Proofreading

Advantages: High pay
Disadvantages: Extreme Boredom

Proofreading is actually extremely well paid and almost anyone can do it, but what is it and how do you get into it? Well, I hope to answer some of your questions. WHAT IS PROOFREADING?: Proofreading is what is done immediately prior to a manuscript being published. Every book you read in the shops had to be written by someone, and they will invariably make mistakes. Thats where you come in. You have to read the manuscript and correct any gramatical ...
...it? THE PAY?: Proofreading does actually pay exceptionally well. What you are doing amounts to reading a book/document, so reaching the dizzy heights of £10-£20 an hour is great. Well, it would be if the job didnt have the drawbacks it does have (there is a reason they have to pay so much!). Most places will pay £10 an hour for a novice and upwards of £30 an hour for a qualified professional! Basically each job is different though, so make sure ... Read review

Advantages: can be you own boss
Disadvantages: can have odd hours, dry periods etc...

...I have been living from proofreading and translation work as well as webdesign, and whilst I have no intention to make a permanent career out of either of them, proofreading has at least help to keep the wolf from the door. The situation is not just unique to Austria, but all over Europe and indeed it is a service that can be fairly well remunerated. I had done occasional translation work in Britain, but since arriving in Vienna I have steadily ...
...for a look over. Most proofreading jobs that I get are really more of a "polishing" job. Indeed many Americans I deal with call the service I offer polishing rather than proof-reading. For example I often get business brochures which are due to be sent out, and have been translated to the best of that person's ability, but just doesn't read in an overly English way, and I am then called in to get it to read as how a native speaker would have written ... Read review

Advantages: Dull and boring just like me
Disadvantages: Makes your eyes go funny

...hectic a lifestyle? Well, proofreading is the career for you my son... I often thought about getting into this as a career (You're sad, Mr D - Mrs D, Yeah but you married me - Mr D) because I'm afraid I'm a bit mad and detail conscious, but I managed to get into the highflying world of accountancy early on and it's been rush rush rush ever since. I have to admit that I have a bit of a bent for this sort of work and usually end up volunteering to ...
...seem to have a natural aptitude for the mindless and meaningless drudge of checking endless pages and pages of words for spelling mistakes, typos, grammatical errors, the misplaced colon, the forgotten apostrophe (When you're talking about belonging to Trampus - is it Trampus' or Trampus's or would you say Sarah's...) ... ah what bliss and exciting memories this op has brought back ... balmy mornings on a beach somewhere in South East Asia, a cooling ... Read review

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Waste of time and money!

This is a warning to other people who may see similar adverts in the media to the one I saw, urging you to enrol on a Home Study course to become a professional proofreader/copy editor. Since I have always been quite good at grammar, spelling, punctuation etc. I decided to give it a go. The course promised that a good living could be made once I was qualified. (The blurb mentioned foreign holidays, Mercedes cars – hah!) I studied on the course for ...
...additional £25 to take the Diploma (I passed, with merit) Now comes the crunch. No-one wants inexperienced proofreaders – I could paper my study with rejection letters. I feel I have been conned. My advice to anyone who is tempted by these courses and the promises they make is…keep your money in your pocket! If it seems too good to be true, then it most probably is! ... Read review