Proofreader

You probably already know what proofreading is. It’s a job that consists of reading a text (which may be anything, ranging from a blog post to a news article to a piece of fiction) and checking it for accuracy, flagging and correcting any:

• Spelling or grammar errors
• Typos
• Stylistic issues (e.g., incorrectly placed punctuation marks)
• Formatting mistakes

Some publications employ full-time proofreaders, but these days, many proofreaders work on a freelance basis. This gig can be done remotely, and it doesn’t require any equipment other than a computer, which makes it a great side hustle for people who want to work from home and need something they can fit around their other commitments.

You don’t need any special credentials to become a proofreader. Some companies and universities offer proofreading certificates, but it’s possible to land work in this field without them, and many people do.

Your actual skills are more important than your formal qualifications—you’ll need attention to detail, an extremely strong grasp of spelling and grammar, and familiarity with the rules found in major style guides (e.g., the Chicago Manual of Style, the Associated Press Stylebook, etc.).

Again, you don’t need formal training to become a proofreader. However, there are many proofreading courses that you can take to touch up your skills (which is their main value—most clients won’t care if you’ve taken them or not).

Online courses usually take a little over one month to complete. Some university programs are several months to half a year long.

The most popular online courses include:

• Proofread Anywhere ($397–$497)
• Knowadays ($399)
• Various university-sponsored proofreading courses and certificates

Follow these tips to get work and earn money as a freelance proofreader:

Establish a strong web presence

Freelancing is essentially a numbers game. The most successful proofreaders aren’t necessarily the most skilled (although being good at what you do certainly helps)—they’re just the ones who put themselves out there the most.

To land work as a proofreader, start by creating profiles on popular freelancing marketplaces and job boards, such as Upwork, Freelancer, and FlexJobs. Don’t stop there; it’s also worth updating your LinkedIn page and creating a personal website that introduces you and your services.

As soon as you have a portfolio of your past work and a few client testimonials, place them on your site, too. All of this will demonstrate to your clients that you take your work as a proofreader seriously, which will make them feel more confident about hiring you.

Specialize in something you know well

If you prefer, you can be a generalist, but if you have special expertise in any particular subject, you can leverage that to land jobs.

If your day job is in medicine, for example, you’ll have a significant advantage when it comes to proofreading anything healthcare-related. You’ll have preexisting familiarity with the industry jargon and stylistic conventions that people follow when writing in your field, something that savvy clients will pick up on when you pitch to them.

Set your rates low in the beginning, but raise them later

The hard truth is that when you’re an unknown quantity, it can be hard to find work, no matter how qualified you are.

It’s okay to offer potential clients very favorable rates in the beginning as an incentive for them to give you a chance. Just don’t neglect to adjust your rates once you’ve built up your portfolio and reputation.

Pros

Proofreading is generally:

• Flexible: Again, you can do this job from just about anywhere, and, while some assignments may have tight deadlines, you can generally set your own schedule.
• Fulfilling: Proofreading can be a very engaging side hustle—if you have the right personality for it. You need to have a genuine passion for words and language, but if you do, this gig is a great fit. (Bonus points if you’re the type that gets deeply irritated when you catch a typo in a book or newspaper.)
• Potentially lucrative: Not all proofreading gigs pay big bucks, but if you’re a quick worker, you can still earn a fairly high hourly rate (on the order of $20–$40 per hour).

Cons

Of course, proofreading isn’t perfect. It’s also:

• Occasionally tedious: It’d be nice if you could count on only being hired to proofread interesting and engaging material, but unfortunately, that probably won’t be the case. You may sometimes be bored to tears by what you’re reviewing, and it will take real discipline to stay on task.
• Competitive: You aren’t the only person out there who likes the idea of picking up a remote-friendly side hustle. There are a lot of other would-be proofreaders, and—particularly with many publications cutting costs by skipping the proofreading process entirely—the competition for jobs on freelancing platforms can be stiff.