How to Find Jobs for Proofreading Online

How to Find Jobs for Proofreading Online – The best ways to find legit work at home jobs proofreading when you want to earn some extra side hustle money. Especially if you’re busy or a mom, these are great and REAL ways to earn from home.

If you are a fluent English speaker with excellent attention to detail, then you might make a great proofreader! These are the best online proofreading jobs that you can get from home.

Do you have a knack for grammar and spelling? Do you enjoy working from home? Proofreading requires attention to detail and the ability to find mistakes. If that sounds like you, keep reading. While there are many companies that say they offer online proofing work, sadly there are also a lot of scammers out there who take advantage of people.

Don’t worry, though! I’ve done the research for you so you can feel confident applying with any of these companies in the post. Here are some legitimate proofreading jobs you can get online.

Online Proofreading Jobs

Did you know you can make up to $100 per hour by proofreading at home? It might seem too good to be true, but it’s definitely possible.

In fact, this could be one of the best work from home jobs you could ever have. You don’t have to invest much money and the qualifications are easy to get.

In the simplest terms, a proofreader’s responsibility is to read documents, then point out and correct grammar and spelling mistakes.

That’s it.

By the time the copy lands in the proofreader’s lap, it should have gone through numerous edits already. The proofreader is the final polisher. They catch “their/they’re” mistakes and “nauseous/nauseated” confusion.

Do you have a head full of grammar and spelling knowledge? If so, this might be perfect for you!

How Do I Become an Online Proofreader?

Think you’re ready to go out and become an online proofreader? Here’s what you need to know and the skills you need to have, so you can begin earning money from home.

Required Background and Qualifications

You need to have tedious attention to detail. If you send back copy in which you overlooked spelling and grammar mistakes, you won’t last long in this field. You should be able to catch every single mistake, no matter how small.

You need to be able to show that you have a profound grasp of the English language, grammar, and syntax.

A college degree isn’t required. But if you have a degree in mass communications, journalism, or English, that will help you stand out from the competition.

It also helps if you are familiar with style guides. The most popular style guide that publications follow is the AP (Associated Press). If you have used it before, let people know. This is another skill that will make you more hireable.

There is also an online course that will teach you how to network, get clients, and launch your own business. It’s called ProofreadAnywhere. It’s a 76-minute workshop that’s completely free.

Finally, you should have the ability to use a variety of online platforms and software. You might have to communicate within one app and review documents within another one.

Some of the most common programs you might end up using include:

WordPress
Slack
ClickUp
Monday.com
Trello
Asana
Google Drive
Microsoft Office

How To Find Proofreading Jobs

Proofreading online is mostly a freelance type of job. You can eventually work your way up to $100 per hour, but you have to build up a portfolio first.

If this is something you want to do professionally, start by reaching out to people you know that produce online content. Do you know anyone that writes their own ebooks? What about a blogger or small business owner?

While I don’t ever recommend anyone work for free, you could work for a low rate at first so you can build a portfolio of your work.

Keep track of what you proofread, including how many pages and what type of content it is. I’d also recommend askign for a review in a public forum like a Facebook page from your clients too.

Then, you have to network like crazy.

Join an online proofreaders Facebook group. Ask the people you work with to share your name and contact information with their peers.

Proofreading Online

There are also a lot of proofreading jobs posted on job websites every day. Here are the most common and reliable places to find online proofreading jobs.

#1 Monster

Monster is a pretty typical job board. Search for terms like “online proofreader” and “work from home proofreading” to find remote work.

#2 Indeed

This is another platform just like Monster. Indeed posts jobs from around the country. Search for remote or work from home jobs.

#3 LinkedIn

Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. This is a fantastic way to network with publishers and writers and find new jobs. There are jobs posted here too.

#4 Upwork

Upwork is the largest database of freelance writers and editors you will find. There are literally thousands of jobs posted every single day. Browse the listings and apply as a freelancer with them.

#5 Fiverr

Fiverr started out as a place where people could do things like logo design and freelancing writing for $5. But today it has grown to a huge database of freelancers. When you join Fiverr, you are putting your name out there as a proofreader ready for hire.

#6 Job Boards

There are also multitudes of other online job boards you can browse too. Here are the most popular ones.

FlexJobs – advertises all kinds of remote jobs including proofreading.
JournalismJobs – for ‘media jobs’ including proofreading.
MediaBistro – various media jobs including proofreading.

Online Proofreading Jobs That Don’t Require A Degree

This list is full of other sites that hire both editors and proofreaders. Not all of them are always hiring, so keep checking back.

Babbletype – hires skilled proofreaders and editors.
Book Editing Associates – five years of experience is required.
Gramlee – must submit an application to get approved.
Lifetips – offer remote employee positions with benefits.
Polished Paper – hires those who can pass a 35-question test.
Prompt – hires freelancers to read college admission essays.
Proofreadingservices.com – hires those who can pass a 20-minute proofreading test.
R3ciprocity –based on a credits system where contributors proof each other’s work and use the credits to get their own work proofed. You can also turn the credits into cash.
Reedsy – a freelance marketplace that allows you to work with authors and writers.
Scribe Media – hire freelance “scribes.” The role involves writing as well as editing.
Scribe Writing (previously Book in a Box) – proofread a book project which lasts for a series of months.
Writer’s Relief – hires proofreaders to read the work of creative writers trying to get published. They only accept 2% of those who apply.

Freelance Editor – Is It The Same Thing?

As you search for proofreader jobs online, chances are you will find editing jobs at the same time. They are not the same thing, normally.

Often, editors are the ones that hire proofreaders. Typically, editors work directly with clients to tweak and modify the document/article. The proofreader fixes all the grammar and spelling mistakes. And the editor then goes back with the writer to modify the organizational structure and overall look and feel of the content before publishing it.

Sometimes writers want to hire just one person to edit and proofread, both. If you will be working directly with a client by yourself, chances are you will be acting as both a proofreader and editor.

In these cases, you should charge more since you will have more responsibilities and expectations.

Online Proofreading Jobs Are Possible

There you have it! When you are looking for a side hustle that works and you love grammar and spelling, look for some online proofreading jobs. It might take a little time to get your job off the ground, but when you do, you will love it!