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Do you want to become a proofreader so you can get paid to work on error patrol? Fantastic! Although becoming a proofreader takes hard work, you don’t need experience or a degree to do it.
As a trained proofreader, I’m happy to show you the ropes so you can start polishing people’s prose. I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, one step at a time. 😊
How to Become a Proofreader with No Experience
Let’s see the steps you need to take to become a proofreader.
1) Understand What a Proofreader Does
A proofreader finds and corrects errors in five main areas:
- punctuation
- grammar
- capitalization
- spelling
- formatting
They also keep their eyes peeled for misused words (e.g., your vs. you’re).
Finally, they ensure the author hasn’t omitted or repeated any words.
Proofreaders do not do any rewriting or restructuring; they focus on minor details.
Let’s briefly compare the role of a proofreader to that of other editorial professionals.
The Proofreader’s Role in the Editorial Process
The editing process consists of four stages, starting with developmental editing and ending with proofreading.
Let’s see who does what so you can get a better idea of the big picture.
The Roles of Specific Editorial Professionals
| Type of Professional | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Developmental Editor | Adds/subtracts/reorganizes entire sections of text to improve the overall content and structure |
| Line Editor | Refines the language to improve flow, clarity, and consistency in style and tone |
| Copy Editor | Makes writing correct, comprehensive, consistent, clear, and concise; fixes mistakes with sentence structure |
| Proofreader | Corrects errors with grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and basic formatting issues; checks for repeated, omitted, and misused words |
Note: These roles overlap to some degree. For example, copy editors fix the same mistakes as proofreaders, but a copy editor’s focus is broader.
Proofreaders provide the final check for a document before it’s published online or in print.
I’ve always thought of proofreaders as being like the goalie on a soccer team. The goalie is the last line of defense, attempting to stop the ball from entering the net.
Likewise, the proofreader is the final safeguard, trying to prevent errors from reaching the final version of a text.
If you’d like detailed information about the four-stage editorial process and the kinds of mistakes proofreaders look for, please see this article on Om Proofreading.
2) Make Sure Proofreading Is a Good Fit for You
It’s important to engage in some self-reflection to ensure your abilities and interests align with the role of a proofreader.
To see if you’re well-suited for this job, consider the following questions:
- Do you have a knack for spotting errors in written content?
- Are you able to work alone and stay focused?
- Do you have good organizational skills?
- Do you love to read?
These questions reflect some of the skills you’ll need to be a proofreader.
I think the most critical skill is the ability to pay attention to detail.
If you tend to notice written errors, you’d probably be a good proofreader.
What Skills Does a Proofreader Need?
Here’s a closer look at some of the skills you need to succeed on error patrol.
You may already have many of these skills, but you’ll continue to hone them as you become a proofreader.
- excellent concentration, attention to detail, and self-discipline
- ability to work independently and stay organized
- a love of reading and learning
- solid research, grammar, and written communication skills
- ability to fix formatting issues and use key features in MS Word and Google Docs
- familiarity with at least one major style guide
- some marketing and business know-how (for freelancers)
If you’d like additional information, I authored an article about the skills needed to be a proofreader.
3) Decide What Kind of Proofreading You Want to Do
Although most people become general proofreaders, some choose to be transcript proofreaders.
If you’re unsure what to select, I’d recommend general proofreading.
Becoming a General Proofreader
Being a general proofreader gives you a solid foundation and allows you to work on a broad range of documents. Many people enjoy having this kind of variety in their work.
General proofreaders work with documents that fall under the primary categories of proofreading:
- print media (e.g., e-books, books, newspapers, magazines)
- academic (essays, research papers, theses, dissertations, etc.)
- business (e.g., reports, emails, website copy, user manuals)
- translation (countless types of texts need proofreading after they’ve been translated)
However, a general proofreading course will not prepare you to be a transcript proofreader.
Becoming a Transcript Proofreader
Transcript proofreaders work with court reporters’ transcripts—the official documents containing what was said during a legal proceeding.
To be a transcript proofreader, you’ll need specialized training.
This type of proofreading requires much more preparation—at least twice as much as needed for being a general proofreader.
If you know this is the route you want to take, I highly recommend the Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ course offered by Proofread Anywhere.
Another Consideration: Publishing Company or No?
One last consideration is whether you want to work for a publishing house. (Just be aware that there’s a lot of competition for jobs in the publishing industry.)
It’s okay if you’re not sure yet.
But if you know that’s what you want to do, you’ll need to look for a course that teaches you how to proofread typeset texts.
You’ll encounter typeset documents in the form of books, newspapers, or magazines if you work for a publishing company. These texts are typically proofread using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Working with typeset documents requires extra training.
Do I Need to Learn about Proofreaders’ Marks?
Short answer: probably not.
It’s possible (but quite unlikely) that a publishing company will want you to proofread a hard copy with proofreaders’ marks.
Newer proofreading courses don’t teach these symbols since we don’t use them much anymore.
If you need to know them, you can learn them on your own.
Being a Proofreader at One of the “Big Five”
You’ve likely heard of the “Big Five” trade book publishers:
- Harper Collins
- Macmillan
- Penguin Random House
- Simon & Schuster
- Hachette Book Group
Some people may want to secure a job at one of the “Big Five.”
However, it’s quite challenging due to exceedingly stiff competition. Not impossible. Just very difficult.
A good bet to get your foot in the door of the publishing industry is to see if a local publisher has an internship or entry-level position available.
Otherwise, you can reconsider this option after gaining a few years of experience.
4) Take a Comprehensive Proofreading Course
If you want to become a proofreader, you’ll need to invest in a comprehensive and reputable course.
I recommend one of the following four programs:
- General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ offered by Proofread Anywhere
- Becoming a Proofreader provided by Knowadays
- Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One provided by the Publishing Training Centre
- A series of three classes offered by The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading: Proofreading 1: Introduction, Proofreading 2: Headway, and Proofreading 3: Progress.
I created a detailed comparison of these proofreading programs if you’d like more information.
Do These Classes Provide a Proofreading Certificate?
Proofread Anywhere requires passing a final exam to earn a certificate, whereas the other courses provide one upon completion.
5) Allow Ample Time for Training
Many individuals (myself included) find that proofreading classes require far more knowledge and practice than expected. You may be surprised by how much you don’t know, and that’s okay!
That said, acquiring adequate skills may take longer than you expect. No one has ever become a proofreader overnight—although obtaining proofreading proficiency through osmosis would be amazing! 😊
If you ever get frustrated or overwhelmed, remember that’s normal when starting something new.
Just think about why you wanted to become a proofreader, and you’ll put some pep back into your step!
Having adequate expertise before you start working will boost your confidence and protect your reputation.
Be prepared to spend at least one month completing a proofreading course.
You’ll Spend Time Becoming Familiar with Software
Fortunately, becoming a proofreader doesn’t require purchasing expensive software or lots of products.
You need a laptop or desktop computer and a stable internet connection to do your work. If you’re like me and enjoy working around others, it’s a good idea to opt for a laptop to take to your local library, bookstore, or coffee shop.
You’ll also want a paid version of Microsoft Word.
A free version of MS Word is available online; however, it’s unsuitable for proofreaders due to its limited functionality and inability to ensure the safety of clients’ documents.
You may already be familiar with Word, but proofreaders need to learn to use a specific feature of Word called Track Changes.
Being familiar with Google Docs (it’s free) and its Suggesting feature is also necessary.
Some proofreaders also learn to use Adobe Acrobat to work with PDFs. But this software typically isn’t necessary unless you work for a publishing house that uses Acrobat.
Two other tools you may want to eventually obtain are Grammarly and PerfectIt.
You’ll Learn about Style Guides
Knowing how to navigate style guides is an essential proofreading skill.
You need to be familiar with at least one of these four major style guides (for US English):
- The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)
- The Associated Press Stylebook
- the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
- the MLA (Modern Language Association) Handbook
The principal style guide for proofreading UK English is New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide.
These guides contain the rules you need to follow when fixing errors in a document.
The genre of the writing we’re proofreading dictates our style guide, and the style guide dictates the appropriate dictionary.
6) Make Use of All Your Resources as You Become a Proofreader
Take advantage of everything that will make your learning easier or more productive.
If your course provides an online community for learners, try to participate actively.
The more you help others, participate in discussions, and ask questions, the more you benefit. Your peers are a superb source of inspiration and support.
If you’re struggling with something, you may want to try a tutoring session if that’s an option.
And if it’s been a while since you’ve learned about grammar and punctuation, I highly recommend reading Painless Grammar by Rebecca Elliott.
I read this book before taking a proofreading class, and it helped me immensely to brush up on basic grammar and punctuation.
7) Consider Volunteering to Get Experience
After you acquire a solid set of proofreading skills, it’s important to continue practicing.
Proofread Anywhere recommends that students get experience by joining Distributed Proofreaders.
Distributed Proofreaders make books in the public domain available as e-books that people can access for free via the Project Gutenberg archive.
However, they depend on volunteers to proofread and format the books before making them available to the public.
Your work for Distributed Proofreaders isn’t the same as what you’ll do for clients.
However, it requires many of the same skills (e.g., attention to detail, focus) and is a wonderful way to get more practice.
Highlighting this volunteer experience is a great way to add value to your résumé and attract new clients.
8) Begin Marketing Your Proofreading Services
At this point, you’ll want to consider marketing your services.
If you can attract your own clients, you can keep 100% of the profits.
However, promoting your own services is more time-consuming than getting clients on freelance marketplaces, where most of the advertising is done for you.
Nevertheless, if you want to keep all the profits, I have several tips about how proofreaders can land clients.
This article also covers strategies for finding work on freelance platforms and with proofreading and editing companies, which we’ll discuss now.
9) Find Beginner-Friendly Proofreading Jobs
Now it’s time to start the job hunt! Although the options below involve working for someone else, they can be an effective way to break into the field.
You can continue marketing your own services while exploring these options.
Freelance Platforms
Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are competitive, but they’re where many beginners find their first clients.
Online Proofreading and Editing Companies
Some online proofreading and editing companies offer jobs to inexperienced proofreaders. Depending on the company, you may be required to have a degree, pass a proofreading test, or both.
Job Boards
I know you wouldn’t expect to find jobs on job boards, but I’m here to tell you that you can. The secret is out! 😉
Job boards such as FlexJobs and Indeed feature both local and remote opportunities.
Local Publishers
You can see whether publishers in your area offer internships or entry-level positions.
If you’d like to take a deeper dive into the information in this section, I wrote an article about where to find work as a new proofreader.
10) Pick a Niche, and Keep Honing Your Skills
Your proofreading niche is your unique selling point.
If you decide to become a transcript proofreader or work for a publisher, you’ve already established your specialty.
But if you’re a general proofreader, it’s a good idea to consider a niche.
I think it usually makes sense to nail down a niche after you’ve worked in the field for a while.
In the beginning, acquiring a steady stream of work can be challenging if you’re too limited in the kinds of documents you’re willing to accept.
Try to take whatever assignments you can get.
Also, working on a variety of texts will help ensure that you eventually choose the specialty you’re best suited for. You may even discover you enjoy working on a particular kind of document more than you thought.
Deciding on a proofreading niche before you’ve had sufficient experience is like picking your favorite ice cream flavor from Baskin-Robbins’s 31 original flavors when you’ve only tasted seven.
Choosing a Niche That’s Right for You
Just like Goldilocks chose the porridge that was just right, you want to pick a niche that’s just right for you based on your knowledge and passion.
If you’d like to learn more, I published a post about how and why to choose a niche.
It’ll help you nestle into a niche faster than Goldilocks nestled into Baby Bear’s bed. Well, at least I hope it will. 😊
Once you’ve chosen a niche, you can start getting more experience in your specialty, which will help you build a more specialized portfolio.
Continuing to Hone Your Skills
Even as you get proofreading jobs and become more experienced, it’s always a good idea to set aside a few short blocks of time each week to elevate your skills.
Here are a few ideas for skill development.
Take a Course
Identify where you’d benefit from additional practice, and take a short course. Maybe you can find a mini punctuation or grammar class on Coursera.
Make sure to add your training to your résumé or CV after you’ve completed it!
Take Online Tests for a Fun Way to Keep Practicing
A fabulously fun way to keep your skills razor sharp is to take online proofreading tests and quizzes.
If you need some to choose from, feel free to check out this post from Om Proofreading.
Use the Elevate App
Elevate is a brain-training app. It wasn’t designed to help proofreaders, but it can be used for that purpose.
I wrote an article about why the Elevate app serves as a great proofreading game.
What Qualifications Do Proofreaders Need (and Not Need)?
Let’s start with the qualifications you do not need.
You Don’t Need a Degree to Get Proofreading Jobs
Although a degree can help your chances of being hired, clients will be more interested in your skills than in any degree you may possess.
Some companies require a degree, but plenty of opportunities await those without one (provided they have the right skills).
You Don’t Need a Professional Certification in Proofreading
You don’t need to be certified (i.e., obtain a professional certification) to become a proofreader.
Nonetheless, Om Proofreading has an article about how to earn a professional proofreading certification if you’re interested.
You Don’t Need a Proofreading Certificate, But It Helps
A proofreading certificate helps show proof of your skills, but it isn’t absolutely necessary.
If you’re curious about what one looks like, here’s mine from the Proofread Anywhere program:
It’s important to note that having a proofreading certificate doesn’t make you a certified proofreader.
So what qualifications do you need?
You Do Need a Solid Set of Proofreading Skills
The only qualifications you need are the skills I mentioned at the beginning of this article.
These skills will allow you to provide value to your clients.
And the most crucial thing your clients will care about is what you can do for them!
How Much Can a Beginner Proofreader Make?
A beginner proofreader can expect to make around $12–$18 per hour. But this depends primarily on whether you work for yourself or someone else, your proofreading speed, and the difficulty of the texts you work on.
You can charge more as you acquire additional experience and client testimonials.
For example, according to ZipRecruiter (May 2026), the average yearly salary for a freelance proofreader in the United States is $57,520.
This translates to about $28 per hour and $4,793 monthly.
If you’d like information about the average salary of proofreaders working for employers, please see my article about how much proofreaders make.
This post also discusses factors that determine how much freelance proofreaders get paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are proofreaders still in demand?
Yes, proofreaders are still in demand, but the industry is changing due to AI and automated proofreading tools.
Many people now use AI tools for low-stakes writing such as emails, newsletters, blog posts, and social media content. However, proofreaders still play an important role in complex, lengthy, or high-stakes documents like books, academic papers, legal texts, and medical documents, where accuracy, consistency, context, and style-guide adherence are especially important.
Professional proofreaders also provide human judgment, preserve an author’s voice, and catch nuanced issues that AI tools can overlook.
Can anyone be a proofreader?
Anyone who enjoys reading, has an eye for detail, can maintain focus, and is willing to complete the necessary training can be a proofreader.
Can I be a proofreader from home?
You can be a proofreader from the comfort of your home. Most people who work on error patrol are self-employed, so they can work wherever they choose.
The only requirement is that they work from a location with a stable and reasonably fast internet connection.
Is proofreading a good side hustle?
Proofreading is a solid side hustle because the startup costs are reasonable, the hours are flexible, it’s pandemic-resilient, and you can do it just about anywhere.
Furthermore, working as a proofreader helps you improve your written communication skills, which are valuable for numerous jobs!
What are the pros of being a proofreader?
The pros of being a proofreader include intellectually stimulating work, improved written communication skills, and the opportunity to help others.
Furthermore, freelance proofreaders can be their own bosses, set their own schedules, and work from home.
What are the cons of being a proofreader?
The cons of being a proofreader include meeting deadlines, staying focused for extended periods, working alone, and occasionally dealing with demanding clients and boring documents.
Freelancers also deal with fluctuating earnings and having to charge low fees initially.
I created an article about the upsides and drawbacks of proofreading work if you’d like to learn more.
I hope this article has given you a comprehensive picture of how to become a proofreader without experience.
If this is your goal, I wish you luck and hope the info on Om Proofreading will help make the process as easy as possible.
Best wishes to you!
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
-Winston S. Churchill
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