Freelance Textbook Copyeditor and Proofreader

Educational Background:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Journalism, Communication, Law (for specialized legal editing), or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in copyediting or proofreading, though experience in similar roles or industries is advantageous but not mandatory.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Proficiency in English and Filipino spelling and grammar.
• Strong attention to detail and an eye for accuracy in written content.
• Familiarity with style guides (e.g., AP, Chicago Manual of Style).
• Ability to edit and proofread documents for clarity, coherence, and consistency.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.

Additional Attributes:

• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.
• Adaptability to different content types and styles.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities:

• Utilize MS Word's Track Changes feature to edit documents, including adding comments and queries in balloons. Clearly label queries as "c/o EDITORIAL," "c/o AUTHOR," "c/o ART," or "c/o Layout" as appropriate.
• Carefully read and edit manuscripts line by line to ensure grammatical accuracy, coherence, and completeness.
• Write clear, coherent, and thoughtful comments and suggestions. Query vague sentences or instructions and suggest revisions when possible. Escalate unresolved issues to the Managing Editor (ME) or Senior Associate Editor (SAH) as necessary.
• Correct misspellings following American spelling conventions. Address grammatical issues such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun references, tenses, and punctuation lapses.
• Ensure consistent capitalization in main headings and subheadings, and apply editorial styles for numbers, list numbering, and abbreviations. Maintain consistency in formatting emphases (bold, italics) and punctuation, including the use of serial commas.
• Verify the completeness of content and correct sequencing of units, chapters, lessons, headings, charts, figures, tables, and lists. Ensure that images, illustrations, artwork, and tables match their specifications.
• Check consistency in reference and source citations, reference lists, bibliographies, and web links. Ensure non-common terms are spelled out with their abbreviations or acronyms provided initially.
• After receiving author responses, back-check their answers and finalize the copyedited manuscript in preparation for layout. Run spell-check and grammar check tools in MS Word.
• Submit completed work on time, adhering to project deadlines.