# What can you tell me about working as a freelance proofreader? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-tell-me-about-working-as-a-freelance-proofreader/835455 "2019-06-13T01:59:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-tell-me-about-working-as-a-freelance-proofreader/835455/1 "2019-06-13T01:59:38Z")
I’m thinking of retiring soon and would like to find something I could do from home to make a bit of money to keep the ponies in good-quality alfalfa (none of that cheap, stemmy stuff for them!). Anyone here done this kind of work or know someone who has? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-tell-me-about-working-as-a-freelance-proofreader/835455/2 "2019-06-13T03:05:45Z")
I’ve been doing it for about 15 years. The hardest part is to establish a clientele. When I first started, I did a lot of work for an agency, proofing and editing college admissions essays, theses, etc. It was hard work. Many of the writers were ESL kids and “editing” really amounted to “mind reading.” Once I started to become more financially self-sufficient, I pulled back on the amount of work I wanted to do, and the agency kind of soured on me. I was able to develop a few clients outside of agency work, and I still do some work for them to this day. The less I do, the more I enjoy it. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-tell-me-about-working-as-a-freelance-proofreader/835455/3 "2019-06-13T03:15:16Z")
I do some but mostly from a technical side; making sure the 4th PA Regiment doesn’t accidentally become the 8th PA on page 65. Getting known and building the base really is the hard part. I got into it by accident myself; I got an early printing of a history book, highlighted all the errors, and mailed it back sort of in disgust. I got a second printing, a check, and an offer I’ve taken for the last 35 years. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-tell-me-about-working-as-a-freelance-proofreader/835455/4 "2019-06-13T11:45:44Z")
Not freelance. **FtGKid2** does online work for a proofreading company. The clients submit online, they get farmed out to the workers. **FtGKid2** is sort of a manager and has others working underneath. So there’s allocating their work, checking on their time and correctness, etc. Makes enough money to get by. A lot of people can’t hack it. Esp. the newbies that get assigned to the night shift. If you’re not doing good work in a timely manner, buh-bye. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-tell-me-about-working-as-a-freelance-proofreader/835455/5 "2019-06-13T11:58:51Z")
Also, be sure you know the difference between proofreading and editing.