Why listen to what I have to say about becoming a proofreader?
Hi there! My name is Michael, and I’m the founder of London Proofreaders, an established UK proofreading company that has been running for over 10 years.
Over that time, London Proofreaders has worked with thousands of clients around the world, proofreading and editing more than 14,000 documents for students, academics, researchers, businesses and professionals.
But my experience is not just theoretical.
Before starting the company, I worked part-time as a freelance proofreader while holding down a regular 9-to-5 job. I know what it feels like to start from scratch, build confidence, find clients and try to turn proofreading into a genuine source of income.
Later, after redundancy pushed me to build London Proofreaders properly, I moved to the other side of the table. I began hiring, testing and managing freelance proofreaders myself.
running London Proofreaders
proofread and edited
in 77 countries
reviewed, tested and hired
from client reviews
Since then, I have reviewed, interviewed and hired dozens of proofreaders, particularly for academic proofreading work. That means I understand both sides of the industry:
What it takes to become a freelance proofreader.
And what proofreading companies actually look for when deciding who to hire.
That second point is important.
Most advice about becoming a proofreader focuses only on grammar, training courses or generic freelancing tips. But very little explains how the proofreading market really works, what clients expect, how companies assess proofreaders, and how to position yourself so you are taken seriously.
Over the years, I’ve received countless emails through the London Proofreaders website from people asking how to get started. The questions are usually very practical:
- What qualifications do I need to become a proofreader?
- How do I find proofreading work?
- How much do proofreaders earn?
- How can I find online proofreading jobs?
- How do I find proofreading work if not online?
- Can I become a proofreader without formal editing experience?
- How much can proofreaders realistically earn?
- How do online proofreading jobs work?
- How can I turn experience in admin, teaching, academia or professional writing into paid proofreading work?
I created this ebook to answer those questions properly.
It is not a generic “work from home” guide, and it is not a grammar textbook. It is a practical, honest guide based on more than a decade of running a real UK proofreading company and seeing first-hand what separates successful applicants from those who never get hired.
If you want to understand how to become a proofreader in the UK — and how to give yourself the best chance of actually finding paid work — this ebook was written for you.