Online Copy Editing and Proofreading

Several online copy editing jobs exists, if you have a passion for writing. If you are interested in pursuing a career as copy editor, you can definitely start by picking up these freelancing opportunities.

What Does a Freelance Proofreader Do?

Usually, the primary task of Proofreaders includes performing quality checks on publications, writing materials before it goes out for printing/publishing.

Some tasks that online Proofreading jobs will involve checking for:

• Correct spellings, punctuations
• Consistency in the writing style
• Technical, Factual or Grammatical Errors
• Clear Document Layout

Writing content, editing, proof reading, does all this sound exciting to you?

If you have the skill for writing, you should explore a career in online editing or freelancing and work towards becoming a professional copy editor.

There are many online jobs available, especially around writing. However, writing, editing, proofreading or freelancing as a copy editor requires good writing skills. It is especially helpful for all those who intend to pursue a career in writing and need some sort of experience to gain a foot hold in the industry.

Even journalists, critics, specialized content writers opt for freelancing projects that they work upon from home. Many book authors proof-read their manuscript through freelancers who tweak it and correct it wherever required.

Plenty of online proof reading jobs & opportunities exists and your clients would usually include the following:

Publishers, editing and proofreading agencies, retail chains, media agencies and government bodies, graphic design houses, printers, basically anybody who is going to host a website with plenty of content or who is going to publish documents, reports or promotional materials.

Tools, Equipment & Skills Required?

• A good command over language is a basic requirement.
• Most companies have online language tests to qualify for the job.
• Some companies require specific knowledge of certain fields. For e.g. a pharma company may insist on previous experience in the pharma industry etc.

The basic requirement, in terms of equipment, for any online job also applies here!

You will need a Computer, Internet Connection and software like MS Office.

In terms of skills you should know how to:

• Use MS office, primary MS Word
• Track and comment within MS Word, so that you can track changes
• Use online Dictionary, Thesaurus

You should also have the ability to send and receive file attachments.

Scope of Online Editing

• Today, many newspapers, magazines, publishing houses outsource editing jobs to freelancers in order to meet the time deadline and to save cost.
• Online journals, websites, encyclopedia etc .
• Professionals in the field of medicine, law, engineering etc are required to proof read journals

Challenges with Online Editing Jobs

• Every online job has its risks associated with it, in this case, the work-provider (employer) may not pay you after the work is submitted. Hence, it is very important that you accept work only through reputed sites and not work with anybody directly.
• At times, there is considerable delay in payment. You could collect part payment after 50% of the work is completed and the rest immediately after the complete submission is made. This applies mostly to offline work opportunities, since online websites have several safeguards to ensure you are paid on time.
• The Employer may terminate the project due to unsatisfactory work or refuse to work with you again if you so a shoddy job.

Closing Thoughts

Today, many companies require professionals with good language skills to proof read or edit journals, articles or online websites etc on a freelancing basis. The scope of online editing is immense with the changing dynamics of the industry. Hence, if you are good at writing and want to work from home, you can opt for various online copy editing or proof reading projects.

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