5 Signs You Would Be a Good Proofreader

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Are you thinking about becoming a proofreader and wondering if you’re cut out for the job? As a proofreader who recognizes the signs of someone who shows promise in this profession, I can help you determine whether proofreading is a good fit for you.

Let’s examine some signs that indicate you’d be a good proofreader.

Signs You Would Be a Good Proofreader

1) You tend to spot errors that others overlook.

Do you have a knack for catching errors in books or textbooks? Have you ever spotted a blunder on a restaurant menu or in a brochure? Surely you’ve found some faux pas in text messages from family members and friends!

If this is the case, you’re well suited to being a proofreader.

Perhaps you were the unofficial proofreader for your friends in high school or college.

You’ve just got those eagle eyes that are always on the lookout for mistakes!

I wrote a post about the types of mistakes proofreaders look for, in case you’re curious.

2) You’re more concerned with grammar and mechanics than most.

You probably wouldn’t want to leave an i undotted or a t uncrossed.

Do you try to punctuate your text messages properly, or at least ensure autocorrect hasn’t given them an unintended meaning?

For Christmas one year, my sister gifted me a coaster that says “autocorrect has become my worst enema.”

When I taught young children in Costa Rica, I wrote a monthly newsletter for my students’ parents. At one point, outer space was going to be our theme for the next two months. A sentence in my newsletter contained the word earth, and I wasn’t sure if earth should be capitalized in that context.

I doubt the parents ever scrutinized my writing in those letters.

Plus, except for the parents of a few children from the United States, most of the children’s parents didn’t speak English as a first language. Impressively, most of them spoke English fluently, but would they be aware of such a minute detail? Probably not.

Even though no one would care whether I capitalized the word correctly, I took the time to find the right answer. I guess I did that for my edification.

I think that was a pretty clear sign that being a proofreader was right up my alley.

Do you also tend to write (or text) carefully, more for yourself than anyone else?

3) You’d proudly serve on the grammar police force if one existed.

You feel it’s your civic duty to get rid of grammatical gaffes, snuff out spelling slipups, correct capitalization catastrophes, fix formatting flubs, and put a stop to punctuation pitfalls.

You’re keenly aware of the difference between it’s and its and would love for everyone else to be mindful of these distinctions as well.

You feel like the misuse of homophones should constitute some sort of infraction, right? 😉

What would be the consequence if a writer made a mistake dealing with homophones while you were on grammar patrol? Maybe a warning? Whoa! That’s far too lenient.

A stiff fine? Yes—that sounds much more reasonable! After all, the punishment should fit the crime.

Okay, so I may be exaggerating, but you know what I mean. 😊

4) You know that spelling is significant, punctuation is powerful, and grammar is a game-changer.

You’re aware that a seemingly itty-bitty mistake in spelling, punctuation, or grammar can change the meaning of a sentence.

Here’s an example of a spelling snafu: Would you like to have a tasty desert after dinner?

Hmm, I think you would prefer a delicious dessert over a tasty desert!

And you may have seen this meme on social media that demonstrates the consequences of a lack of punctuation precision:

“If you don’t think punctuation is important, try forgetting the comma when you tell someone ‘I’m sorry, I love you.’”

– Jamie Capria

Finally, this is an example of a grammar goof caused by a misplaced modifier: The teacher gave the tests to the children that had been graded. Wait. Did the teacher grade the tests or the children?

If you’re interested in learning about some real-life language lapses that had significant monetary consequences, feel free to watch the YouTube video below.

5) You enjoy your own company.

As a proofreader, I enjoy collaborating with me, myself, and I. No one else is involved.

If you don’t mind working by yourself, you’re all set. If you do mind a bit, then what about simply being around other people?

Instead of working at home, you can work at a coffee shop, library, coworking space, or alongside a friend at an agreed-upon location. Recently, I started planning work dates with a friend. She’s a graphic designer (not a proofreader), but it was nice to be in her company as we worked on our respective tasks.

Having other people around while I work is quite beneficial for me. Maybe it could work for you too. 😊

I hope this article helped you decide if proofreading is a good fit for you!

If you think it would be a solid fit, feel free to check out my article outlining the steps to becoming a proofreader.

Is Proofreading a Skill?

Some people wonder whether proofreading is a skill that needs to be learned, or whether they can dive right in if they already have a solid grasp of the English language (or whatever language they’ll be proofreading in).

Being a proofreader requires more than knowledge of grammar and mechanics.

Proofreading is a skill that is developed through specialized training and practice. Proofreaders learn extensively about grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. They also develop relevant research and computer skills and learn about one or more major style guides.

Proofreaders also need other skills that are just as important but often overlooked. For comprehensive information about the skills required to become a proofreader, please see my post “19 Must-Have Skills to Be a Proofreader.”

Best wishes to you!

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson