Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Fresh Eyes Proofreaders unique other than its name? We do have beautiful eyes, we must confess. More importantly, we provide a fresh set of eyes to your project which has become so familiar to you that you might have overlooked incorrect punctuation or spelling or even grammar usage. We provide objectivity and will approach your work as if it were entirely new to us, because it is. Further, we are a mother-daughter team, skilled in American English and its proper usage as well as the art of applying proper style and consistency. As a matter of fact, we are so passionate about the English language that we take great umbrage when it is misused, misspelled, or misapplied.
How much will it cost to have my project professionally reviewed and proofread? Our rates could vary based on a couple of things, like an escalated deadline, complexity, or length of your project. But, generally, our average rate is $.02 per word, or $25-$35 per hour, depending on the type of project. While these rates might seem low, they are actually the industry average.
What is the difference in proofreading and editing? Nothing screams amateur like a glaring misspelled word or a punctuation error. A professional copyedit followed by a professional proofread can transform a manuscript, elevating it from the ordinary to the extraordinary!
According to Wikipedia, “Copyediting is the process of revising written material to improve readability and fitness, as well as ensuring that text is free of grammatical and factual errors. The Chicago Manual of Style states that manuscript editing encompasses "simple mechanical corrections through sentence-level interventions to substantial remedial work on literary style and clarity, disorganized passages, baggy prose, muddled tables and figures, and the like." In the context of print publication, copyediting is done before typesetting and again before proofreading. Outside of traditional book and journal publishing, the term copyediting is sometimes incorrectly referred to as proofreading, or the term copyediting sometimes includes additional tasks.”
A proofreader’s job is to review the final draft of content right before it gets published and to correct any grammatical, spelling, punctuation and typographical errors. A proofreader is responsible for scanning the whole document thoroughly several times in order to detect and correct any language usage and perhaps minor formatting mistakes as well as to verify consistency (e.g. language variations – British or American English, captions for illustrations, citations).
Will you handle all aspects of the publishing process for me? While proofreading is an integral part of the publishing process, and Fresh Eyes Proofreaders takes that seriously, that is all we do. We will deliver a quality product back to you so that you can publish it with confidence.
How long will it take for Fresh Eyes Proofreaders to complete my project? We pride ourselves on our responsiveness and will make every effort to complete your project within the agreed upon timeframe. Depending on the degree of complexity of your project, of course, we will strive to complete at least 7-11 double spaced pages in an hour. Complex projects that might require citations or style research could add to that pace.
Where are you located? Can I visit your offices? Fresh Eyes Proofreaders is a freelance service operating from remote locations in south Mississippi. We do not have traditional office space, but you’re welcome to visit. We’ll have some sweet tea.
What is the process for acquiring your services? Our process starts with a phone call, email or FaceBook direct message. Once we have established the best way to communicate, one of our staff will lead you through the process by asking several questions in order to learn about you and your project, expectations, deadlines, and what you’re looking for. You can also click on the “Our Process” tab on our website to learn more.
What do you need to review my manuscript? What format does it need to be in, e.g., Microsoft Word, PDF, or handwritten? Really all we need is your literary work and to know your preference of editing platform. We are most comfortable working with Microsoft Word, but we can work with PDF or Google Docs. If working with PDF, we will convert it to a Word document so we can easily track changes. Then we can reconvert it to PDF if you like or send it back in Word format.