Proofreading and editing services are readily available on today’s Internet, but professional proofreading services are not as easy to find as you would think. This is because it is common for sub-standard proofreaders and editors to work in the space today. As a result, many customers receive poor written documents from the people they hire, and they cannot rely on their proofreaders to solve major mistakes in grammar, formatting, or consistency. Naturally, this undermines confidence, and people become reluctant to use proofreaders, editors, or rewriter’s altogether.
Given that reliable, professional proofreading services, as well as other writing services (e.g., editing), are sometimes difficult to find, this article encourages consumers to be cautious in the hiring process. To ensure that you receive high-quality work, and to ensure that you receive a guarantee from your proofreader that the work they finish will be strong, there are several key things to pay attention to. Therefore, when you’re next hiring someone to work on a mission-critical document, be sure to follow the main tips and things to know outlined in this article.
Before you hire a proofreader or editor, whether a freelancer or someone contracted by an agency or third-party, remember that every proofreading and editing services provider – if they are legitimate – will offer you a free sample. The length of this free sample will vary (e.g., from 100 words to 500 words)depending on factors such as the size of your document, the service, and the service provider’s policy.
Looking at the free samples completed by two or three professionals will help you decide which one to choose. Therefore, be sure to capitalise on this offer, as it is an essential part of the process of hiring someone who has the necessary expertise and experience to assist you. An important point worth bearing in mind is that, if you order too many free samples from too many professionals, the quality of your work will drop significantly (as they say, too many cooks really do spoil the broth).
Many freelancers offer excellent, high-quality proofreading and editing services. However, for some use cases, going with companies that hire proofreaders are a better choice, mainly because these firms vet the professionals they work with. Therefore, if you work with a reputable service provider, then you can rely on them – to a degree – to assign your work to a suitable proofreader (that is, based on a larger pool of candidates).
However, if you choose a freelancer, the risk does exist that they may enter into unreasonable, unscrupulous practices, which could leave you with no third-party or intermediary to resolve the dispute. With these issues in mind, working with freelancers for professional proofreading services is definitely an option you should consider, but the risks should be weighed against the rewards. For some clients interested in working with proofreaders and editors, direct contact with freelancers is often more desirable. In other cases, the usefulness of having a well-established proofreading firm, which draws on a vast team of hundreds of proofreaders, may win out.
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