Skills
Proofreader Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in proofreaders, and how to build and show them.
What skills do proofreaders need?
Proofreaders need technical skills such as grammar, spelling, and proofreading marks, plus people skills like focus and patience. They also use tools such as PDF markup tools and Track changes.
Technical (hard) skills
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Proofreading marks
- Style guides
- Formatting checks
- Comparison reading
People (soft) skills
- Focus
- Patience
- Attention to detail
- Reliability
Tools, equipment and technology
- PDF markup tools
- Track changes
- Style guides
- Dictionaries
- Grammar tools
- Proofreading marks
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how proofreaders put their skills to work:
- How to proofread without missing errors
- How to use standard proofreading marks
- How to compare a proof to the approved copy
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Grammar” and “Spelling.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “focus,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Proofreading certificate near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our proofreader glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Proofreader training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.