Know the Difference - Proofreading

What is Proofreading?

After your manuscript has been typeset, also known as formatting, and put into a 'proof', typically a PDF file, we move into proofreading. As the final check of your work prior to publication, the proofreader addresses any inconsistencies with the typesetting and looks for typographical errors that may have been overlooked previously and accidentally added during revisions. Proofreaders do not work on sentence flow or improving the tone like a line editor does and occasionally a copyeditor, so they will not fix a sentence that sounds awkward, if it is grammatically correct.

Proofreading helps finalize:

- Basic grammar
- Common misspellings not caught by spellchecker (its vs it's)
- Homonyms (bare/bear)
- Punctuation
- Capitalization
- Unintended blank pages
- Illustration placement (if applicable)

- Chapter titles and page numbers are bumped against the table of contents
- Font
- Type size
- Spacing issues
- Layout and typesetting issues
- Chapter headers

Proofreaders have keen eyes that can catch those little errors that have slipped through the cracks, ensuring that your book is ready for publication, therefore the cost is reflective of the level of work. The average rate for this kind of service starts out at $0.02 - $0.029/word for fiction*. For a 70,000 word manuscript you are looking at $1,400 - $2,030, minimum. That's a major investment for your book. With price tags like this, it is vital for an author to find the best editor, so he or she doesn't have to repeat this process in the future.

Here are a couple of tips to help with finding the right proofreader for your book.

1. Cheaper isn't always better.
   There are a lot of editors who claim they can do a proofread of your book for 0.005/word - that's half a penny - to 0.01/word. All that work for 1/2 of the price of other editors sounds like an amazing deal, right? Unfortunately no. Most of those editors either don't have any experience, lack the skill set needed, or will simply run your manuscript through an AI program to keep their 'labor' costs down.
   
   
2. Find an editor with experience editing novels. 
   Not every proofreader is built the same. Proofreaders for journals, newspapers or even professors have different editing instincts and tend to be trained to fit their environments (e.g. different typeset standards or no typeset standards). While proofreaders for novels have varied experience and are able to scrutinize typeset standards and ensure they are correct according to what you need. Now, does that mean that professors, for example, couldn't proofread your work? No, but it's important to know the potential affect it can have on how your manuscript is edited.
   
   
3. Interview the editor.
   Editing in general costs a pretty penny, so the right fit for you and your book is important. Since proofreading is not genre specific, it doesn't typically need a video chat prior to being hired. Some editors may still offer a video chat, but most will be happy to answer any question you have and provide samples of their previous work instead. They may also opt to do a quick read of your first chapter, mark up a line or two as examples of their proofreading style for you and send an email with their comments as part of the interview process. Some proofreaders have credentials to back their experience while others have learned on-the-job. One does not necessarily trump the other, except maybe in the price tag, so focusing on their experience, the samples provided and their grasp of grammar and typesetting, is the most vital part of the interview process. Ask the editor how the editing process works, as well. Lastly, not every editor will offer the same things, (e.g. will it cost extra depending on the shape of my manuscript?), so comparing those aspects also can help you decide which editor is best for you.
   
   

Now that you know what makes proofreading different, the work that is put into each manuscript and tips on how to find the best editor for you, go find them! I, of course, hope that our proofreader is the best editor for you and your book, but if not, we still want you to put your best book forward.

Write without fear. Edit without mercy.

- Joanna, Owner/Developmental Editor/Line Editor

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*Standard editorial rates are based on rates provided by the Editorial Freelancers Association 2020 survey.