Proofreading might be one of the simplest side hustles on our list here. The only thing that it requires is a good command of language. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr have proofreading jobs on them all the time, and it just takes a little bit of study and research to get your foot in the door.
The best thing to do when starting out proofreading is to build your credentials. If you majored in English, you will have an easier time getting jobs. But there are also many international clients who just need a strong English speaker to proofread their documents. The types of things you could proofread can be anything from research papers and books to blogs or web pages. Upwork also has a testing center that lets you take tests on your knowledge of certain writing styles and display it on your profile. The low barrier-to-entry of this side hustle is why we chose it for our Side Hustle Master List.
Concept | |
category | Media/Publishing |
Takeaways | Can offer services on a variety of channels but have to stay on top of it- opportunities need to be sought out; also can turn skills into a home business. |
complexity lowhigh  | Capital Required lowhigh |
skill required lowhigh | time required lowhigh |
return potential lowhigh |
 | learn more |
Writing styles
As a proofreader, you should be aware of the different writing styles that your clients could require you to edit. These include the Chicago Style, AP Style, MLA Style and more. If you get into proofreading academic or scientific papers, this becomes extremely important. Your clients might come to you with a piece that doesn’t have great English, but you have to make notations and suggestions on aligning it with a certain writing style. It could be even trickier if the piece does have good English. At that point, they want you to make fine-tuned adjustments to fit it in a certain style. If this sounds a little intimidating, you can relax, because most proofreading projects are more casual. Take a look at the links below for more information.