The best proofreaders for hire in the United Kingdom

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Editor/Writer with more than 20 years of experience in educational publishing, magazines, technical and web.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Math & Science, Writing & Publishing, Children's, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Macmillan UK
  • Multimedia Communications, Singapore
  • Marshall Cavendish, Singapore
  • Educational Publishing House, Singapore
  • Horizon Knowledge Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore
  • Shing Lee Publishers Pte Ltd, Singapore
  • Chacon Publishing Inc, Calgary, Canada
  • Self-employed

Sandy 5 star rating

Hampshire, United Kingdom

Sandy is a seasoned editor of non-fiction and fiction titles, and has been helping authors 'give birth' to their books for 20 years.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Sex & Relationships, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Parenting & Families, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Godsfield Press
  • Tigerprint Limited
  • Self-employed
  • AA Publishing

Jenny 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

Experienced editor of writing for children and adults (fiction, non-fiction, picture books, novelties) through all stages of editing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Picture Books, Children's, Middle Grade, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Hot Key Books
  • Walker Books

Anna 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

I have 20 years' experience working on children's and YA writing at UK publishers including Hachette and HarperCollins.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Coming of Age, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Picture Books, and Social & Family Issues.

Work experience:

  • Octopus (Hachette)
  • Carlton Books
  • Orchard (Hachette)
  • Egmont
  • Self-employed

Atalanta 5 star rating

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Editor | Proofreader | Writer (arts, humanities, education, fiction, nonfiction, corporate and nonprofit publishing and comms)

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Classics, Fiction, Short Story, Education & Reference, Design, Business & Management, Contemporary Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Sarah 5 star rating

Lincoln, United Kingdom

Senior Editor with 14+ years' experience. Specialist in Romance, Thrillers, YA, LGBTQ+ and Historical for both new and established authors.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Totally Entwined Group (Bonnier Publishing)

Jude 5 star rating

United Kingdom

Multi-award writer & editor (MA Writing–Distinction). Published since 2004: Collins, Pearson & more. Expert fiction & non-fiction support.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, ELT, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Biographies & Memoirs, Education & Reference, Young Adult, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Judith 5 star rating

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Children's book editor, specializing in middle-grade and picture books. Experienced in helping authors turn good ideas into great books.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Middle Grade, Education & Reference, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Plurus Books
  • Oxford University Press
  • Jacaranda Literary Agency
  • Oxford Brookes University

Katie 5 star rating

Cornwall, United Kingdom

Over 25 years' experience in the publishing industry as a writer, editor and project manager – predominantly in children's non-fiction.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Geography, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • National Asthma Campaign (now Asthma + Lung UK)
  • Aladdin Books Ltd

Clare 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

A freelance copy-editor and proofreader specialising in cookery, craft and other lifestyle titles.

Genres: DIY & Crafts, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Home & Garden, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Cico Books
  • New Holland Publishers
  • Clare Sayer

Keith 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

Nonfiction publisher (25 years) specializing in science; author of one nonfiction book, three scifi novels and many TV entertainment shows.

Genres: Computers & Internet, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Math & Science, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, Technology, Physics & Chemistry, Entertainment, and Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Oxford University Press
  • Addison-Wesley/Pearson Education
  • Pergamon Press
  • Self-employed
  • Penguin Press

Julia 5 star rating

Cambridge, United Kingdom

I am an editor and writer with a mission to make everything I work on the best it can be. I specialise in non-fiction and children's books.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Nature, Middle Grade, Children's, Fantasy, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Reader's Digest
  • Macmillan Children's Books
  • HarperCollins Children's Books
  • Penguin Books, Ltd.
  • Harcourt Education
  • Orpheus Books
  • Self-employed

Donna 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

Fiction & non-fiction editor; over 20 years' experience including 'Big Five' (regular clients incl. HarperCollins, Penguin RH, Hachette)

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin UK Ltd
  • Little, Brown
  • Self-employed

Kerry 5 star rating

Hove, United Kingdom

An experienced editor, writer and publishing professional with 20+ years' experience of copy editing, development editing and proofreading.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Travel, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Architecture, Humanities & Social Sciences, Young Adult, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Yes Educational Centre
  • Marvel Comics
  • Egmont Fleetway
  • Panorama Holiday Group
  • Pavilion Publishing
  • Pavilion Publishing and Media
  • Self-employed

Luke 5 star rating

North Shields, United Kingdom

Freelance copy-editing, proofreading and plain language support; working with publishers, businesses, charities, students and other writers.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Music, Psychology, Entertainment, and Economics.

Work experience:

  • Various voluntary organisations; Newcastle City Council
  • Book publishers; County Durham, UK
  • Self-employed

Earth Science author, editor and educator. Business Owner.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Nature, Science Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Various institutes in the UK, Norway and the USA

A highly experienced children's book publisher and editor with a sharp focus on grammar, specialising in fiction, reference and non-fiction.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Oxford University Press
  • Self-employed

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Hire the best proofreaders in the UK

If you’ve got the manuscript, we’ve got the proofreaders who can whip it into shape for you. In order to stand up (and stand out) next to traditionally published books, your story will need to be free of mistakes. And that includes the minuscule language details that may have evaded your detection, such as typos or spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and grammar slip-ups — all of which can determine whether your book receives positive or negative attention from readers.

Proofreaders tackle the final stage of the editing process, guaranteeing that your work reaches readers in its best possible form. No matter your genre, your project will benefit from a thorough quality check on the language level, ensuring that the way you use words results in clarity and a smooth flow, while your style is of a standard that would be right at home among bestsellers. This part of the editing process doesn’t deal with content or structure, so you should only proceed with proofreading once your manuscript has reached its final form, and no further editing or research is pending.

Professional proofreaders are employed by traditional publishing houses and self-publishing authors alike. Quality proofreaders should ideally bring a host of abilities to the table of a collaboration, including patience, decades of experience, and a meticulous eye for detail. So if your intention is to publish a book that is the best that it can be, you’ll want to find the best proofreader for hire in the UK.

Here’s the good news: you’re one step ahead of the game, because you’re already in the right spot. Reedsy is home to the best professional proofreaders in the United Kingdom and the book business more broadly. Our publishing professionals have experience editing at Big 5 publishers under their belt and have frequently worked on bestselling books, and now’s your chance to work with them. Sign up for a free Reedsy account today to browse our professionals’ online portfolios and reviews from past clients who’ve used their services. Simply get in touch to request a quote from them today.

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