Tips for Getting Professional Proofreading and Editing Services

For some writers, revision is a difficult but necessary part of the writing process. Checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation feels like a big hassle. Reviewing the text for context and readability is a nightmare. Just how many ways can you rearrange the words in an effort to say essentially the same thing, but in a more compelling way?

It has to be done. Ideally, as a writer, you’ll be able to find someone — a second pair of eyes — to go over your work and make sure it is both correct and readable. Are there typos or grammar mistakes? Do the ideas flow smoothly and make sense? What could be improved?

Unfortunately, not everyone has a well read friend or associate who can provide regular feedback. Hiring someone to provide professional proofreading and editing services may be the solution.

A professional editor will review your written material to check for correctness and will also provide alternate wording and suggestions for rearranging, cutting, or adding different sections of text to make the entire piece flow more smoothly. A proofreading pro will (more affordably) clean up your work, checking it solely for mechanical correctness.

Before You Hire a Professional

Proofreading and editing services are not recommended for writers who are looking for an easy way out. If you’ve sped through a first draft and don’t feel like cleaning it up, but want to publish or submit it for publication, then you should take the time to rework the piece yourself. At the very least, try to get through a few drafts before you hire a professional.

Why? Because proofreaders and editors can only mark up your piece of writing with so many corrections before it becomes illegible. The cleaner the copy you submit, the better and more thorough the edits and corrections will be, and the stronger your piece will become.

Give a proofreader or editor your first draft and you will get back a second draft. Give the editor your third, fourth, or fifth draft, and you’ll get back a polished copy, ready for publication.

Should You Hire a Proofreader or an Editor?

Proofreaders check for technical correctness, so if your writing is comprehensive (in other words, it sounds good when you read it aloud, but the text is peppered with mistakes) but you struggle with grammar, spelling, and punctuation, then you should work with a proofreader. Note that proofreading doesn’t include rearranging sentences and paragraphs for better readability, but editing does.

If you are in the early stages of your writing career or are just starting to learn the ropes of good writing or if you struggle with making the best word choices, structuring sentences, and organizing your paragraphs, then an editor can help you rearrange your work so that it flows smoothly. Editors will also handle proofreading and correct any mechanical errors.

Editors provide more expanded services, so they cost a little more. Proofreaders are perfect for experienced and skilled writers who need a second pair of eyes to double-check their work.

Have you ever hired someone to proofread or edit your work? Do you feel proofreading and editing are better done by the writer, a professional, or both? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.