Essential Tools Of The Trade For Home-based Proofreaders

So you want to set up as a home-based freelance

proofreader? Great!

 Proofreading is in many respects the ideal home-based

business. You can work any time that suits you,

perhaps fitting it around domestic commitments. You

can start part-time and go full-time later if you

wish. And while you won't make a fortune, you can

certainly make a very good living.

 Few special tools or equipment are required to set up

as a proofreader. The following are really all you

need to get started:

 * You will need a supply of colored pens (red, blue

and black) for marking up proofs. Modern gel ink pens

are ideal for this, though good-quality fiber-tips and

the more expensive ballpoints which will not trail

blobs of ink are also acceptable.

 * Pencils are needed for writing queries on proofs.

For example, if the author spells another writer's

name as LARSSON in the main text but LARSSEN in the

bibliography, you will need to put a note on the

proofs that the correct spelling should be confirmed

with the author.

 * You will also need a good-sized desk or table on

which to work. The kitchen table might be OK at first,

but it is much better to have your own desk where you

will not have to clear away all your papers when

mealtimes come around! Try to put your desk near a

source of natural light. Especially if you plan to

work at night or in the evenings, a good quality

reading lamp (preferably an angle-poise which can be

adjusted into a wide range of positions) is highly

recommended.

 * Together with the desk, you will also need a comfy

chair, preferably with a padded seat and adjustable

height and backrest. A plain dining room chair is

likely to become uncomfortable after long periods,

interfering with your concentration.

 * You should also have a telephone so that publishers

can contact you with offers of work and you can call

them with any queries. As soon as your budget will

stretch to it, a telephone answering machine will

ensure that you never miss out on work due to being

away from home. Alternatively, your telephone service

provider may offer a voicemail service you can use

when you are out.

 * You will need a good dictionary. Not only will

dictionaries help you with spellings, they also advise

on correct usage, capitalization, italicization, and

so on. Don't be tempted to economize here -- any

dictionary you obtain should have at least 150,000

word definitions. Shorter dictionaries (e.g. pocket

and student editions) are simply not good enough.

 * Other reference books. If you intend to seek work

in a specialist area of publishing such as medicine or

the law, a dictionary of the relevant specialist terms

will be an asset. You may also find it useful to

purchase some basic guides to grammar and punctuation.

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