What is a Proofreader, and Why You Need One.

By Tierre-Lee Curtis

Do you find yourself confused about where a comma should or shouldn’t be? Running sentences running you around the bend? Well, get ready to count your blessings because today we are going to introduce you to the Proofreader.

Like a mechanic fine-tuning their dream muscle car, the Proofreader is here to ensure your writing meets all the literary standards and technicalities you need to succeed. Their responsibility is to ensure spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure are working in your favour. Proofreaders are some of the final sets of eyes to review your work before sharing it with the public and are integral to producing publishable quality work.

Many of the previous editing roles we’ve discussed involve some level of proofreading. However, if you want to guarantee all your ‘T’s are crossed and your ‘I’s dotted, then you need to speak to a Proofreader. To better understand the position, let’s take a look at what elements they’ll focus on and why it’s so damn important.

• It’s hard to immerse yourself in writing when all you can focus on are misspelled words and incorrectly used punctuation. It affects the impact of your work and takes the shine off your reputation. Proofreaders ensure that your text's spelling, grammar, and language are error-free.

• Have you ever read a story about Julius Caesar’s journey to the Arctic Circle? Me neither. That’s because Proofreaders ensure your work is not only consistent but factually accurate. 

• Beyond these content-driven responsibilities, the Proofreader ensures your work is formatted correctly. Inconsistent formatting can be incredibly distracting and leave an unprofessional impression on your audience.

Whether you consider yourself a grammar pro or a red pen bandit, the work of a Proofreader is essential to bringing your work to a professional and publishable standard.