

Google Docs works with Google Drive. Drive is like a filing cabinet that stores files, while Docs is the word processing program where you open and work on your files/documents. Drive and Docs allow you to share files (and your work) with your employer or client.

Dropbox is similar to Google Drive and can also be used to share files with your employer or client.

Spell-check is a feature included with your word processing program. Use it! However, don’t fully rely on this as it’s incapable of picking up every error due to homophones and context, etc.

Grammarly (affiliate link) scans your work, points out spelling and grammatical errors , and offers options for correction. ProWritingAid (affiliate link) is another great option, and it comes with a 20% discount. But don’t fully depend on Grammarly or other tools — they’ll miss some errors, depending on context, type of document, etc.

Ready to Do Proofreading Jobs from Home?

So you’ve found a way to work from home AND make money doing what you love.

You’ve also learned how to finally go after and get your dream job.

If you’re new to the idea of proofreading, don’t hesitate. Get some training to build your confidence.

Then, update your resume and search the sites above for interesting proofreading jobs.

If you already have education and experience proofreading, then begin by examining which new skills you can either acquire or improve.

Now, get out there and be the best dang proofreader you can be!

Joanna Kneller

GET PAID TO WRITE

A "cheat sheet" to making 2-5k per month as a writer,  even if you're a total beginner ..

Written by Joanna Kneller

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Your Ultimate Guide to Proofreading Marks

• 11-minute read
• 18th June 2024

Proofreading may seem like a minor part of the writing process, but it has a big impact . As the final polish of a piece of content, proofreading focuses on catching errors and ensuring that the message and tone are clear and consistent. This process involves reviewing the text for grammatical, typographical, and stylistic errors that could distract readers or misrepresent your intent as the author. 

Proofreading is crucial because even minor errors can significantly impact the reader’s perception of the text and your credibility. Errors can obscure the message, introduce ambiguity, and reduce professional quality and integrity.

Proofreading marks are valuable tools in the proofreader’s arsenal. These symbols, which have become standardized over time (although they may vary slightly between style guides), identify specific corrections that need to be made in the text. The symbols provide a visual guide , highlighting specific issues, such as misspellings, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies. In this article, we’ll dive into proofreading marks and how to use them effectively.

What Are Proofreading Marks?

Proofreading marks are symbols and notations that indicate errors or areas that require correction in a text. Proofreaders place these marks directly on the manuscript or document to highlight specific issues, such as typographical errors, grammatical mistakes, and formatting problems. The marks prompt the editor to make the necessary revisions.

The Difference Between Proofreading Marks and Editing Marks

Proofreading and editing may seem interchangeable, but they’re actually slightly different. Proofreading focuses on correcting surface-level errors, such as spelling, punctuation, and formatting, and editing encompasses a broader range of changes, including structural and content-related modifications. Editing symbols may address issues related to clarity, coherence, style, and overall content quality, requiring more in-depth revisions than those proofreading provides.

Commonly Used Editing Symbols

Although proofreading and editing marks may overlap in some ways, common editing symbols you can use to suggest more substantive changes include:

• The caret (^), which indicates where to insert additional text.
• Strikethrough, which marks text that should be deleted.
• Replace (/), which suggests replacing the marked text with a different word or phrase.
• Transpose (tr), which indicates that two elements should be swapped.

Types of Proofreading Marks

Let’s look at proofreading marks in more detail. They can be broken down into categories: insertions; deletions and replacements; formatting; spacing and alignment; language and grammar; punctuation; and capitalization.

• The caret (^) shows where to insert additional text.
• An insertion point (|) indicates exactly where new text should be added.

Deletions and Replacements

• Strikethrough (appears as a curly line striking through text) indicates text that should be deleted.
• Replace (appears as a forward slash through each letter to be replaced) suggests replacing the marked text with a different word or phrase.

Formatting Changes

• Italics (underline the text and write “ital” in the margin) indicates that text should be italicized.
• Bold (underline the text and write “bold” in the margin) marks text that should be bolded.
• Underline (underline the text) indicates text that should be underlined.

Spacing and Alignment

• Space (place a caret under the text and insert the # symbol in the margin) indicates where you need a space.
• Close up (appears as sideways parentheses over a space) suggests removing unnecessary space(s) between words or letters.

Language and Grammar Corrections

• Transpose (tr) indicates that two elements (such as letters or words) should be swapped.
• Spell out (sp) suggests spelling out an abbreviation or acronym.

Punctuation and Capitalization

• Insert period (place a caret under the text and place a period in the margin) marks where a period should be inserted.
• Insert comma (place a caret with a comma under it below the text) indicates where a comma should be added.
• Capitalize (triple underlining below the text) indicates that a letter or word should be capitalized.

How to Read and Apply Proofreading Marks

Interpreting proofreading marks accurately is the first step in applying the necessary corrections to a document . Each symbol serves a specific purpose, indicating a particular type of correction. Using the categories we’ve outlined above, the following examples show proofreading marks in action:

• Insertion marks: Symbols such as the caret (^) and the insertion point (|) indicate where the writer needs to add new text. You would generally write the suggested text in the margin or above the line:

The cat was ^ shy.

• Deletion marks: Strikethrough and delete marks show which text should be removed:

The cat was being shy.

• Formatting changes: Symbols for italics, bold, and underline direct the writer to change the text style:

The cat was being shy .

• Spacing adjustments: Certain symbols indicate adding or removing a space between words or characters:

The ^ cat was being shy.

• Grammar and language corrections: Transpose (tr) and spell out (sp) marks address grammatical issues or instruct the writer to spell out abbreviations:

The cat being was shy.

• Punctuation and capitalization: Symbols such as insert period, insert comma, and capitalize guide necessary punctuation or capitalization changes:

The cat was being shy ^

Applying Corrective Actions

Once you understand the proofreading marks and editing symbols, applying the corrections involves several steps:

• Identify the mark: Identify the proofreading mark and determine its meaning.
• Make the change: Implement the indicated correction in the text, such as adding, deleting, or altering the marked area.
• Review the context: Read the sentence and the sentences around it to ensure that the text flows and maintains the document’s coherence and style.
• Double-check: After applying all the corrections, review the document again to ensure that you didn’t miss any errors or apply any changes incorrectly.

Tips for Efficient Proofreading

Proofreading is about more than understanding symbols. It involves a meticulous, line-by-line evaluation of the text to ensure that it’s consistent , clear, and error-free. To conduct thorough, effective proofreading, follow these tips: 

• Take breaks: Regular breaks can help you maintain your focus. When you return to the document after a break, your eyes will be fresh and ready to catch missed errors.
• Read aloud: This technique can help you identify awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and other issues you might miss when reading silently.
• Use a checklist: Keep a checklist of common errors to which you can refer to review the document systematically.
• Proofread multiple times: Conduct multiple rounds of proofreading, focusing on different error types each time, such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting.

Not all of these practices work for everyone, so try some different techniques to arrive at a proofreading routine that works best for you.

Tools and Resources for Proofreading

Take the quality of your work to the next level by using some of the valuable proofreading tools and resources available. Style guides, proofreading tools, and professional editing services are readily accessible and can help you ensure that your writing is error-free, consistent, and effective.

Style Guides

Style guides are comprehensive manuals that provide guidelines for writing, formatting, and citing sources. Style guides ensure consistency and clarity across written content. 

Using an already established and respected style guide saves time and effort, but many brands also choose to develop their own style guide that fosters and maintains their unique voice and tone.

Some well-known guides are:

• The Chicago Manual of Style : Known for its thorough coverage of grammar, punctuation, and citation styles, Chicago is ideal for book publishing and academic writing.
• The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook : Widely used in journalism, AP emphasizes brevity and clarity, making it perfect for journalistic writing.
• The Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook : Commonly used in the humanities, MLA provides guidelines for writing and formatting research papers.

These guides are helpful because they offer standardized rules that ensure clarity and uniformity in writing, thereby reducing ambiguity and enhancing readability.

Online Proofreading Tools and Software

Online software and various online tools can aid in the proofreading process:

• Spellcheckers: The spellchecker tool available with most writing software is invaluable for proofreaders. Always make sure the spellchecker is turned on and set to the correct dialect .
• Hemingway Editor : This tool highlights complex sentences; it also points out issues such as wordiness, the passive voice, and common errors.
• PerfectIt: This software is popular among proofreaders and editors because it helps perform tedious tasks, such as defining abbreviations and checking for stylistic inconsistencies.

These tools are beneficial because they can quickly identify and correct common errors and catch minor items that human eyes might miss.

Professional Proofreading Services

Professional proofreaders apply an expert lens to the review and correction process. Experienced proofreaders are trained to pick up on inconsistencies and small details you might not notice, ensuring the highest level of accuracy and professionalism in the final document.

Quality proofreading takes time and effort, so outsourcing it to the pros isn’t a bad idea. If you’re not sure whom to turn to, consider our team of experts .

Best Practices for Using Proofreading Marks

Proofreading is a delicate process. Minor changes, if done incorrectly, can introduce new errors and misrepresent your message. So, when using proofreading and editing marks, be sure to follow these best practices.

Maintaining Consistency in Using Symbols

Consistency in using proofreading and editing marks is crucial for clear communication. As you may have noticed, proofreaders and editors use certain symbols for similar actions. To prevent confusion and avoid producing a cluttered, messy page, use proofreading marks consistently. 

Following a standardized system ensures that everyone involved in the editing process will understand the corrections clearly. Inconsistent use of symbols can lead to confusion, misinterpretation, and overlooked or incorrectly addressed errors.

Double-Checking Corrections

Double-checking corrections is also essential. Even the most meticulous proofreaders can occasionally introduce errors or get something wrong. After you’ve made the initial set of corrections, review the document to catch any errors you might have missed or introduced during the editing.

Collaborating With Editors and Writers

Effective collaboration between proofreaders, editors, and writers is key to producing high-quality documents. Clear communication about the suggested changes, the reasons behind them, and any stylistic preferences ensures that the final document meets the desired standards. 

Editors should also query areas of the text about which they’re unsure rather than making a change that could alter the intended meaning. Regular feedback and discussions will help align your team’s efforts, making the editing process more cohesive and efficient.

Proofreading and editing is essential for content production, and proofreading marks provide a standardized language to suggest changes to text. Proofreading is a small but mighty step in the writing process, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. You might be surprised at how many issues can pop up in a document that hasn’t been proofread ! To scale your content, practice using proofreading marks consistently, double-check corrections, and establish open collaboration between your writers and editors.

Using a style guide is a great way to elevate the proofreading process and ensure consistency and uniformity in everything from spelling preferences to tone. If you’d like help working with or creating a style guide, we’re here for you . And of course, our team of expert editors and proofreaders is always available to give your writing that final polish. Try our service for free today .

What are proofreading marks used for?

Proofreading marks are used to indicate corrections and changes the writer needs to make in a document. This standardized set of symbols and notations helps proofreaders communicate specific errors or suggestions clearly and efficiently. The symbols identify issues such as spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, formatting problems, and punctuation errors.

How are proofreading marks different from editing marks?

Proofreading marks and editing marks both serve to improve a text, but they focus on different aspects. Proofreading marks primarily address surface-level errors, such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting. Editing marks can encompass a broader range of changes, including structural, content-related, and stylistic modifications.

What are the most common editing symbols?

Some of the most common editing symbols are the caret (^), strikethrough, italics (ital), bold, underline (__), transpose (tr), insert period (.), insert comma (,), and capitalize.

Are there online tools that can help with proofreading?

Several online tools can help with proofreading. Some popular ones are Hemingway Editor and Microsoft Word’s built-in spelling and grammar check features. Professional proofreaders are also available to give your writing that final polish. 

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