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Can you ace this basic proofreading quiz.

Posted by Phil Jamieson Mar 22, 2018 7:30:00 AM

Take our quiz to test your basic proofreading knowledge and see if you can catch every single typo. See if you can get every question right and ace the entire quiz. And don’t look for any of the answers online, so you can really step up to the challenge!

Let us know how you did in the comments below. Good luck!

Topics: proofreading quiz , typos, typographic errors

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12 Free Proofreading Tests to Check Your Skills

April 2, 2024

Written by:

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she's done for...

Time Required

If you’re thinking about becoming a proofreader, you might be wondering whether your skills are good enough. To find out, you can take a proofreading test.

Tests can highlight gaps in your knowledge and help you work out whether you need more training and practice. They’re also a good way to identify the skills you need to improve.

We’ve compiled a list of 12 sites with proofreading tests you can take—all for free.

01. Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)

Who they are : The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) is a British association that provides training and support for editorial professionals. They’re a well-recognized authority in the editing and publishing industries.

The test : The CIEP proofreading test comes in the form of a document that contains common mistakes and an accompanying answer sheet showing you how to correct them. The test covers many of the different types of problems that proofreaders have to deal with, including mistakes in punctuation, spelling, and language use.

Other resources : As well as their proofreading test, the CIEP site has a lot of different quizzes on proofreading-related topics, from punctuation to formatting. There’s also a blog for editorial professionals, a selection of high-quality paid courses, and lots of free resources—fact sheets, booklets, and more.

Anything else I should know? While the CIEP proofreading test is very comprehensive, it uses British English. Watch out for the differences between British and American English.

02. ProofreadNOW.com

Who they are : ProofreadNOW.com is a company that offers paid proofreading services.

The test : The test on the ProofreadNOW.com website is multiple-choice and mainly checks your spelling and punctuation. A couple of the questions are a little tricky, but there are only 10 of them, so it’s fairly easy overall.

Other resources : The site also has a resources section where you can get free ebooks and white papers . There’s also a page where you can ask grammar questions (they’ll reply via email).

Anything else I should know? One of the proofreading test questions is contested by people in the comments, so this question probably has two correct answers.

03. Authority Pub

Screenshot of the Authority Pub homepage

Who they are : Authority Pub is a site that’s designed to help writers build a self-publishing business.

The test : The Authority Pub proofreading test is an entertaining letter riddled with errors that you have to correct. The answer sheet has a corrected version of the letter, which you can review when you’ve finished proofreading.

Other resources : Authority Pub has lots of informative articles on writing (and a self-publishing course for $397), but not much for proofreaders, although the website has a few tips on how to improve your proofreading skills.

Anything else I should know? The answers given on the corrected version of the letter in the proofreading test aren’t necessarily the only correct answers. Some of the errors can be corrected in more than one way.

04. Using English for Academic Purposes (UEfAP)

The test : This website has 10 proofreading tests that focus on different writing skills, including grammar, punctuation, and word use. There’s also a mixed test covering all 10 subjects. In these tests, you select the incorrect words and then type in the correct words, so it’s harder than a multiple-choice quiz. Luckily, there’s a “hint” button to help you if you get stuck.

Other resources : In addition to the tests mentioned above, the UEfAP site has a short self-guided test in their introduction to proofreading . The UEfAP also has a wealth of other resources to develop your proofreading skills, including exercises and explanations of many different aspects of language use.

Anything else I should know? This is another site that uses British English. It also focuses on academic English, and some of the tests are very advanced. Academic writing makes for great practice, as it’s one of the hardest types of writing to proofread. However, academic proofreading is quite different from many other types of proofreading (e.g., fiction proofreading), so the UEfAP’s tests aren’t all-purpose.

05. Earn Smart Online Class

Screenshot of the Earn Smart Online Class webpage

Who they are : Earn Smart Online Class is a website that offers advice about how to earn money working from home with jobs like proofreading, transcription, writing, and more.

The test : Earn Smart Online Class has a 20-question proofreading test that covers common errors in spelling and grammar, as well as homophones (words that sound the same but mean different things). It’s common for people to mix up homophones in their writing and also for spell checkers to miss these types of errors, so they’re important for proofreaders.

Other resources : The Earn Smart Online Class site features a few tips on how to get good at proofreading (including links to a free proofreading webinar from the company Proofread Anywhere ). There are also job listings, but these aren’t very up-to-date.

Anything else I should know? The test has a few tricky questions, but overall, it isn’t very hard. You should be able to get a high score fairly easily. If you don’t, you should consider whether you need to spend more time training your language skills before you take on proofreading projects.

06. Edit Republic

Screenshot showing the Edit Republic homepage

Who they are : Edit Republic is a company that offers professional courses in proofreading and editing, as well as how to start an editorial business.

The test : The Edit Republic proofreading quiz is a very quick multiple-choice test with 10 questions. It’s one of the easiest tests on our list, and you should be able to complete it in a few minutes.

Other resources : As well as the editing and proofreading courses that Edit Republic sells, they offer free training materials and other resources you can check out.

Anything else I should know? You’ll have to enter your email to get your proofreading test results.

07. Freelance Writing

Screenshot showing the FreelanceWriting homepage

Who they are : Freelance Writing is a platform for freelance writers to find work. It also directs businesses who want to hire writers to the website of a content-writing service.

The test : This proofreading test is a little different from the others on this list. Arguably, it’s more realistic. You have to find just three errors in several paragraphs, which is similar to what you’d expect if you were proofreading a text that had already gone through a round of copyediting (or was well-written enough not to need it), which will be the case for most of the pieces you’ll actually review as a proofreader.

Other resources : The Freelance Writing site has lots of resources for writers (including how-to articles, free ebooks, and information about writing competitions), but just a handful of articles specifically for proofreaders.

Anything else I should know? In theory, you’re supposed to complete the Freelance Writing proofreading test in 10 minutes. However, the site doesn’t time you, so you have to time yourself.

08. LoveToKnow

Screenshot showing the LoveToKnow homepage

Who they are : LoveToKnow is an online media company that features news, content on parenting and family life, resources for pet owners, home and garden advice, and more.

The test : The LoveToKnow site has a downloadable proofreading test, which features an email containing lots of errors. You have to correct them on a printout (or you can mark up the PDF file they provide). The answer sheet has all of the errors highlighted and provides explanations of how a proofreader should correct each one.

Other resources : There aren’t many resources for proofreaders on this site, but there’s a grammar test on the same page as the proofreading test. The site also has an article on how to proofread your own writing .

Anything else I should know? Throughout most of the proofreading test answer sheet, the errors are highlighted and left uncorrected (with annotations explaining what changes should be made). However, a couple of the corrections are made directly onto the highlighted answer sheet. Watch out for this—it can be a bit confusing.

09. Sporcle

Who they are : Sporcle is a trivia website with hundreds of different quizzes.

The test : The 25-question Sporcle proofreading test takes a different format from the others on this list. It will show you a sentence featuring an error, and underneath it, there are many possible corrections. You have to pick the right one.

Other resources : There are plenty of other Sporcle quizzes that are relevant for proofreaders, covering grammar, spelling, word definitions, and more.

Anything else I should know? Sporcle times how long it takes to complete their proofreading quiz. You have a maximum of 8 minutes to complete it.

10. Business Writing Blog

Screenshot showing the Business Writing Blog homepage

Who they are : Business Writing Blog publishes articles for writers working in a “professional, academic, and social setting,” according to their About Us page .

The test : This proofreading test features three emails that contain a number of errors (which you can correct on a printout or in a Word document). There’s an answer sheet for each test. The errors are highlighted and corrected.

Other resources : The Business Writing Blog site has an entire section dedicated to proofreading-related posts, plus more articles on useful topics like grammar and punctuation. They also offer a paid course on proofreading (for $159).

Anything else I should know? As you’d expect, this test focuses on business English, but it’s still good for general proofreading practice. Note that some of the errors on their test have more than one possible fix.

11. Om Proofreading

Screenshot showing the Om Proofreading homepage

Who they are : Om Proofreading is a website run by Lindsay Babcock, a proofreader who offers services for new age and spiritual content.

The test : Om’s proofreading test is fairly short and easy, featuring 20 multiple-choice questions on homophones.

Other resources : As well as a proofreading test, the Om Proofreading site offers general advice for proofreaders and a quiz on adverbs .

Anything else I should know? The Om Proofreading test doesn’t cover grammar, punctuation, syntax, or other areas that are important for proofreaders to know about.

12. The New York Times

Screenshot showing the The New York Times proofreading test webpage

Who they are : In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, the New York Times is one of the most widely circulated and well-respected newspapers in the US.

The test : The New York Times test assesses your proofreading and fact-checking skills. You have to find 14 errors that have been inserted into extracts from five of the newspaper’s articles. You can then check the PDF under the test to see all of the correct answers.

Other resources : There are also many other quizzes on the website that test your copyediting skills. All of them are part of a series called Copy Edit This! Unfortunately, these tests aren’t collected on a single page on the NYT’s website, but you can find them easily by googling. You can view the first few for free, but eventually you’ll need a subscription.

Anything else I should know? The New York Times proofreading and fact-checking test focuses more on fact-checking than proofreading. Also, it’s from 2014, so some of the information is obsolete.

13. Other free grammar and writing tests

These tests don’t specifically cover proofreading, but they do cover topics that are useful for proofreaders to know about:

Portland Proof : This is a proofreading service that also hosts free tests on their website. Their quizzes feel more like games. You have to pick the erroneous word and then correct it, but your speed is tested along with how many right answers you get. The errors mostly involve spelling and homophones.
GrammarBook.com : You can find quizzes on all kinds of language skills here, including grammar, punctuation, and how to use numbers in writing.
Grammar Monster : This site also has lots of tests on grammar, punctuation, and other topics that proofreaders need to know about.
Grammar Lion : This site, where you can sign up for paid grammar courses, offers a 20-question test that asks about various grammar points rather than getting you to correct errors in a text.
CMOS Shop Talk : This is a blog about the Chicago Manual of Style. It has a page full of multiple-choice tests on using Chicago style, including one on how to proofread .

Robert Jellison

Managing Editor

Robert is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. He has 7+ years of experience in freelance writing and previously worked as the in-house editor for Compose.ly, a platform for remote and part-time writers.

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10 Free Proofreading Tests (To Boost Your Editing Skills)

How about testing your skills through a free proofreading test? Taking free proofreading quizzes will help you improve your editing capabilities rapidly. Can you take these tests without spending a dime? Yes! To make things easy for you, I’ve compiled tests that will help you grasp English grammar rules and common language errors. Are you ready to become a successful proofreader? Let’s do this!

The 10 Best Free Proofreading Tests Online:

1. earn smart online class, 2. freelance writing, 3. chartered institute of editing and proofreading (ciep), 4. using english for academic purposes (uefap), 5. grammar book, 6. portland proof, 7. proofreadnow.com.

ProofreadNow.com is an excellent platform for both beginners and professional proofreaders. However, this quiz can be tough because it challenges you to spot the tiniest mistakes. Their meticulous method is excellent for testing your proofreading skills. That’s why professional proofreaders can also try it to polish their skills even more. The quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice questions, and it won’t take much time to solve them. However, you’ll have to rack your brain to spot and point out the tiniest mistakes. The quiz starts as soon as you select the first answer, and it’ll go on from there. Another thing, there is no do-over once you answer, so you have to think hard before solving.

8. AuthorityPub

9. love to know.

Love To Know is another free online proofreading test that I liked a lot. The test itself is moderate, and the best thing about it is that it’s printable. This feature makes it easier for people who find it difficult to underline and highlight mistakes on the screen. This test won’t tell you the number of mistakes in the document beforehand. You must fish them out. This method is amazing because when clients give you documents to proofread, you will not be told about the number of mistakes as well. So, attempting this test can be an excellent way of getting some practical experience .

10. Sporcle

Rafal reyzer.

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

Are You Ready To Test Your Proofreading Skills?

Even the most grammar-savvy amongst us benefit from a thorough proofreading of our work.

You may rely on an editor to check your work, or like many writers, it might be tempting to do a quick scan of your writing without thoroughly proofreading it.

But proofreading is as essential to your writing as writing is. It allows you to fix any errors that may obscure your intended meaning or distract your reader. It also helps you catch grammar and spelling mistakes , misused words, and punctuation errors.

If you have an editor, he or she can polish your work much more easily (and less expensively) if you’ve given it the careful once-over before the editing process.

If you don’t have an editor, proofreading can save you from embarrassing and critical comments from your readers.

Proofreading makes you a better, more mindful writer and, over time, it will cement the skills you need to be an accomplished writer.

Proofreading Test

Review this letter for mistakes:, corrected letter.

Here’s a checklist of actions you should take to properly proofread your writing:

Remove any distractions so you can concentrate on proofing your work.
Look for one type of writing problem at a time (first spelling errors, then word usage, etc.).
Read your writing out loud and silently.
Print a copy of your work to proofread it on paper.
Read it backward to spot any spelling mistakes .
Look out for homonyms (words that share the same spelling and pronunciation).
Double check contractions and apostrophes for common mistakes (like it’s and its or there and their).
Review carefully for punctuation mistakes. Look up anything you aren’t sure about.
Ask a friend to read your writing after you proofread it to check behind you.

So, why not spend a few minutes assessing your own proofreading skills with an easy and entertaining test?

woman on Mac computer at desk Proofreading test

To make this proofreading test more challenging, I’ve thrown in a variety of hurdles for you to spot and clear as you make your way to the finish line.

May you find the following proofreader and copy editor test as helpful and enjoyable as it was excruciating to write. Don’t let my agony be in vain.

Dear Ms. Adams;

We’ve recieved your manuscript and have read enough of it to offer this constructive critique, which we hope you’ll take unto consideration before sending us another sample of your work, we do value you’re time.

1. The beginning of your story is week. Try to evoke an emotional response within the first few paragraphs.

2. You use to many semicolons. Its distracting.

3. You use third person omiscient POV, which in our humble opinion, weakens the impact of your main characters painful situation.

4. You tell more then show what your characters are feeling. As Anton Checkov wrote: “Dont tell me the moon is shining, show me hte glint of light on broken glass.”

5. You switch points of view, jumping from one persons head to another without warning, it’s confusing and you risk loosing your reader’s trust end attention

6. The dialogue feels forced and unathentic: the southern accent is overdone and painful too read.

7. Your use of ellipsis is… awkward. And you use them quite alot. Consider removing most of them. Noone pauses that much..

8. You’re love of dashes is evident. Please eliminate most of them, and and make your sentences shorter clearer, and less wordy.

9. Please please please stop using dialog tags like “he grinned” or “she sighed”. You can’t sigh or grin words. It can’t be done. Stick with “said” but try to make it more obvious who is saying whom without using dialog tags for every quote. If you must indicate sighs, grins, and other nonverbal gestures set them apart from teh quotes with periods rather than commas .

10. Your main character launches into a stream of conscience monologue and his dialoge partner somehow doesn’t lapse into a coma before he finishes this is wishful thinking and makes it hard to sympathize with the mane character who’s soliloquy is way too long to keep you’re readers attention. We tired but had to skip to the end wear he finally sums it up nicely.

11. We dont really get to now your secondary character well enough to care about what happens to her. She listens to the main character and throws in a few responses hear and their but is otherwise bland and two dimensional. Her boyfriend the main character, does most of the talking, and she stairs out the window a lot and I mean a LOT. Yet we never find out weather she’s waiting for someone or something or if shes just really board. She’s certainly stiff as a board (see what i did they’re?).

12. My fellow editers here at Proper Publishing House agree with all the statements in this letter which I spent ours perfecting ought of sincere gratitude for your efforts and true dat concern for yore development as a writer.

13. We recommend you contact the services of a inexperienced proofreader or copyediter before submitting to us any future writing samples. Good proofreading makes such a deference!

In short let us offer you hour best hopes for the improvement of your writing don’t be discouraged keep at it and remember Proper Publishing House will always bee honest with you because

Sincerely and optimystically

Sarah jane Smythe

Cheif Editer

Now, it’s time to compare your corrections with the letter below. Keep in mind that not all your copyediting corrections have to look exactly like mine. There’s room for some creative improvisation. I’ve highlighted the errors and everything added or crossed out.

Dear Ms. Adams :

We’ve received your manuscript and have read enough of it to offer this constructive critique, which we hope you’ll take into consideration before sending us another sample of your work . We do value your time.

1. The beginning of your story is weak . Try to evoke an emotional response within the first few paragraphs.

2. You use too many semicolons. It’s distracting.

3. You use third person omniscient POV, which , in our humble opinion, weakens the impact of your main character’s painful situation.

4. You tell more than show what your characters are feeling. As Anton Chekhov wrote , “ Don’t tell me the moon is shining ; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

5. You switch points of view, jumping from one person’s head to another without warning. It’s confusing, and you risk losing your reader’s trust and attention.

6. The dialogue feels forced and inauthentic ; the Southern accent is overdone and painful to read.

7. Your use of ellipses is… awkward. And you use them quite a lot . Consider removing most of them. No one pauses that much.

8. Your love of dashes is evident. Please eliminate most of them, and and make your sentences shorter, clearer, and less wordy.

9. Please , please , please stop using dialogue tags like “he grinned” or “she sighed .” You can’t sigh or grin words. It can’t be done. Stick with “said , “ but try to make it more obvious who is saying what without using dialogue tags for every quote. If you must indicate sighs, grins, and other nonverbal gestures, set them apart from the quotes with periods rather than commas.

10. Your main character launches into a stream of consciousness monologue, and his dialogue partner somehow doesn’t lapse into a coma before he finishes . This is wishful thinking and makes it hard to sympathize with the main character , whose soliloquy is way too long to keep your reader’s attention. We tried but had to skip to the end where he finally sums it up nicely.

11. We don’t really get to know your secondary character well enough to care about what happens to her. She listens to the main character and throws in a few responses here and there but is otherwise bland and two-dimensional . Her boyfriend , the main character, does most of the talking, and she stares out the window a lot — and I mean a LOT. Yet we never find out whether she’s waiting for someone or something or if she’s just really bored. She’s certainly stiff as a board (see what i did they’re?).

12. My fellow editors here at Proper Publishing House agree with all the statements in this letter , which I spent hours perfecting out of sincere gratitude for your efforts and true dat concern for your development as a writer.

13. We recommend you contract the services of an experienced proofreader or copyeditor before submitting to us any future writing samples. Good proofreading makes such a difference !

In conclusion , let us offer you our best hopes for the improvement of your writing . Don’t be discouraged , keep at it , and remember Proper Publishing House will always be honest with you . because

Sincerely and optimistically ,

Sarah Jane Smythe

Chief Editor

master writing atwork

Proofread.com

Practice Proofreading

Test your proofreading skills. Read some paragraphs and spot the mistakes.

Bussing Tables, Cracking Jokes

Mahalo My Bodyguard

A Family Question

A Mayor Complains

Confusing Government Methods

On Being Idle

Egyptian Slalom Blockage

Your Accordion Warranty

Rubber Chicken Cards

17 Essential Proofreading Skills and How to Improve Them

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Proofreading is the process of reading a piece of text and carefully checking for errors. This process usually occurs before submitting, presenting, or publishing the document.

No matter what your profession is, proofreading is critical to every profession because everybody writes. I’ll show you 17 essential proofreading skills and how you can enhance them.

How You Can Proofread Effectively

The act of proofreading occurs after editing. Proofreaders focus on surface-level errors like grammatical errors, misspellings, and formatting issues. One way to proofread effectively is by reading the paper aloud to check how it sounds on paper.

Double-check the following writing features:

Verb tenses.
Preposition use.
Proper names.
Punctuation.
Page numbers.
Header and footer.

Another proofreading technique you can try is reading backward. The brain sometimes has an auto-correct function that doesn’t let you see errors, especially misspellings. It also helps to proofread only one kind of error at a time.

If you want to be a quicker proofreader, try evaluating the texts you work with. Make a list of errors commonly made by the writer, then prioritize them while performing your task.

Make sure you have your resources close to you if you’re unsure of any error. A dictionary will help you find a term’s correct spelling and meaning. Other helpful tools include a thesaurus, style guide, and punctuation book and orther proofreading books .

17 Crucial Skills You Need to Be a Proofreader

Grammarist Article Graphic V2 2022 08 05T140355.507

Let’s explore these 17 skills you need before becoming a proofreader .

Know When to Ask for Help

You can be at the top of your game and have access to all the best tools, but sometimes, the best tool in your arsenal is a second set of eyes. When you’ve run through your checklist, used Grammarly, and proofed it yourself, fire it over to a friend or colleague and have them check it over. Sometimes, a fresh look can spot something you missed.

Easily Find and Correct Issues with Capitalization

Aside from getting a grasp of language, it would help if you also made it a goal to correct a wide range of capitalization errors. It’s one of the few writing skills we tend to overlook because capitalization doesn’t completely change a sentence’s meaning.

However, proper capitalization is integral in providing precise information. It also indicates professional and accurate writing.

Language experts agree that capitalization is essential to communicate particular terms to readers. For instance, we should always capitalize proper nouns to indicate their specificity.

Another rule is always to capitalize the first letter of a sentence’s first word. Doing so indicates the start of a new statement, idea, or thought.

Proofreaders focus on every word when fixing capitalization errors. Make sure to perform this technique when offering proofreading services.

A Grasp on Spelling and Punctuation

Correcting punctuation mistakes on a document is also part of the proofreading process. Proper punctuation is one of the basic skills that everyone should learn in high school. It helps you relay your message to your reader through stops, pauses, questions, etc.

But some punctuation rules can be complicated even after taking English classes. Some rules depend on the style guide you’re using, such as the use of the Oxford Comma.

Expert editors should know whether they should use parentheses or em dashes to separate additional information. Understanding the difference between a hyphen, en dash, and em dash is also part of excellent proofreading skills.

A skilled proofreader knows how to find spelling errors in a piece of writing quickly. They know online editing tools and spell checkers are insufficient to spot these errors. Only an excellent human proofreader or editor can spot contextual misspellings.

Network with Others in Your Community

As proofreaders, editors, and writers, we tend to be the solitary type. But finding and building a community of others in your field can aid you in your business. Swap notes, gain leads, learn tips you never knew before, and have a support system.

Use Software as Aids, Not a Means

There’s no avoiding the rise of tech and writing software. The trick is knowing how to work WITH it to make your job easier. Tools like Grammarly Premium and ProWritingAid are geared toward writers, but they can service as one of many lines of defense for proofreaders.

Be a Master of Your Computer Skills

Aside from linguistic skills, a proofreader should also know how to use digital tools to make editing easier. Proofreaders must know how to use spelling, grammar, and style checkers to look for linguistic errors in a piece of writing.

Some common mistakes they can spot on online documents include misspellings, grammar errors, and style mistakes. Grammarly and ProWritingAid are two special software programs you can try.

Grammarly uses artificial intelligence to check more than just spelling and grammar. It also detects the tone and style of the message. This online writing assistant also suggests sentence rewrites for lengthy sentences.

The only downside to these AI writers and editors is their inability to spot contextual errors. They also can’t fully make suggestions based on the editorial style preferences of your clients.

Knowledge of PDF markup tools is also one of the industry-specific proofreading skills you need. Some software programs you might use include Adobe Acrobat Reader, Nitro Reader, and PDFelement Pro.

Concentrate!

Grammarist Article Graphic V2 2022 08 05T144803.326

Being a successful proofreader is more than just having a solid command of language. A certain degree of focus is essential to make the writing process more time-saving.

Don’t let an email or SMS notification instantly take away your concentration on the texts you’re proofreading. Being constantly distracted will make you unable to spot acute errors. You won’t be able to finish your work on time, and your future employer will not appreciate it.

Stay focused for a long time, but don’t forget to take frequent breaks. Try the Pomodoro Technique so as not to prolong your break time. This system includes 25 minutes of working and then a 5-minute break.

Know Your Plate Size

As creatives, it’s easy to get carried away, especially when we work for ourselves. I know I’m guilty of loading up my plate with more work than I can handle.

If you’re self-employed, you never want to say no to a potential new client or the promise of extra work. But it can actually do more harm than good. KNowing when to say no is an essential skill for proofreaders if you ask me.

Having a manageable workload gives you the space to focus and do a better job instead of rushing and possibly missing things.

It’s All in the Details

Proofreaders have ninja-like skills that allow them to finish their jobs on time. They know how to spot misspellings and grammatical errors with just one look at the paper. One of the essential steps to finding them is reading line by line.

If you have enough industry experience, you should make corrections one at a time. For instance, you read the paper line by line for incorrect spelling. Then, you give it another read for punctuation mistakes, and so on. It’s one of the most essential steps to polishing the text.

Don’t entirely rely on online grammar checkers, as they sometimes make improper corrections. They also cannot make suggestions based on different editing styles. Knowing how to edit content for language errors will give your reader a desirable experience.

Top-Notch Communication Skills

You can’t just accept a job or project, do the work, and hand it back. You need to communicate with employers and clients in a practical but respectful way. Figure out a way to deliver information and criticism in a way that seems constructive and professional.

I can’t even guess how many people I’ve stopped working with over the years simply due to their poor communication skills. This is definitely a crucial skill to hone.

Learn to Be Independent and Be Okay with It

If you’re a social butterfly, I’m sorry to report…this line of work is pretty lonely. So, you should know how to work alone with an array of texts, including financial texts, novels, nonfiction, and legal writing.

It’s not enough that you have a good grammar game. Freelancers have greater professional independence, so they must know how to create schedules, set rates, and pay taxes independently.

Always create SMART goals for your proofreading projects. This acronym stands for systematic, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. You must meet deadlines, set timelines, and communicate with your client.

Set additional goals for yourself and your proofreading career. Set a specific week to enroll in a proofreading course, so you can keep enhancing your skills.

Have the Right Tools

Grammarist Article Graphic V2 2022 08 05T144751.735

Every job is easier to manage when you have the right tools in front of you. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to run out and buy all the best software and fancy pens you can find.

For example, the right tools for me are ones that help keep my thoughts and tasks organized. Notepads, spreadsheets, calendars, and checklists are at the top of my list for must-have tools for proofreaders.

Also, having access to editorial style manuals, including the ACS Style Guide, AP Stylebook, APA Style, and the ISO 690 are important.

Marketing Skills Wouldn’t Hurt

This one is two-fold. As a proofreader, your job isn’t marketing; that’s pretty evident. However, a good understanding of how marketing works can definitely help you do your job. How? Two ways:

Let’s say you have a client who needs you to proofread a series of emails for a marketing campaign. A general knowledge of what to look for would be good.

The second way marketing comes into play here is for yourself. No one will know you exist if you don’t do some level of self-promotion. Learning how social media marketing works could mean the difference between a steady flow of work and a constant grind.

Learn to Navigate Job Boards

This isn’t directly tied to your ability to do your job, but if you’re self-employed and are responsible for generating your own leads, studying the job boards can really help you out.

Rather than waste time and effort on advertising or cold calling, take a look at what postings might be available on the slew of freelance job boards out there.

Not only that, but spend some time learning how they work, how to apply for jobs properly, and how to manage expectations.

Manage Your Time Like a Pro

Let’s face it; working by yourself means you’re accountable for your own schedule. It also means there’s no one around to stop you from wasting time on social media.

Create a daily and weekly schedule for yourself, stick to it, and you’ll have a winning formula to get the job done.

Rest days are a critical element of work-life balance. Working all day can increase your stress and decrease your brain function. It will also make you less productive.

Learn Simple Formatting

This won’t apply to all corners of the proofreading world, but if you ever happen to work with authors or publishing companies, you’ll need a basic understanding of formatting.

Where does a proofreader come into this? Checking to ensure pages are aligned, chapter headings are capitalized and error-free, page breaks are correctly placed, etc.

Always Learning

Let’s face it, the world around us is constantly changing. Programs are always updating and improving, styles and standards are often changing to accommodate new words and techniques.

It’s important for proofreaders of every kind to always be in a state of learning. Read articles in your niche, catch the latest publishing trends, and see what others are doing. Stay in the now, and you’ll never be left behind.

Practice Your Proofreading Skills Now

Being an excellent proofreader is just not enough these days. The competition is thick, and you need to stand out by ensuring these skills are always practiced. Read, write, format, be diligent, and always be one step ahead.

Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

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Writing contests, make money writing, hottest topics, test your proofreading skills: complete this exercise.

Many proofreading exercises make the mistake of confronting the trainee proof reader with errors in abundance. Every other line contains a spelling error, grammatical gaffe, or stylistic slip-up. In reality, however, you’re unlikely to find more than two or three errors in any document, particularly if said document has been produced by professional page make-up artists or seasoned typesetters. These overloaded proofreading exercises give the nascent proof reader a false expectation when they launch their careers; when they don’t find themselves pinpointing ten to twenty errors per page, they think they must have missed something and self-doubt begins to set in.

So, the following piece of copy contains just three errors. As with any proofreading exercise, you may find the occasional grammatically suspect clause or a phrase that makes you a little queasy. However, it’s important to remember that your job as a proof reader is to find literal errors and eradicate any lack of clarity, not to indulge in hair-splitting over the occasional split infinitive or dangling modifier.

Allow yourself no more than 10 minutes to complete this exercise.

The Proofreading Exercise

Keep your pet safe from the dangers of heatstroke.

It is now, thankfully, a widely recognised fact that dogs left alone in cars can become the tragic victim of the kind of weather that normally has most of us rejoicing. According to recent evidence, when the external temperature is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature within a car can rise to as much as 117 degrees Fahrenheit in just one hour. For this reason, all responsible dog owners plan ahead, to make sure wherever there going provides adequate provisions for their beloved pet.

However, the emphasis on the dangers presented by leaving dogs in cars has lulled many pet owners into a false sense of security when it comes to protecting their pet from the hazards of hot weather. There is now, unfortunately, a general consensus that our pets are safe in hot weather, just so long as they are not confined to a vehicle.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Whether or not your dog is in a car, they are vulnerable to heatstroke if they are unable to effectively cool down. Some dogs are more prone than others. For example,

• dogs with long hair, • thick-set and heavily muscled dogs • very young dogs • very old dogs.

Dogs who are suffering from a particular medical complaint or are receiving prescription medication may also be more at risk. However, it is a fact that all dogs can be potential victims of heatstroke. Luckily, there are a number of very simple things you can do to reduce the risk to you’re pet. Avoid taking your dog out in hot weather at all, if you can. Restrict their exercise time to the early morning or later in the evening, when it tends to be cooler.

If you do have to take your dog out in the heat, and you find you have to leave them in a single spot for any reason, make sure there is plenty of shade, and leave a large bowl of drinking water. Make sure the bowl has a heavy base, so that it is less likely to be accidentally spilled or knocked over entirely.

When out walking with your dog in hot weather, carry a large bottle of water with you. Periodically, you can give this water to your dog. Little and often is the key here, keeping dehydration well and truly at bay. Make sure your dog is well-groomed to remove surplus hair. You wouldn’t go out in the heat wearing an overcoat, would you?

If, for whatever reason, your dog has become exposed to excessive heat and you are concerned they may be suffering from heatstroke, here are the symptoms you need to be on the lookout for: abnormally heavy panting, excessive salivation, vividly red gums and tongue and, in very severe cases, diarrhoea and vomiting. If you encounter any of these symptoms you need to seek veterinary assistance immediately, whilst cooling your pet as much as possible with cool water (never use very cold water, as this may induce shock). But, as always, prevention is better then cure. Keep your pet out of the heat wherever possible.

The Proofreading Exercise: Solution

Did you spot out three howlers?

That’s right, the first mistake was in the opening paragraph. The sentence that reads, ‘For this reason, all responsible dog owners plan ahead, to make sure wherever there going provides adequate provisions for their beloved pet’, should read, ‘For this reason, all responsible dog owners plan ahead, to make sure wherever they’re going provides adequate provisions for their beloved pet’.

The second mistake is tucked away in the seventh paragraph. ‘Luckily, there are a number of very simple things you can do to reduce the risk to you’re pet’ should read ‘Luckily, there are a number of very simple things you can do to reduce the risk to your pet’.

And I’ve deliberately concealed the third error in the final paragraph. Were you beginning to think you’d missed it? ‘But, as always, prevention is better then cure. Keep your pet out of the heat wherever possible’ should, of course, read, ‘But, as always, prevention is better than cure. Keep your pet out of the heat wherever possible’. If you successfully completed this proofreading exercise, congratulations! You may have what it takes to become a proof reader.

About the Author: Mike Sellars has been embroiled in the world of proofreading for more than two decades now. For the first five years of his working life he worked as a copywriter and proof reader for a number of advertising and marketing agencies. After that he typeset and proofread for the UK’s largest online retailer. In relatively short order, he was promoted, culminating in his appointment as Operations Manager, in which role he was responsible for hiring, developing and managing typesetters, page make-up artists and, of course, proof readers. He has distilled all this experience down into The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course . Available for just £7.99. Click here to find out more.

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QUIZ: General Proofreading

Home » Blog » QUIZ: General Proofreading

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14 thoughts on “quiz: general proofreading”.

Loved the quiz! Excited to learn more. Thanks!!

That’s great to hear, Miranda! Have you tried the homophones quiz yet? So fun!

I thought I got number 9 wrong, but I scored 10 out of 10! Woohoo!

I enjoyed taking the quiz!

Yay! Don’t you just love a good quiz? 🙂

I LOVED TAKING THE QUIZ!!

The quiz is informative

I was nervous about taking this test but I got a 100%!

Great quiz! I could do this.

A wonderful pre use and fair test to assess basic English pronunciation spelling and grammar.I would love to do proofreading as I have a medical degree MBBS 1984 Std Uni and have read widely for the last 50 years

I just scored a 90% on the quiz, I could do this. I don’t know other sites make this seem to so hard and charge you all this money to sign up and they don’t even quiz you to give you a sense of what you could be doing as a career. Now I am really taking a look at my spelling and grammar.

It is way too easy, these quizzes. But then again, I’m a professional proofreader but always looking for ways to make $$$$ from it.

The quizzes are a great way for people who have never proofread before to get an idea of what is involved, including the common errors proofreaders deal with. We also have other copyediting quizzes for you to try!

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The New York Times

Times insider | copy edit this quiz no. 6.

Times Insider

Copy edit this quiz no. 6.

By PHILIP B. CORBETT MAY 19, 2017

The Times’s standards editor, Philip B. Corbett, invites readers to correct grammatical errors in recent New York Times articles. You can take the previous quiz here .

Here’s the latest installment of our copy editing quiz, based on internal memos I send to the newsroom about problems in our writing and editing.

Each of the passages below, from recent Times articles, contains at least one clear error in grammar or word usage. I’m not counting less-than-elegant phrasing that could be improved, or other more subjective editing judgments.

You don’t have to explain the error or fix it; just click on the part you think is wrong. If I agree, you’ll see my explanation. If you’re off base, try again.

And remember, we’re on deadline here!

Spot an error in The Times? Write us at [email protected] .

Produced by Samuel Jacoby, Zachary Montague and Rumsey Taylor.

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Create a free account to receive requests from authors.

Last updated on Nov 02, 2023

How to Become a Proofreader: the Ultimate Beginner's Guide

About linnea gradin.

The editor-in-chief of the Reedsy Freelancer blog, Linnea is a writer and marketer with a degree from the University of Cambridge. Her focus is to provide aspiring editors and book designers with the resources to further their careers.

This article was written in collaboration with professional editors and proofreaders Allister Thompson , Aja Pollock , David Haviland , and Sally Apokedak .

Proofreaders are keen-eyed professionals who specialize in going over texts to make sure no typos and grammatical mistakes are present before publication. Essentially, if you choose this career path, you'll be reading for a living, and you can do it from your own home, so what's not to like?

If you’re interested in having a proofreading career, we’ve contacted some of our top professionals here at Reedsy to put together this comprehensive guide on how to become a proofreader in six steps:

1. Understand the proofreading job description

2. identify what proofreading services you want to offer, 3. take a proofreading course, 4. develop a strong command of style guides, 5. search for freelance proofreading jobs, 6. network and keep building your business portfolio.

Let's take a closer look.

What does a proofreader do? A proofreader does the final check of a piece of text to catch any remaining grammar and punctuation mistakes, spelling errors, or formatting issues before it reaches the eyes of the public, after the author has adjusted the structure based on a developmental editor's feedback and the polished the language based on a copy edit. Their services make news articles, essays, books, website copy, or any other type of text error-free and ready for publication.

More specifically, proofreaders are often freelancers, and they carefully read documents from many types of clients (authors, publishers, businesses, and so on) to double-check for:

Typographical errors
Inconsistencies in style or layout
Awkward page and word breaks
Missing punctuation and spelling mistakes
Any other issues that might spoil the reading experience.

Top tip: to keep track of all creative decisions such as alternative spellings of names and places or italics for thoughts, proofreaders often use customized style sheets. You can read more about how to use a style sheet and download two free templates here .

FREE RESOURCE

Editorial Style Sheet Templates

Set up a sleek and easy-to-use style to keep track of all your creative decisions.

While some authors may be tempted to skip over proofreading to save time and money, proofreading is an integral part of making any text look spot-on and professional. “A proofreader is the ‘last line of defense’ between a book that looks professional and one that is obviously amateur and sloppy,” says Allister Thompson , a proofreader with over 25 years of experience. “So a proofreader actually has a lot of responsibility in the publishing process.”

Proofreaders vs copy editors

An important distinction to make is that between copy editors and proofreaders: as opposed to copy editors, proofreaders are not necessarily concerned with the quality of the sentence on a subjective level, but how well it adheres to grammar conventions and the logic of the text. That means that a proofreader will not go into a text and make suggestions for better ways to phrase things, so long as there are no objective spelling errors, missing punctuations, or formatting issues, for example.

Below is a table that clarifies the different steps of the editorial process. This applies best to books — in article or copywriting you may have content editing followed directly by proofreading, for instance.


Revises ‘big picture’ aspects of the book like characters, plot, and themes.	Polishes the book by the sentence, refining the style, tone, and grammar.	Provides a safety net that catches any errors that the copy edit has let slip.

Emphasizing the difference between copy editing and proofreading, Aja Pollock , a freelance editor for Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Macmillan, says that “probably the main piece of advice I'd give to new proofreaders is that proofreading is not copyediting. Your job as a proofreader, aside from catching outright errors, is to back up the copy editor and make sure the style they've established is applied consistently, as stated in the style sheet.”

“If it’s clear and consistent,” she continues, “don’t change it without checking with whoever hired you.” Unauthorized and unnecessary corrections at the proofreading stage can set the whole production schedule back and cause further issues down the line, so “as a proofreader, you need to develop a sense of when to stay in your lane.”

🎓 What qualifications do you need to become a proofreader?

While you don’t necessarily need any specific formal qualifications to become a proofreader, you do need to demonstrate somehow that you have the skills for the job. Most proofreaders will hold bachelor’s degrees in fields like English or Journalism and, most importantly, must have a strong command of language and grammar. To that, Allister Thompson adds that a skilled proofreader must be able to focus for long periods of time:

“A distracted proofreader is a bad one. The eye always wants to skip over text, especially when you're pressed for time. You can't do that.”

David Haviland corroborates this statement:

“Proofreading is all about focus and attention to detail. Many of the issues that a proofreader identifies are ones that most educated people would spot, if they were paying attention. But maintaining this kind of focus on every line over the course of an entire manuscript, and then doing the same thing day after day, is an acquired skill.”

Further, you should be able to spot typographical or design errors, as you might be working with laid-out book files and not just text documents.

Having a university degree or special qualifications in the form of certifications, though not strictly required, can be helpful in showcasing that you have the skills and techniques clients expect proofreaders to have, and help you stand out during the job application process.

With that said, you can study in other fields as well, especially if you want to work as a proofreader for technical or academic content. This makes the job quite accessible to students, freelance writers, and just about anyone with a sharp eye and love for wordsmithing . You can also opt for vocational training programs that specifically teach proofreading, and which come with certifications.

💰 How much do proofreaders make?

According to ZipRecruiter, professional proofreaders make around $23 per hour on average. As of 2023, that means the average salary of proofreaders is around $47k per year.

That being said, proofreaders with more experience and expertise — or expertise in niche fields — can command even higher fees, with top professionals making between $30-$35 an hour. Professional proofreaders on Reedsy, for instance, can make anywhere between $600–$1,000 working on a book, depending on the book’s genre and length.

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If you like the job description and the money sounds good, the next step towards becoming a proofreader is to pick your niche, i.e. what type of texts and industries you would like to work with.

Since media content is everywhere nowadays, you get a lot of choices. You can work with authors on books, with content creators on websites and blog posts, with scholars on academic papers, with reporters on news articles — the list goes on. With the right background, you can even proofread medical texts or court reports.

Now, as you’re building experience, you can try your hand at a variety of projects, though the key to getting a leg up is to find a specific niche. Each field has their specific requirements in terms of language and format, so it’s simply easier to learn them one at a time. Moreover, your niche is your competitive advantage when applying for proofreading jobs: clients will appreciate expert services more than they do a melange of barely related work experiences.

If you want to work in publishing, it’s even beneficial to narrow your focus down to book genres , since they can require quite different skills. Proofreading a fantasy novel, for instance, may demand sharp attention to details and the mechanics of a fictional language, while proofreading picture books may present technical challenges, notes editor and proofreader Sally Apokedak :

“If I proof PDFs with illustrations, I take into consideration the design of the book. For instance, maybe the text is centered and paragraphs lack indents. Quote marks can present another problem. So, when possible, I proof the work according to the typesetter's rules to maintain consistency.”

With this in mind, consider where your expertise and genuine interest lie, and work towards eeking out your presence in your desired niche.

If you do not yet possess the skills and qualifications to land the proofreading jobs you’re applying for, you might want to consider bulking up your resume with a proofreading course. Since there’s more to proofreading than just reading and catching a spelling mistake here and there, (and since real-life experience can be hard to come by) we highly recommend signing up to a proofreading course that can guide you through other duties of the job. This is what Aja Pollock did:

“I took a proofreading class at NYU, just to get some kind of credential under my belt, and a class taught by someone who knows what they're doing is a great way to learn best practices and conventions for proofreading. Someone who's new to proofreading might not think to check for things like stacks and ladders or make sure the folios and running heads are correct; you should be able to come out of a class with a full checklist of things to look for beyond just typos.”

A course not only gives you a head start on understanding style guides (more on this in a bit) and grammar rules, it also allows you to familiarize yourself with editing tools and provides a chance to practice proofreading while getting feedback from veteran professionals. Working together with your course mates while meeting deadlines not only shows that you're a team player, but is also a great way to kick-start your networking efforts; a proofreading course is a great place to meet potential future colleagues and employers, after all.

Of course, each program offers different things: some might be more tailored to fiction proofreaders, others to legal paperwork; some can offer more theoretical knowledge, others come with a mentorship program. The point is to find a curriculum that provides the best training for your chosen niche. Start your research with our summary of the best proofreading courses in the market right now.

Beyond the work that a course gives you, here are some other options to hone your proofreading skills:

Practice, practice, practice

They say practice makes perfect, so get going! Make an effort to proofread anywhere and everywhere you go (silently in your head, of course). And don’t stop with correcting grammar and spelling mistakes; think about your punctuation errors and inconsistencies in language as well.

For more material to work on, offer to proofread a friend’s work for free. Be mindful of the context of each piece — is it a cover letter, an essay, or a website copy? What style guide would it follow? What kind of English is used — British or American? The answers to questions like these will give you the standards which the piece needs to satisfy, which is the basis of your proofreading work, as a competent proofreader knows how to distinguish between objectivity and personal preferences.

Become a Proofreader | UK and US Versions of the Harry Potter Books

Reading texts with these criteria in mind can sharpen your skills. The more you do it, the more competent you’ll be at noticing discrepancies and errors.

Take a proofreading test

Now that you’ve studied up and practiced your proofreading skills, it’s time to test them out! There are tons of tests out there, ranging from multiple-choice quizzes to textual exercises, that are great for gauging your ability to find and recognize key errors and inconsistencies. For some quick tests, check out these sites:

Freelance Writing
Editing Tests

As David Haviland says: “One way or another, you need to study the art of writing clearly, stylishly and consistently.” And whether that be through a course or through other avenues, you will have to know how to work with style guides.

Style guides are manuals that provide standard guidelines for the writing and formatting of various documents. If you’re going to become a proofreader, you’re going to want to know them like the back of your hand.

Which style guides you learn, of course, depends on your niche and the types of texts you’ll work with. In many projects, however, the choice will come down to the client so, at the very least, you should acquaint yourself with the following styles:

Chicago Manual of Style;
APA Style; and

David Haviland notes that he will always ask his clients what style guides they prefer at the start of a project. If your client doesn’t have a preference, you can refer to whatever style guide you feel most comfortable working with.

“It's handy to have a style guide like Chicago on hand,” Thompson adds. “Or whatever style guide your client uses. It's also handy to have a style sheet for a particular project, so copy editors can be encouraged to make those to explain spellings and style choices in the book.”

“I use the Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (online edition), as well as the house style sheet if I'm working for a publisher who has one,” Aja Pollock says. “When you start out, you may need to consult these a lot until you learn the fundamental style conventions and M-W spelling. That can slow things down when you're new to proofreading, but it's part of the learning process.”

If your niche is academic or scholarly in nature, you might also want to consider learning MLA and Turabian Style. Knowing these style guides will help you maintain objectivity and follow consistent rules whenever you’re editing a manuscript.

You can find the handbooks to these styles (which are essential resources for editorial professionals) in libraries or on the internet. Having the one you're following on hand is always a plus, even when you become an experienced proofreader!

Once you’re all trained up in the proofreading department, you’re ready for your job search. But first, a word of warning: beginners in any editorial field will have less access to quality projects in their desired specialty or genre. Do take smaller proofreading roles that come in at the beginning of your career, and always keep your eyes out for opportunities that are adjacent to your chosen specialty.

If you manage to weather this challenging first stage, you’ll emerge on the other side with the skills and track record to pull you through the rest of your proofreading career.

“Proofreading suits a particular kind of person who loves language, cares about the fine details, and has a critical mindset. It’s quite difficult to do well, so there will always be work for a proofreader who is professional, reliable and fastidious.” — David Haviland

Since most proofreading services are provided by freelancers — even publishing houses outsource this task often, to be more economical — you’ll find a lot of proofreading jobs on marketplaces like Reedsy or other freelancer job sites which connect you with a community of writers in need of proofreading services.

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Publishing job boards are also useful platforms to check out. And if you feel like working with a specific publisher or a media company, find and follow their editors on Twitter or LinkedIn. Managing and production editors commission proofreading services all the time — they often post something online when new gigs are available.

💡 Pro-tip: Impress your potential clients with this freelance proposal tempate and this invoice template.

Setting your rates

In most cases, as you’re a freelancer, you’ll get to set your own proofreading rates. Remember not to undercharge! We recommend thinking about how much you need to cover your living and business costs (think office space and time spent on keeping the books) in order to come up with an absolute minimum, below which you should not accept.

Experience and exposure is too often used as an excuse to underpay, and you should not accept that, especially if you have nailed down the fundamental skills for the job!

Before you know it, you’ll know plenty of people in the industry and will start finding jobs with ease, perhaps even commanding higher pay. But, don’t forget: keep building your résumé and treat everyone as a potential business partner! Make sure your portfolio is always updated and includes the latest projects relevant to your career goals.

In other words, focus on presenting pieces that reflect what you want to keep working on and cultivate your professional relationships. So if you want to proofread more fantasy novels, highlight projects that involve other-worldly elements, even if they are review articles or short stories. That way, only the suitable clients will send you a request. Or perhaps you'll know a guy who knows a guy who can hook you up with your next project.

And, Sally Apokedak reminds us, even though proofreading is less concerned with the style and flair of the writing, it’s still an art-form which you can practice and get better at:

“In all proofing, consistency is king because there is some room for art when proofing. Some of it is science—there is never a time when ‘it's’ will be a possessive pronoun, for instance. But some of it is art—some questions could be punctuated with an exclamation point instead of a question mark, for example. So the key is to make a reasoned choice in the beginning about certain gray areas and then be consistent all the way through to the end.”

Proofreading, just like any other editorial job, will come with its challenges. It’s not uncommon for newcomers to have to deal with low wages, competitive job prospects, and long work hours. But if you put your mind to it and really invest in your craft, then making it as a proofreader will be more than worth it in the long run.

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Proofreading Assessment

Our Proofreading Test is a literacy assessment designed to test an individual’s ability to recognise spelling and grammatical errors in a sample piece of text. This is a skill that is often overlooked but essential in any work environment. Candidates are required to type corrections for the errors identified in the Core and Professional test levels.

By using our proofreading test, employers have a valuable insight into the levels of literacy of their candidates, ensuring that they will hire the candidate best suited to the role. The test is crucial for anyone looking to recruit for work that requires proofreading online, copywriting, typists, copy editors, publishers and more.

What is the proofreading test?

Our test is designed to test an individual’s ability to proofread – their skill in recognising spelling and grammar errors from a sample of text. Here’s how the test works:

Candidates are shown a sample of text selected by the administrator and asked to find the incorrect word. At Fundamental level, candidates are only required to proofread, and are free to highlight the spelling and grammar errors in the question. At the Core and Professional levels, candidates are also tested on editing, and are required to type corrections for the words identified.

Candidates are presented with 1 question to answer within 15 minutes, and are free to check the grammar in a sample text, pointing out incorrect words. The candidate’s responses to the exercise are automatically marked and timed. The average completion time for the question is 12 minutes. There are 4 different subjects available, and candidates will be presented with the option of doing a practice test to familiarise themselves with the exercise and work on their skills. A point is awarded for each correct highlight and an additional point is available for corrected words in the Core and Professional levels. In all levels, incorrect selections will result in a minus point being subtracted from the total score, and missed errors will result in no point being awarded.

Practice test available
4 subjects available
15 minutes available
12 minutes average completion time
1 question presented
16 questions in pool

Who is this test aimed at?

The proofreading test is useful for employers looking to ensure that they hire candidates with good skills in writing, editing, grammar, copywriting, and verbal expression. These skills are imperative for typists, copy editors, proofreaders, and publishers. The ability to proofread and to express oneself coherently in writing are essential in any job which requires a good degree of literacy, so the proofreading test is an invaluable tool for employers.

While candidates applying for some job roles will be expected to be more experienced in proofreading than others, generally speaking, many industries will benefit from the skills tested by our assessment. In order to gage candidates’ proficiency in proofreading, and their relative suitability to the demands of their job, our test is designed to distinguish between different levels of skill. Our proofreading test determines 3 levels of literacy and grammar: Fundamental , Core , and Professional .

Skills Assessed

Candidates have 15 minutes to answer 25 questions. Each question covers essential practical and theoretical knowledge.

In this proofreading test, candidates are required to only proofread a sample text and highlight the errors within. No justification for the grammar mistakes is required. There are 30 errors contained within the text for candidates to identify and highlight, which they must do within a set amount of time.

A candidate taking the Fundamental level of a test is expected to have subject knowledge aligned to a foundation level GCSE graduate.

In this proofreading test, candidates are required to proofread a text and highlight mistakes, as well as writing corrections to spelling and grammatical errors in the text provided. In this test, there are 40 errors contained within the text and candidates are free to identify, highlight and correct them.

A candidate taking the Core level of a test is expected to have subject knowledge aligned to a higher level GCSE graduate.

In this proofreading test, candidates are required to proofread a text and provide corrections to spelling and grammatical errors in the text provided. This test builds on Core by increasing the quantity of text provided for checking, the speed in which a candidate has to identify errors and the complexity of the vocabulary used. 50 errors are contained within the text for candidates to proofread, highlight and correct.

Why use a Proofreading Test?

The ability to proofread is a good marker of a candidate’s knowledge of grammar, their strength in writing, their skill in editing and can even indicate their ability to communicate clearly with others.

19 Must-Have Skills to Be a Proofreader

This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our affiliate disclaimer in the footer menu for more information. Thank you for your support!

You need a specific set of skills to be a proofreader. If you were your friends’ go-to proofreader in high school or college, that’s probably an indication that you have the potential to do well in this profession. However, it doesn’t mean you can start right away.

Becoming a professional proofreader requires hard work and more than just a strong command of English grammar and mechanics.

Table of Contents

Essential Proofreading Skills to Be a Proofreader

Let’s discover the specific skills that every proofreader needs in their repertoire.

1) A Great Grasp of Grammar

Grammar is the study of words, how they function relative to context, and how they come together to make sentences. Words can be broken down into categories called parts of speech, depending on their role in a sentence.

The English language contains eight parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Some words can serve as multiple parts of speech, depending on their role in a sentence.

Proofreaders need to correctly identify the parts of speech so they can fix mistakes within a document.

For example, the proper capitalization of titles depends on correctly identifying parts of speech.

If you’d like to boost your grammar game, check out my article “ 15 Tried-and-True Tips to Improve Your Grammar.”

2) The Capability to Correct Capitalization Errors

When considering capitalization, proofreaders often have to differentiate between common nouns and proper nouns.

Furthermore, they watch out for writers who mistakenly capitalize certain words because they think those words are particularly important.

Authors tend to do this with words related to religion (if they’re religious) or terms associated with their profession.

Capitalization rules can be surprisingly specific.

3) A Penchant to Proofread for Proper Punctuation

Who knew that such little marks could cause such big blunders?

Many people have seen the meme with the first sentence that reads, “Let’s eat Grandma.” Then, some compassionate soul decided to put a comma after the word eat , so the second sentence says, “Let’s eat, Grandma.”

It concludes with this nugget of wisdom: “Punctuation saves lives!”

Proofreaders need to be familiar with the proper use of punctuation marks. Commas, hyphens, and apostrophes tend to be the most complicated marks to master.

To gain more confidence with commas, you can check out Grammar Lion’s free comma mini course .

4) Superb Spelling Smarts

Spelling errors need to be plucked out of a document like weeds out of a garden.

It’s a proofreader’s job to find misspelled words that have made their way past spellcheckers. The common culprits are homophones (e.g., their vs. they’re vs. there).

I published an article called “20+ Difficult Homophones (+ Example Sentences and a Quiz)” if you’d like some practice in this area.

Spellcheckers fail to flag these words that are spelled correctly but used inappropriately in a given context.

Speaking of spelling, let’s go off on a mini tangent. When I was young, my dad taught me how to spell the word coffee phonetically without using any of the letters in the word coffee. He got out a sheet of paper and wrote kauphy . I thought that was neat! 😊

And, yes, I do love my kauphy! 😉

5) Finesse with Fixing Formatting Fumbles

Proofreaders need to hone their eagle eyes to pick up on formatting faux pas like incorrect font type or size.

They also have to be on the lookout for inconsistent spacing between elements in a document (e.g., headers, paragraphs, sentences).

Furthermore, they’ll want to ensure that features like headings, subheadings, and paragraphs are appropriately aligned and that any numbers appear in the correct sequence.

How certain documents are formatted depends on the style guide the proofreader uses.

6) Stellar Style Guide Familiarity

Your style guide will be your number one on-the-job companion. In your early proofreading jobs, you’ll refer to it constantly.

If you proofread in US English, your go-to guide will probably be The Chicago Manual of Style .

Other widely used style guides include The Associated Press Stylebook , the MLA (Modern Language Association) Handbook , and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association .

I created an article that explains these style guides and how to use them if you’re interested.

Finally, if you fancy proofreading UK English, you’ll probably follow New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide .

7) Refined Research Ability

Proofreading requires a lot of research, some of which will take place in a dictionary. The dictionary you use will be dictated by the style guide you’re following.

You’ll often look up words not to check their meaning but to verify how they’re spelled, if they’re one word or two, if they need to be hyphenated, and what part of speech they are.

In terms of writing a word as one word or two, pick up is a verb, but pickup can serve as a noun or an adjective.

Also, I would need to use a couple of hyphens in this sentence: I use coffee as a morning pick-me-up . Very true, by the way.

Finally, an example of when the part of speech matters is deciding whether to capitalize a word in a title.

You’ll also do a lot of research using Google .

I use Google to check the spelling of industry-specific terms that have yet to be included in my spellchecker’s dictionary. I also refer to Google if I need to know something about an unfamiliar subject.

Finally, you’ll spend a substantial amount of time doing research in the style guide you’re using.

8) Competence with Computers

In addition to knowing how to get what you need from Google, you’ll need to understand how to use specific software.

As a freelance proofreader, it’s necessary to be familiar with Track Changes in Microsoft Word.

Track Changes is a function in Word that allows you to make easy-to-see corrections and comments in a document. Your client can then review each revision to decide whether to keep or reject it. They’ll also read the comments you’ve made in the margins.

Although most freelance proofreaders prefer to work with Track Changes in Word (and most clients send Word documents), a few clients would rather work in Google Docs.

Google Docs has a feature that’s a lot like MS Word Track Changes: the Suggesting feature. You’ll undoubtedly be able to land more jobs if you’re familiar with the Suggesting feature in Google Docs.

Some freelancers even learn to work with PDFs.

Now and then, I (as a freelancer) come across a client with a PDF. However, PDF markup software will likely be the norm if you work for a publishing company.

If you’d like to learn more about Track Changes in MS Word, the Suggesting feature in Google Docs, and PDF markup tools in Adobe PDF editor, please see my post “What Software Do Proofreaders Use?”

9) Capacity to Concentrate for a Long Time

Proofreading requires a high degree of focus.

Although you’ll be taking frequent breaks, you’ll need to maintain concentration for several hours if proofreading is your full-time job.

If you’re constantly distracted, getting through projects will take a long time. So, you’re going to have to be able to hocus-pocus focus! 😊

10) Keen Attention to Detail

Perfectionistic and punctilious are two of the best adjectives to describe proofreaders. They tend to have a natural knack for spotting errors since they look closely at the little things.

Proofreaders go through texts with a fine-tooth comb to find errors, much like Sherlock Holmes carefully combed through crime cases for clues.

You’ll be the detective on a mission to spot the teeny-weeny mistakes.

Brevity is key in résumés and PowerPoint presentations. Therefore, these texts contain fewer words, and any mistakes tend to stand out.

When every little detail counts, you’ll be the one who makes sure these pieces of writing are on point.

11) Ability to Work Alone

Even if you work at a company, proofreading is done solo.

If you plan on becoming a freelancer and feel a bit iffy about this, you can work at a coffee shop or bookstore so that you’ll be surrounded by people.

I love going to my local Barnes & Noble café to sip on some delicious coffee while I’m on error patrol. That way, I don’t get too lonely.

12) High Level of Self-Discipline

If you work as a freelancer, no one will be around to keep you on track and motivated except yourself.

Of course, you’ll be accountable to your clients, but they won’t be there looking over your shoulder to ensure you get the work done.

Having a high level of self-control is essential. It’ll enable you to keep your focus on your client’s document instead of on your friends’ latest Facebook posts (or any other time suck).

13) Inclination to Be an Independent Thinker

You’ll make all the decisions in your proofreading work.

You have to decide to take that comma out or leave it in. If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry—it gets better!

You’ll build more confidence in your proofreading abilities as you hone your skills.

You just have to be willing to research what you don’t know and come to your own conclusion when making the final call on that comma.

14) A Knack for Staying Organize d While Juggling Multiple Jobs

Proofreaders typically take on more than one assignment at a time. This means they’ll have different deadlines to meet.

They need to know exactly how much work they have to get done each day to complete their jobs on time.

They must plan well in advance if they take on long projects (books, e-books, etc.).

It’s essential not to take on more work than you can manage. Sacrificing quality for quantity is a surefire way to lose clients and tarnish your reputation.

Meeting tight deadlines is one of the most challenging aspects of being a proofreader.

Om Proofreading discusses the benefits and drawbacks of proofreading work if you’d like to delve into this topic.

15) A Love of Reading

This one is fairly obvious. As we all know, proof reading involves a lot of reading.

If you don’t enjoy reading, it will be a ginormous challenge to enjoy proofreading.

I’ll be honest. I don’t like reading fiction. Gasp! I know. I wish I did, but I don’t. I feel like I’m one of the few people who couldn’t make it past the first chapter of the first book in the Harry Potter series.

My mom and sister devour fiction, but my dad and I keep it at a distance. I also don’t proofread fiction. It’s just not my thing, and that’s okay. I am, however, a voracious reader of nonfiction.

Just make sure you love to read in general, and you should be good to go!

16) Broad General Knowledge

A wooden bookshelf in the shape of a human brain filled with books on various subjects.

When you start proofreading, you’ll probably be working on a variety of texts. This is because you’ll need to take the jobs you can get to gain experience. Therefore, it’s helpful to have a wide range of knowledge.

After you’ve gotten some experience, it’s beneficial to market your proofreading services to a niche where you’ll have less competition.

You can do this while working on a wide array of texts until you’re sure you can maintain a steady stream of clients who provide you with jobs in your niche.

For example, if you fancy financial texts, marketing materials, and management matters, your niche could be proofreading business documents.

I wrote an article about choosing a proofreading niche if you’re interested.

17) Commitment to Being a Lifelong Learner

Language is continually evolving.

According to The Chicago Manual of Style , “With frequent use, open or hyphenated compounds tend to become closed ( on line to on-line to online ).”

Style guides themselves are occasionally updated as well.

Dictionaries are also regularly adding new words. For example, hashtag and fist pump were a couple of additions to the eleventh edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

Finally, new industry-specific terms pop up from time to time.

Proofreaders need to be up to date with these kinds of changes.

18) Solid Written Communication (Especially Freelance Proofreaders)

Proofreaders need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively in writing.

If you’re working in a publishing house, your written communication will probably be in the form of emails with other publishing team members.

However, if you’re doing freelance work, you’ll communicate directly with your clients in writing via email or some other platform.

Considering you’ll be responsible for correcting errors in their written work, they’ll expect you to have excellent written communication skills.

19) Some Money Management and Marketing Skills (Freelance Proofreaders Only)

As a freelancer, you’ll need to keep track of your business’s income and expenses and prepare your taxes.

Knowing how to market yourself (whether through social media platforms, cold emailing, or distributing business cards) is also a necessary skill.

You’ll have to be proactive to develop a client base.

The Freelancer’s Bible is a fabulous resource for freelancers of all kinds. It was written by Sara Horowitz, who founded Freelancers Union.

This book provides a wealth of helpful knowledge for starting, managing, and growing your business. In a nutshell, it’s your guide to success as a freelancer.

I hope this post has helped you gain insight into the skills you need to become a proofreader.

If your goal is to work on error patrol 😉, I published a piece about becoming a proofreader, even if you don’t have any experience .

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a degree to be a proofreader?

You do not need a degree to be a proofreader. Nowadays, many jobs in the proofreading industry are freelance and don’t require a degree.

As long as you have a firm grasp of grammar and mechanics coupled with excellent proofreading skills, you can be a proofreader.

Postsecondary education undoubtedly helps improve your reading and writing abilities. However, plenty of high school graduates are avid readers and wonderful writers.

Although many companies prefer to hire someone with a degree (especially in English or journalism), this is not always a requirement. Of course, some companies won’t even consider you for a job unless you hold a master’s degree or a PhD.

If you’d like to learn where to find jobs as a new proofreader without a degree, Om Proofreading talks about online proofreading jobs for beginners in this in-depth article.

In sum, if you (degree or no degree) have a strong command of English and are willing to put time and effort into learning the art of proofreading, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a proofreader extraordinaire!

I authored an article about the qualifications proofreaders need if you’re curious about what you do and don’t need to know for various proofreading jobs.

How do I get a job if I don’t have proof of my proficiency as a proofreader?

You need experience to get the job, but you need a job to get the experience. Doesn’t this sound familiar? It’s the ol’ catch-22. Frustrating. I know. But there are ways around it!

You can start by displaying any certificate of completion you’ve earned in a proofreading course to show you’ve received formal training.

This can be posted on your business website or in the profile you’ve set up on a freelancing website. Om Proofreading has an article about how to obtain a proofreading certificate if you’d like to know more.

Another way to prove your skills to a potential client is by offering to proofread a small portion of their document .

In the industry, this is known as a sample edit. I’ve seen proofreaders provide sample edits ranging from 250 to 1,000 words. Some do this for free, while others charge a fee. Either way, this lets potential clients see how you’d be able to help them.

You can also demonstrate your proficiency by passing the proofreading test required by some companies as an entry requirement .

These businesses make applicants take a test so they can quickly weed out those who don’t yet have the skills for the job.

Finally, another option is to have lots of positive reviews on a freelancing site like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer .

You’ll likely have to start by charging a low price to attract clients, but at least this will get the ball rolling. If you deliver excellent service at an affordable price, it’s a safe bet that you’ll start accumulating glowing reviews. Eventually, you can increase your fees as you see fit.

How do I become a good proofreader?

To become a good proofreader, you need to take a comprehensive course and practice what you’ve learned.

In addition to the practice you get in a course, you can practice by taking proofreading tests, reading relevant books and blogs, and listening to podcasts that deal with proofreading matters (grammar, punctuation, etc.).

If you’d like pointers for improving your proofreading proficiency, please peruse my post “15 Guaranteed Ways to Become a Better Proofreader.”

Best wishes to you!

“I never lose. I either win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela

Lindsay Babcock

Lindsay is the creator of Om Proofreading. She has a BA in psychology and earned a certificate in proofreading by passing the final exam in Proofread Anywhere’s general proofreading course. She shares what she’s learning in the field and through research to inform and inspire her readers.

Proofreading Test: The best ones to test your proofreading skills?

By Author Chhavi Agarwal

Proofreading quiz – How can they help in fine-tuning your proofreading skills?

If you are thinking of working from home , remote proofreading is a great option.

In this post, we will share a few proofreading quiz and tests for you to analyse your skills. Yeah?

For those of you who don’t know, proofreading is a high-paying skill that can help you earn a steady income. With more and more companies outsourcing their content writing , the demand for proofreaders is also rising steadily.

Some of the primary skills that you need to become a proofreader include a keen ability to go through every word on the document and the eye to check grammar and spelling mistakes.

Let’s get into proofreading tests, skills and jobs in detail.

The post includes affiliate links.

Is a Proofreading Test Necessary?

Not really.

… but,

Whether you are confident about your proofreading skills or are unsure about where you stand, it is always a good idea to take a proofreading quiz to check your accuracy.

In this post, we shall share some proofreading test and quizzes that you can take for free and check your skill level.

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t score 100 percent. A lower score doesn’t mean you are not good enough to be a proofreader.

All it means is that you need to brush up on your skills.

You will also learn about the different niches of proofreading and the best companies looking for remote proofreaders.

If you plan to pursue a career in this proofreading, your best bet is to obtain certification in the art of transcript proofreading.

Caitlin Pyle’s e-course called Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice is an excellent resource that will not only give you the skills and certification necessary to work as a transcript proofreader but it also teach you how to market yourself and land clients.

I understand if you don’t want to jump on it right away.. after all, you’re not sure if proofreading is for you.

So, I have good news for you. You can benefit from Caitlin’s free, comprehensive Proofread Anywhere workshop .

This 76-minute webinar is jam-packed with valuable information on finding out if proofreading is right for you, attracting your ideal proofreading clients and making money online .

She walks you through a proofreading quiz during her webinar to help show you the common errors you’ll need to be able to recognize as a proofreader.

.. now that’s a bonus.

Free Proofreading Quizzes and exercises (with answers)

Proofreading quizzes, test and exercises are an excellent way for you to sharpen your skills and test your knowledge.

You can choose from the following online quizzes and exercises to improve your proofreading skills –

You can download a blank copy of this free proofreading quiz and practice your skills. Once you are done with the quiz, you can check your answers here . This is a copy of the answers to the quiz. Before you take this quiz, you must work towards improving your proofreading skills.
Purdue OWL Exercise s – The Purdue University OWL offers exercises on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, and more.
Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading – You can test and hone your proofreading skills by taking quizzes on punctuation, language use, spellings, phrases, and punctuation here.
Skills Practice – Danny Rubin – This New York Times article lets you find 14 mistakes in five New York Times articles. The answers are available at the end in a PDF.
UEfAP – These proofreading exercises cover topics like verbs, ergative verbs, word order, articles, spellings, punctuation, and more.

How to improve proofreading skills to ace proofreading tests & quizzes?

Read more You can’t be a good proofreader unless you read. Be it books, magazines, newspapers, or blogs; you should read up on all forms of the written word you come across. But don’t read these texts as a reader; read them like a proofreader. Scour them for any grammatical errors, typos, and formatting inconsistencies. The more you read, the sharper your proofreading skills will become.
Know your style guides While you may be proficient in the English language, you will need to brush up on formatting rules regularly. The writing styles, formatting, and grammar rules change often. As a professional proofreader, you will need to understand your client’s requirements. To be a good proofreader, you should know your style guides like the back of your hand. It would be best if you acquainted yourself with these styles – Chicago Style APA style AP style
If you are proofreading more academic and scholarly work, you should also learn MLA and Turabian Style. Knowing the different styles helps you follow consistent rules when you are proofreading a manuscript.
Think on your feet To hone your proofreading skills, you must practice thinking on your feet. Keep an eye out for grammatical errors while you do your day-to-day activities like watching TV, riding the subway, browsing the web, or reading recipes.
Study the common mistakes Do you know which are the most common grammar and spelling mistakes? Knowing these will help you spot them quickly and correct them while proofreading.
Test your skills with more proofreading tests and quizzes Once you have practiced and honed your skills, test them out. There are many tests and quizzes out there, ranging from proofreading quizzes to textual exercises. These will test your ability to recognize errors and inconsistencies.

This 76-minute webinar is jam-packed with valuable information on finding out if proofreading is right for you, attracting your ideal proofreading clients and making money online . Check it out. If you are looking to upskill yourself as a proofreader, I recommend you check this or this out NOW.

A little bit more about proofreading before you take proofreading test and quiz

What is proofreading?

Before we jump onto the proofreading test, let’s discuss what proofreading is for a bit.

People often confuse editing with proofreading. These two are quite different yet equally important parts of the writing process.

Editing involves restructuring, deleting part of the text, and generally making sure that the copy flows well.

Proofreading comes after the editing process is over. It involves going through the document with a fine-tooth comb, looking for the following –

1. Typographical errors 2. Inconsistencies in layout or style 3. Odd page and word breaks 4. Spelling mistakes and missing punctuation 5. Any other issues that might ruin the reading experience

Proofreading is the last part of the editorial process. Proofreading is what gives the final polish to any written document.

Why is it important to choose a proofreading niche?

These are some of the places to work if you want to work as a freelance proofreader.

However, before you start applying and taking their proofreading quiz, choose the niche you want to work in. If you choose a niche, you can target specific clients and position yourself as an expert in that industry. Proofreaders that focus on a particular niche are also able to earn more money. Here are some of the niches that you can choose from –  Website pages  Blog posts  Legal documents  Transcripts  Court reports  Essays When deciding what to focus on, make sure you choose something that you are genuinely interested in.

What does it take to become a professional proofreader?

Proofreaders often hold a bachelor’s degree in English or journalism. However, this isn’t always necessary.

If you have a good understanding of the written language, you can be a proofreader.

Some proofreading jobs also require an advanced degree or experience in a particular field. For example, a background in law is useful for proofreading legal documents.

Some employers also ask the candidates to take a proofreading test or a proofreading quiz to prove that they are competent.

Where can I find proofreading jobs online?

With so much content available, there is no shortage of remote proofreading opportunities.

Here’s a list of companies that frequently hire remote proofreaders –

ProofReadingServices.com

They offer full-time as well as part-time positions. The pay ranges from USD 19 to 46 per hour, depending on the turnaround time. You will need to pass a 20-minute test to work here.

Gramlee is always looking for exceptional editors to join their team. As a Gramlee Editor, you will have to check and edit the documents for spelling and grammatical errors, overall clarity, structure, brevity, and readability.

Kibin Kibin is on the lookout for talented freelance editors. Editors in international time zones outside the US and Canada or with overnight availability are especially encouraged to apply.

Wordy Wordy is a crowdsourced platform where editors have access to open jobs and can claim them on a first-come-first-served basis. To sign up as an online editor for Wordy, you need to familiarize yourself with the Wordy style guide and then take an online test.

Scribendi Scribendi is a market leader in the editing and proofreading industry. As a telecommuting Editor at Scribendi, you can choose your projects. Editors and proofreaders are also given free training and are offered incentives in addition to regular pay.

Domainite.com Domainite regularly hires freelance editors to join their team. You will need to edit a sample piece when you fill out the freelance editing job hire form. If you do well, you will be invited to contract with Domainite.com.

ProofreadingPal ProofreadingPal uses a two-proofreader model so that every document is proofread and edited by two professional proofreaders. They proofread for spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and verb tense. They also edit for sentence structure, clarity, and style. To be hired by ProofreadingPal, you must be enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in an accredited United States college or university and have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Or you must have a graduate degree with a minimum of five years of professional proofreading and editing experience.

Wordvice Wordvice helps researchers, scholars, students, and professionals craft clear and compelling stories through good writing. To become a WordVice proofreader, you must have a master’s degree, knowledge of MS Word, and style guides.

Sibia Proofreading If you are a science expert and have strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, Sibia Proofreading may be a good fit for you. Sibia Proofreading prefers people with strong academic background.

Hello Essay Hello Essay has an army of editors and proofreaders who edit and polish all academic essays to perfection. With Hello Essay, you can work when you want and as much as you want.

Final thoughts on proofreading test and quiz

Proofreading plays a vital role in improving the readability and quality of a text document. This is the reason why proofreaders are in great demand these days. If you plan to pursue a proofreading career, online proofreading quizzes and exercises can help you a lot. They will help you fine-tune your skills and improve your knowledge. You can choose to apply to any of the companies mentioned in the list to pursue a career as a remote proofreader. Most of these companies also assign proofreading quizzes or exercises to test your reading comprehension and attention to detail during the hiring process. So, it would be best to take as many proofreading quizzes and exercises to brush up on your skills.

Proofreading test and quiz

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Writing Tips

What Does Proofreading Mean? Definition and Checklist

6-minute read

7th February 2023

Proofreading is an important step in the writing process that ensures high-quality, professional, error-free writing. In this article, you’ll learn all about proofreading, including effective techniques and tips and a checklist you can use at home.

What Is Proofreading?

Proofreading is the process of carefully reviewing written work to find and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. It is the final step in the writing process; it ensures clean, clear, and professional writing before submission or publication. Keep in mind that proofreading differs from other writing steps, such as revising or editing , so be sure you know how the steps differ and when they should be completed in the writing process.

The Importance of Proofreading

Proofreading is important because it helps you catch mistakes you may have made during the writing stage. Proofreading ensures that your work is polished and professional and that your ideas are clear. Proofreading is especially important for writing that will be viewed by a larger audience or published: novels, short stories, online articles, etc. In formal writing, such as academic papers, business proposals, and resumes, proofreading is equally important because it shows professionalism and attention to detail from the writer.

How to Proofread

While proofreading can be as simple as reading over an email before hitting send . it can be more involved , depending on the type of document in question. Proofreading involves reading your work carefully, line by line, and looking for errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting.

Tips for Effective Proofreading

Whether you are proofreading your own writing or that of others, here are some great tips to make sure you don’t miss a stray comma!

Leave Plenty of Time

Make sure you have plenty of time to proofread before your deadline, especially if you are proofreading your own writing. When you are proofreading your own writing, it can be particularly difficult to catch mistakes. If possible, wait a couple of days after you finish writing before you go back and proofread. This way, you will have fresh eyes and a new perspective.

Read Your Work

Reading your work in different ways will highlight mistakes that may be missed otherwise. Here are three ways you can read your work to catch mistakes and get a different perspective on your writing:

Read from the bottom to the top: Start with the last sentence and go all the way to the first. This helps isolate each sentence so you can focus on errors.

Read out loud: Read your work out loud in funny or strange voices. Pretend you are a robot or an opera singer to highlight grammar errors or awkward sentences that need your attention.

Use the read aloud function: Most word processing systems have a read aloud option. Listening to someone else (or a computer) read your work gives you the perspective of a listener or a different reader and further aids in the proofreading process.

Use a Proofreading Checklist

A checklist can alleviate some of the mental fatigue of trying to remember everything you need to look for in a text. You’ll find a great proofreading checklist below to use at home.

Take Breaks

You are not a super(wo)man or a machine. Take a ten-minute break every hour or so to give your eyes and mind a rest. When you become too familiar with a text, you will start to skim over mistakes and errors. Be sure to get movement in also during your breaks to avoid any physical stiffness or discomfort.

Get a Fresh Set of Eyes

Whether it’s a friend, a peer, or a professional proofreader , having someone else look for mistakes and give feedback is always helpful. They will have a different perspective and can offer fresh ideas to enhance your writing.

Proofreading Checklist

If you’re not sure what to look for while proofreading, here’s a checklist you can copy and paste for future use.

● Spelling: Check for misspelled and commonly confused words (e.g., there vs. their or affect vs. effect ).

● Grammar: Check for subject–verb agreement , verb tenses , and article use .

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● Punctuation: Check for proper use of periods , commas , semicolons , colons, apostrophes , and quotation marks .

● Capitalization : Check for capitalization of proper nouns, the first word of sentences, and specified words in titles and headings (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.).

● Formatting: Check for consistency in fonts, spacing, and alignment.

● Contractions ( I’m , can’t , should’ve , etc.): Do not use contractions in academic or business writing.

● Clarity: Check for wordiness, redundancy, and awkward phrasing.

● Accuracy: Check for any factual errors or inaccuracies.

● Citations and the reference list : Check for proper in-text citation and reference list formatting.

● Consistency: Check for consistency in language, tone, and style.

Or if you’re serious about proofreading properly, check out our official Proofed Proofreading Checklist . It’s what our expert proofreaders use!

Proofreading is an important step in the writing process because it helps to ensure that your work is clear, professional, and easy to understand. Be sure to set time aside to proofread your work, take frequent breaks during the process, and use a checklist so you don’t miss a mistake.

What are some common mistakes to look for when proofreading?

Check for spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, and formatting mistakes. Make sure the writing is clear, concise, and consistent. Reword sentences that are wordy, overly lengthy, or awkward. Overall, you want to have error-free, polished, and professional text.

How can I improve my proofreading skills?

The best way to improve your proofreading skills is through practice and experience. Having a strong command of English grammar and writing mechanics is imperative. Consider taking a proofreading course, such as the one offered by Knowadays , to get expert feedback and materials if you are serious about becoming a proofreader.

What’s the difference between proofreading and editing?

Proofreading focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting mistakes. Think of it as the final polish in the writing process. Editing comes before proofreading in the writing process and focuses on the content, organization, and overall structure of the writing.

Where can I hire a professional to proofread my work for me?

Proofed has a team of more than 750 professional editors with expertise in fields across the board. We work with researchers, students, Fortune 500 companies, and independent authors to make their writing clean, professional, and ready for publication. Take advantage of our free trial today.

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