Proofreading service from experienced and professional book proofreader
Do you need a book proofreading service to ensure there are no spelling mistakes, grammar errors or punctuation mistakes; to check the subject–verb agreement and consistency of tense; or that the capitalisation and hyphenation of words are consistent and correct? Ensure your book, novel or ebook is proofread to a professional standard prior to publication.
If you have a final draft of your fiction novel, non-fiction book, short story or ebook, I will check and correct these aspects so your manuscript is ready to submit to an agent/publisher or self-publish. If you require a more in-depth edit to improve sentence structure and flow, the quality of wording and more, please check out my Book Editing Service.
As well as book editing, I also provide a Manuscript Assessment Service and an Ebook Formatting Service. Please note, I only proofread and edit UK English text.
If you have a final draft of your fiction novel, non-fiction book, short story or ebook, I will check and correct these aspects so your manuscript is ready to submit to an agent/publisher or self-publish. If you require a more in-depth edit to improve sentence structure and flow, the quality of wording and more, please check out my Book Editing Service.
As well as book editing, I also provide a Manuscript Assessment Service and an Ebook Formatting Service. Please note, I only proofread and edit UK English text.
Proofreading service for children's book |
What is Proofreading?
The proofreading process ensures your manuscript is ready for publication by removing any errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation as well as checking inconsistencies in vocabulary use and formatting, etc. This is the essential last step in the revision process – a quality assurance – to make sure your book, novel or short story is error-free before it is self-published, submitted to a publisher/agent or printed.
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See my proofreading checklist below for the features of this service:
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY PROOFREADING AND EDITING SERVICES AT A GLANCE
Features of Each Service |
Proofreading Service |
Copy-Editing Service |
Spelling mistakes and typos |
✔ |
✔ |
Punctuation errors |
✔ |
✔ |
Grammar errors |
✔ |
✔ |
Consistency of tense |
✔ |
✔ |
Subject–verb agreement |
✔ |
✔ |
Capitalisation and hyphenation errors |
✔ |
✔ |
Dialogue punctuation and formatting (as required) |
✔ |
✔ |
Amend quality of word usage and flow of text |
✖ |
✔ |
Improve sentence and paragraph structure |
✖ |
✔ |
Ensures text is concise and removes redundant wording |
✖ |
✔ |
Awkward phrasing is revised without losing the author's voice and style |
✖ |
✔ |
A fresh pair of trained eyes proofreading your work will prevent mistakes slipping through that could affect your reviews and also avoids the need to republish after rectifying errors. It is beneficial to use an experienced and professional proofreader as they are detached from the work, routinely make these checks and are proficient in spotting mistakes.
I am trained to find the errors you and your spellchecking software miss. As well as removing errors, I will ensure the consistency and increase the effectiveness of your writing.
I am trained to find the errors you and your spellchecking software miss. As well as removing errors, I will ensure the consistency and increase the effectiveness of your writing.
Proofread memoir
Thanks for being an amazing proofreader and for your professionalism, your speed reading and your lovely comments! It’s a weird thing having someone pretty much read your soul and you did it blinking quickly!
Hannah Phillips
Why is Proofreading Important?
It is essential to have your work proofread to prevent costly mistakes, both financial and reputational, whether you are writing a poem an ebook or a full-length novel:
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It is best not to proofread your own work as it’s easy to miss errors when you check it yourself. When you’re close to the material you’re not detached, so you read what you expect to see and not necessarily what is there. Our brains tend to automatically correct mistakes, which makes it difficult to notice even small mistakes in your own writing.
It pays to spot any errors early as there is never a second chance to make a first impression. Publishers and agents won’t accept work with typos or grammatical errors. If you’re self-publishing, the greatest story will not be enjoyable for readers if it’s littered with mistakes that could have easily been corrected.
You cannot rely on a computer’s spellchecker alone for spelling mistakes. Even the best computer or software package cannot carry out the work of a proofreader. The incorrect use of words is not flagged because it doesn't consider context or typos that result in another word. It doesn't make sure your wording is completely accurate.
It pays to spot any errors early as there is never a second chance to make a first impression. Publishers and agents won’t accept work with typos or grammatical errors. If you’re self-publishing, the greatest story will not be enjoyable for readers if it’s littered with mistakes that could have easily been corrected.
You cannot rely on a computer’s spellchecker alone for spelling mistakes. Even the best computer or software package cannot carry out the work of a proofreader. The incorrect use of words is not flagged because it doesn't consider context or typos that result in another word. It doesn't make sure your wording is completely accurate.
Miss steaks like these will note bee putt rite bye ewer spell chequer...
This sentence above is correct according to Microsoft Word. Spelling and grammar checkers are well known for their limitations and are never 100% right.
As well as the overall checklist above, the following will also be addressed as appropriate:
As well as the overall checklist above, the following will also be addressed as appropriate:
- Formatting inconsistencies will be amended if infrequent, otherwise they will be highlighted for the author to amend.
- Irregular margin indentations or a mixture of fonts used or inconsistent line spacing, for example.
- If you would like the font, margin indentations, line spacing, style of chapter headings, etc. amended and a table of contents added so that it meets publishing standards, please check out my Ebook Formatting Service for more information.
- Change US English spellings to UK English (I only edit material using UK English).
- Words used for numbers from one to ninety-nine for fiction and under ten for non-fiction. I will correct any inconsistencies.
- Correct usage if both single and double quotation marks are used.
- Italics for foreign words that aren’t listed in the dictionary / well known in English.
- Italics and quotation marks used correctly for the titles of films, books, TV shows, albums, songs, headlines, etc.
- If there is mixture of past and present tense used, this will be highlighted to the author or I will amend if it occurs infrequently.
- Abbreviations and acronyms are correct and expanded when first mentioned.
- If there is a table of contents, that this matches the appropriate sections in the text.
- Inconsistencies in the spelling of names and places.
- Any glaring inconsistencies in the storyline in fiction or information presented in non-fiction will be highlighted to the author as appropriate as part of the proofreading service. These are covered in more detail in my Copy-editing Service.
Proofread poetry book
Great Service, very astute, very knowledgeable and punctual.
I will use again, many thanks.
Roy Merchant
What Proofreading Doesn't Cover
Proofreading is carried out when the book or piece of writing is complete and only needs a final check for grammatical and consistency errors. This service is NOT the option if any of the following are needed:
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Book Proofreader For Hire
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I am trained in editing and proofreading through the College of Media and Publishing where I qualified with distinction. I have many years’ experience working with authors of fiction and non-fiction in many different genres from chick lit to thriller, memoirs to fantasy, and poetry to self-help books.
See a selection of the books I have worked on and client testimonials here. It’s difficult to notice mistakes in your own writing because you can’t stand back as a ‘reader’ when you’re so close and involved in the text. I will ensure your manuscript is error-free and ready for publication – no job is too small or too large. I will save you the time of making sure grammar rules are adhered to, learning how to punctuate dialogue, or checking for inconsistencies and errors. As a trained and experienced proofreader and editor, I will check and amend your manuscript so you can self-publish or send a sample to an agent/publisher with confidence. |
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Edited, proofread and contributed to book on social media
Alex is an excellent proofreader and copy editor, and her attention to detail was second to none. Her ability to critique work, make recommendations and suggest improvements enhanced the project significantly. It was great to work with somebody like Alex who can support on projects and be 100% reliable and professional. Alex will now be my go-to proofreader/editor on future projects.
Spencer Slater
Book Proofreading Rates
The cost for my proofreading service is discussed on an individual basis as the requirements of each client are different and every job is unique.
My rates are dependent on the following:
I do not carry out the following:
I charge per 1,000 words, not per mistake or by the hour. There is a minimum charge of £50 for all services (not including my Monthly Special Offer as appropriate). Please contact me for a free no-obligation quote. Quotations are valid for 30 days from the date provided.
Once the manuscript has been returned, any additional work required thereafter (proofreading of further changes made by author, etc.) is charged at £25 per hour (minimum charge £25).
How to make payment:
I accept payment by debit card, credit card, PayPal account and bank transfer. Payment is required in advance of the work commencing and within 48 hours of receiving the payment request or invoice. See my Terms and Conditions for more information.
My rates are dependent on the following:
- Subject matter
- Word count
- Required turnaround time
- The amount of proofreading required (the amount of corrections and amendments required)
- Use of a foreign language in the text (if there are numerous phrases in a foreign language to be checked)
I do not carry out the following:
- I do not proofread text that has been written by an author with English as a second language / the text has been translated from a foreign language.
- I do not proofread data or text applied to or within photographs, images, illustrations or tables/graphs/charts/etc.
- This service does not involve the formatting or insertion of photographs, images, illustrations or tables/graphs/charts/etc. You can find out how to format images for your ebook at the following Amazon KDP Resources page.
I charge per 1,000 words, not per mistake or by the hour. There is a minimum charge of £50 for all services (not including my Monthly Special Offer as appropriate). Please contact me for a free no-obligation quote. Quotations are valid for 30 days from the date provided.
Once the manuscript has been returned, any additional work required thereafter (proofreading of further changes made by author, etc.) is charged at £25 per hour (minimum charge £25).
How to make payment:
I accept payment by debit card, credit card, PayPal account and bank transfer. Payment is required in advance of the work commencing and within 48 hours of receiving the payment request or invoice. See my Terms and Conditions for more information.
Book Proofreading Process
Example of Tracked Changes feature used in Microsoft Word. Click image to enlarge.
How I work:
- After I receive the manuscript in a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx file), I apply amendments using the Track Changes function. This will enable the author to clearly see the changes that have been made during the proofreading stage.
- The author can see all the deletions, insertions and formatting corrections whilst maintaining the original document. This allows you to see the amendments before accepting them. Check out this Microsoft support article on accepting/rejecting amendments in Word.
- I also provide explanations of changes I have made and offer suggestions using the comment boxes. Check out this Microsoft support article to delete the comments.
- As well as returning the file which shows all the changes, I also provide a final version with all the amendments incorporated and any comments removed so you can use this 'clean' version to amend as appropriate or self-publish/send to publishers/literary agents.
- For details of book cover designers, creating and selling ebooks/print-on-demand books, print-on-demand printing companies and more, please check out my Self-Publishing Resources.
- For information on book promotion and marketing, please check out my following articles:
Contact Book Editing Services
If you would like to get in touch, let me know about your book and which service you're interested in by using the secure Contact Form. You can also use the form to discuss your editorial requirements, request a no-obligation quote or check availability.
Please read my Terms and Conditions if you would like to use my editorial services so you are familiar with how I work and the requirements of both parties. I look forward to hearing from you.
Please read my Terms and Conditions if you would like to use my editorial services so you are familiar with how I work and the requirements of both parties. I look forward to hearing from you.
