The benefits of hiring a proofreader!

[Kristen Mulnix]

I thought this was a great and informative article.  Check it out!

http://www.jilioryan.com/blog/how-proofreading-transcripts-will-ben...

[Emily H.]

Interesting article.  Did anyone else notice that there's an error in the second sentence?  Maybe the author forgot to use a proofreader! :-)

I use a proofreader and wouldn't be caught dead without her.  Since I scope my own work, and since I'm already familiar with what the testimony was, it's too easy for me to miss my own mistakes.  My proofer tells me my work is very clean, but I still immensely value the job she does.   She's especially saved me on those jobs where I have to burn the midnight oil and my brain is just fried by the time I get to the end.

But I still remember a letter I got years ago from someone who was looking for proofreading work.  The letter had several small errors in it!  Naturally, I didn't contact that person.

[MJ Donis]

Kelli, it sounds like the proofreader(s) you have worked with have cost you too much time and money. If that had been my experience, I would also be reluctant to hire another proofreader! However, a good proofreader should -- and will -- SAVE you time, allowing you to earn MORE money. I'm sorry you had that experience!

[Kristen Mulnix]

Kelli, thanks for your opinion. I’m sorry that you’ve had bad experiences. It’s true that not everyone who does proofreading work does a good job. As with any industry, there are people within it that may fall below expectations.  And, of course, it’s up to you whether you hire one or not. You have to do what is right for you and your business. After all, that’s what we’re all trying to do, right? We all want to work hard to build up our businesses. However, I do not think that lumping proofreaders into a “useless” category is fair. I know there are great proofreaders that produce good quality work and have great relationships with their reporters. Many are probably on this website. Hopefully as reporters decide to use proofreaders, they will do research, ask for references, or even ask the proofreader to do a small, sample job before making a large commitment. Good luck to you!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Problem is, whenever I use a proofer, I find more mistakes.  I end up having to proof it again myself after hiring a scopist at 1.30 a page and then a proofer for .40 a page and then I have to proof it again?  I don't think so.