Proofreading is the last step in the process before a document is published (after all types of editing). A proofreader will check the final document for the following errors:

• Missing words
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Consistency
• Typographical errors
• Formatting errors
• Double words

The editing process comes before proofreading since it seeks to improve the overall writing. There are several types of editing: developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting. Developmental editing focuses on the overall project. It focuses on the content, organization, argument, and evidence of the piece. Line editing focuses more on each sentence to ensure each one is clear, concise, and effective while maintaining the author’s voice and style. Copyediting is similar to line editing in that many times editors will also address some style issues sentence-by-sentence, but it also addresses issues with grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Proofreading is the last step in the process before a document is published. Proofreaders check the document for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency, as well as looking for any final typographical and formatting errors.

Editing and proofreading are both important tasks for most projects—especially for short stories and books.

Ask yourself this question: Do I need help with structure, wording, or style? If your answer is yes, then you need an editor. Once the work has been edited to your satisfaction, you’ll need a proofreader to review the final document for any lingering errors. 

If your answer is no, and you’re ready for the final check of your document before release, then you’re ready for a proofreader.

Once you contact me, I’ll send you a client questionnaire and request the project to get a better understanding of your project. 

If you have a large project and request a sample proofread in your questionnaire, then I will proofread your document (up to 1,000 words from the middle) and return that to you with the project proposal.

If that is amenable, then I’ll send you the contract and invoice for the first payment, which is typically 50 percent of the project (25 percent for larger projects).

Once the contract is signed and the first payment received, I’ll begin proofreading your project.

I’ll send weekly updates until the project is finished.

Once I’m finished, I’ll send (1) the final proofread document with track changes (if using Word or Docs), (2) the final clean document, and (3) the invoice for final payment.

I’d be happy to provide a small sample for longer works (no more than 1,000 words from the middle of your project), so you can decide if we would be a good fit. 

Unfortunately, a sample isn’t practical for shorter projects. See “Could I see an example document?”

You can submit your document in whatever file format is easiest for you.

Microsoft Word and Google Docs both allow you to track any changes made to the document. Then you either accept or decline each change. This can make it easier for you to then implement changes.

PDFs are clean, and it is easier to see what changes have been made to the document as errors are highlighted in yellow with the correction above, but then you will need to make each suggested change manually to the original document. PDFs can be helpful for content that has been formatted for a particular purpose (like brochures) or for final printing.

I use the Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster Dictionary to guide my decisions. If you have preferences different than what’s suggested in these resources, we can discuss those.

I work with US English.

I’ll work with any of the following:

• Blogs
• Websites
• Short stories
• Novels
• Nonfiction books
• Marketing material

I don’t work with anything in the erotica genre or anything with heavy language.

If you have a longer work, I’d be happy to proofread a sample of no more than 1,000 words from the middle of your project.

Below is an example of a proofread document in Microsoft Word.

And below is an example of a proofread document as a PDF.

The time we live in is an exciting one. Never before have we had more access to resources. One of those valuable resources is AI—with features like Copilot, Grammarly, Microsoft Editor, and other editing services.

These services are wonderful, but they don’t catch every error. And many times, if you follow every suggestion given, errors can be introduced to the work. A skilled human eye is still necessary.

Payment is broken down into at least two payments.

Fifty percent of the project is due before work begins with the final payment due once work is completed.

For large projects, the payments can be broken down into three with 25 percent to begin work, 25 percent about midway through the project, and 50 percent once work is completed. Should budget constraints still make this plan a hardship, we can certainly discuss other options.

You could proofread your own work, but you wouldn’t find as many mistakes as a proofreader would. 

First, you’re too close to the work so your brain might skip over double words, missing words, typos, etc. Even proofreaders use other proofreaders to proof their own work.

Second, a proofreader has studied and trained, which means they’ll find those mistakes plus many others you probably didn’t know were mistakes.