How to become a proofreader
Perform reviews and final checks on written work before it goes to print or becomes live on a website.
Pathways to this career
Look into accredited certifications, short courses or an undergraduate arts degree. Majors like journalism, editing, creative writing and journalism are great starting points.
Already have an undergraduate degree in a different area? Pursue proofreading with a postgraduate writing, editing or a communications course
Get industry recognition by completing accredited proofreading programs to extend your experience.
What does a proofreader do?
Proofreaders do final checks on written work before it goes to print or becomes live on a website. Proofreaders work for newspapers, magazines, websites and publishing companies. They may specialise in specific fields or publications, such as business reports and academic works.
Duties and tasks
Review, proof and edit content (written or digital) across a variety of media and industries to ensure correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, usage, consistency and brand voice in the final product.
Ensure the accuracy of all referenced facts (e.g. dates, pages and values) and double-checks cross-referenced materials (e.g. websites and newspapers).
Ensure correct usage of page numbers, captions and heading
Check that all photos/illustrations are correctly captioned
Mark corrections to be made and revise as necessary
Professional bodies
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