RECOMMENDED GUIDES

As I mentioned above, I would strongly recommend the following book as a starting point.

"Freelance Proofreading and Copy-editing - A Guide" by Trevor Horwood.

It covers the book production process, how to read and correct proofs, copy-editing, rewriting and project editing, reference books and training options and a glossary of publishing jargon. Once you've mastered the theory, there is a section of exercises, complete with analysis and explanations, together with chapters on how and where to find work and 101 potential customers (with addresses and telephone numbers).

What makes this guide unique is its link to a web-site. Like any other, the publishing world experiences constant change. Companies may move or be taken over, and information requires updating. To address this problem, any changes, together with links to the websites of organizations mentioned in the book, are made available to owners of the guide.

Take a look at all the 5 star reviews it receives at Amazon

A money-back guarantee is offered with this guide. If after reading the guide you feel that you are not cut out for freelancing, simply return it to me within thirty days and your money will be refunded in full - no questions asked. (Please note that this money-back guarantee applies only if the guide is purchased direct, not from Amazon or any other bookseller.)

To order your copy of "Freelance Proofreading and Copy-editing - A Guide", please send a cheque, postal order or international money order for £15.00 sterling, payable to Mrs L O'Connor, together with your name and address to:

Mrs Lynne O'Connor
91B Acton Lane,
London, NW10 8UT
UK

Postage and packing is free within the UK. For any European destination please add £1 towards additional costs. For destinations outside Europe, please add £3.00 towards postage (£18 total). Please note that all cheques must be drawn on a UK bank. If you wish to pay by credit card, or Paypal balance, click on the link below:

Alternatively you can order it from Amazon UK, Amazon.comor through your local bookshop.

Freelance Proofreading & Copy-editing - A Guide

Other books you may wish to consider are listed below.

Please note that some of the following are UK editions and some are American books, and as such will refer to the relevant spelling and style, both of which differ in subtle but important ways. Make sure you purchase books applicable to the market you wish to enter. They can all be ordered over the Internet from Amazon.com or Amazon UK as indicated.

Books on Proofreading and Copyediting

	Lapsing into a Comma Bill Walsh For lovers of language, Lapsing Into a Comma is a sensible and very funny guide to the technicalities of writing and copy editing. Author Bill Walsh, chief copy editor in the business section of the Washington Post, humorously discusses the changing rules of proper print style in the information age. Is it "e-mail" or "email"? According to established grammatical rules, it should be e-mail, but in common practice, we often use email (which should be pronounced "uhmail," but we all know not to do that). Therefore, email is OK. Sample pages can be viewed on the US site at Amazon.com
	Copy-editing Judith Butcher Since it was first published in 1975, Judith Butcher's "Copy-editing" has become established as a standard reference guide. The new edition has been revised and redesigned to provide an up-to-date and clearly presented source of information for editors, authors and all those involved in the process of preparing typescripts and illustrations for printing and publication. From the basics of how to mark a typescript for the designer and the typesetter, through the ground rules of house style and consistency, to how to read and correct proofs, "Copy-editing" covers all aspects of the editorial processes involved in converting author's typescript to printed page. Formerly head of the copy-editing department at Cambridge University Press, Judith Butcher takes a clear and practical approach to problems and pitfalls. Like its predecessors, this new edition is intended for new and experienced editors alike. Also available from Amazon.com
	The Copyeditor's Handbook Amy Einsohn US Edition This is a practical manual for newcomers to publishing and for experienced editors who want to fine-tune their skills or broaden their understanding of the craft. Addressed to copyeditors in book publishing and corporate communications, this handbook explains what copyeditors do, what they look for when they edit a manuscript, and how they develop the editorial judgment needed to make sound decisions. The major topics include: procedures for copyediting on-screen and on hard copy; basic reference books and online editorial resources; mechanical conventions; solutions to grammar problems; handling of tables, graphs, illustrations, reference, notes, bibliographies and indexes; and typecoding and specification. The book is designed to be used for self-instruction or as a textbook in copyediting classes. The 15 practice exercises, ranging from sets of sentences to 900 word articles, are accompanied by answer keys and detailed line-by-line explanations. There is also a glossary of copyediting jargon, grammar terms and a checklist for analyzing the idiosyncracies of a publisher's "housestyle". Also available from Amazon.com
	Oxford Writers' Dictionary R.E. Allen (Editor)  Would you write council house or council-house, referendums or referenda, vice versa or vice-versa, razzmatazz, or razzamatazz, or razz-ma-tazz, or ...? This comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of writing style and usage is an indispensable aid to writers, journalists, editors, publishers, and anyone who wishes to write correctly and effectively. * Straightforward guidance and rulings on problems of grammar, syntax, spelling, and punctuation * Broad coverage includes names of people and places, and foreign words and phrases * Helpful and informative on aspects of usage, such as capitalization and abbreviations This book is intended for writers, editors, journalists, publishers, and anyone concerned with writing correctly and effectively. Also available from Amazon.com
	Proofreading Plain and Simple ; May, Debra Hart US Edition Includes proofreading exercises, examples of how to make corrections, the most common and most critical errors to catch, and a chart of the most common proofreading symbols. A well-organized and concise reference for those who need to proofread written material. Excellent reminders for those who are experienced in proofreading, pointing out the pitfalls of proofreading one's own work (and even recommending graceful ways to proofread friends' and coworkers' materials). Good review of the basics of editing, appropriate use of proofreader's marks, and many excellent recommendation and reminders about the objectives and goals of proofreading. Should be part of your professional library. (Review taken from the Amazon site) Also available from Amazon.com
	Powerful Proofreading Skills; Tips, Techniques and Tactics Debra A. Smith, Helen R. Sutton Explains basic proofreading rules, guidelines, strategies, and tips. US Edition.. Also availabel from Amazon.com
	Penguin Guide to Punctuation R.L. Trask Focusing on British and Commonwealth punctuation, but also explaining American usage, this text contains clear and up-to-date definitions of each type of punctuation. It includes the correct use of capital letters, contractions and abbreviations, italics, boldface and the special characters available on a word processor. Also available from Amazon.com

Mind the Gaffe ; R.L. Trask. Amazon Price £6.39
320 pages (July, 2002)

Synopsis
What is the difference between "imminent" and "immanent"? When is it appropriate to use the phrase "Hobson's choice"? Can anything be described as "very real"? There are so many obstacles on the way to writing clear, precise ("accurate"?) English ("english"?) that it is a wonder ("wander"?) anyone ( "anyone" or "any one"?) can make themselves understood. In this guide, Professor Larry Trask gives advice on how to write simply and effectively and to avoid blunders and howlers which might otherwise leave your readers either bemused or rolling on the floor with laughter. He also adjudicates on hundreds of contentious issues (should "aggravate", for example, only be used in its strict meaning of "make worse"), helps the reader decide when it is appropriate to use British or American spelling ("millipede" or "millepede") and warns of the dangers which careful writers might encounter with e-mail. The result is a book that should be of use to all writers who want quick, sound advice on making their prose as readable and clear as possible.

Also available from Amazon.com

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2007

If you want to know which companies produce publications within your specialist sectors, this book has details of all UK newspapers and magazines with named editors and book publishers.

Also available from Amazon.com

2007 Writer's Market

The Classic Resource for Every Writer Who Wants to Be Published

• *Features more than 3500 market listings
• *Includes 500 new markets for 2007
• *Provides 100% updated material

Continuing the tradition of providing writers with the information they need to get published, the 2007 Writer’s Market is the go-to guide for anyone who wants to be published. Featuring new and exclusive interviews with Alice Kaplan, Augusten Burroughs, and Jennifer Weiner, the latest edition also includes articles covering the basics of book proposals, how to get freelance writing gigs, the keys to successful query letters, the six rules critical to publishing success, and more.

Also available from Amazon.com

Handbook for Proofreading (American Edition) ; Anderson, Laura Killen

Demonstrates the basic methods of proofreading, introduces proofreading marks and tells how to create a style sheet, check facts, and add typesetter instructions.

Also available from Amazon.com

Go Ahead, Proof It K D Sullivan

Includes proofreader's marks and tips for catching spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, and provides formats for numbered lists, captions, runni heads, and tables of contents.

Excellent for beginners or as a basic refresher.

This book covers basic proofreading elements that will be extremely helpful to anyone who is new to the field or wants to pursue this career. There are many insider tips that are extremely useful. Also serves as an excellent refresher for people who have been proofreading for a few years. Not all-inclusive as far as grammar, syntax, etc., go (pick up a grammar book for that), but absolutely excellent for the basics and insider tips. (review taken from Amazon site)

Also available from Amazon.com

UK TRAINING COURSES

Looking for a proofreading home study course? The only courses recognised and recommended by many publishers in the UK are those run by The Publishing Training Centre at Book House, an educational charity dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in publishing. Once you have successfully completed one of The Publishing Training Centre's distance learning courses, your services can be listed on The Publishing Training Centre's Freelance Directory which gives publishers access to freelancers. Visit their website at http://www.train4publishing.co.uk or telephone 020 8874 2718 for more information on their courses and good advice on working freelance within the sector.

CONTACT POINTS

Biz-banana.com has an excellent report on proofreading, together with reviews of various courses and guides on the market. Updated and expanded for 2006, it takes a good look at the fascinating process of book publishing and the potentially lucrative rewards available to the successful freelance proofreader/copyeditor.

In addition to http://www.train4publishing.co.uk mentioned above, one website I recommend you check out is for The Society for Editors and Proofreaders. The SfEP is a non-profit-distributing organization with the twin aims of:

• promoting high editorial standards
• achieving recognition of the professional status of its members

There are currently around 1400 members (mostly in the UK), providing a wide range of freelance editorial services to the publishing community and beyond. Among the Society's publications are a monthly Newsletter called CopyRight and the annual Directory, which provides details of services provided by members. On their website is a long list of companies that use freelancers and the type of specialist fields where freelancers are needed. http://www.sfep.org.uk/

Online Proofreading Employment

Global Company sometimes seeks qualified freelance proofreaders. You must be completely equipped for handling work through the Internet. We are only interested in those who are professional, highly skilled with at least three years of practical experience. Apply by filling out our online application. You will be asked to provide the following information:Your resume in Microsoft Word or Acrobat PDF format, Two professional references, Areas of technical expertise, Minimum hourly rate, Style manuals used and titles of publications copyedited. Contact Name: Dale Adams.Apply online for proofreading vacancies. http://www.edserv.com/applications/default.asp

ACADEMICWORD seeks people with OUTSTANDING English writing skills to proofread and copyedit academic and technical texts. We seek applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including the natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences, engineering, law, and the humanities. Projects can vary from 10-page research papers up to thousand-page book manuscripts.

Editors are paid per assignment and work from their own computers, with assignments delivered and returned by e-mail. ACADEMICWORD offers competitive compensation and flexible work schedules.

If you are interested in applying, please use the form at http://www.academicword.com/et1.asp. You will subsequently be sent at a preselected time, a timed 30-minute editing test.

 

PROOFREADING TEST

This test has been prepared by Trevor Horwood, author of the book " Freelance Proofreading and Copy-editing - A Guide" which is described above. E-mail me if you need the answers. The test contains a total of thirty errors.

As we enter the new millenium its difficult to avoid thinking about how the world is changing. In the 1980’s few people had even seen a computer, let alone owned one. Now they are on most childrens’ christmas wish-lists. In the 1990’s satelite television was a new and wondrous thing – no less than sixteen channels through one ariel! Compare that figure with the hundreds available today. Digital broadcasting has changed our lives to such an extent that the question is no longer ‘TV or not TV?’ (to misquote Shakespear), but ‘Could we manage without it?’ Can you imagine life a hundred years ago, when there was neither television or radio. For us, it doesn't bare thinking about, but perhaps our great-grandparents were equally as content to sit round a piano as we are to stare at a screen. There would have been no disagreement about what channel to watch, at least.

Which would you choose as the best of the two period’s in which to live? In 1900 there was certainly less leisure time, accomodation was terribly cramped, there were two world wars to come, (not to mention the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918, which was responsable for the deaths of more British people than the Second World War preceeding it), a holiday was a luxury and there was no modern conveniences. I am not, of course, inferring that all is now perfect. Today we have global warming, gridlocked traffic, GM foods, BSE, ME, AIDS and many other unwelcome contractions and anagrams – problems all partly or wholly atttributable to technological advances. On balance, though, I think I would prefer to take my chances in todays silicone-enhanced world of bits and bites than in the troubled times of our forbears.