About This Career

Reads transcript or proofs type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Includes proofreaders of Braille.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Printing Technology pathway.

A person in this career:

• Marks copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks.
• Reads corrected copies or proofs to ensure that all corrections have been made.
• Corrects or records omissions, errors, or inconsistencies found.
• Compares information or figures on one record against same data on other records, or with original copy, to detect errors.
• Routes proofs with marked corrections to authors, editors, typists, or typesetters for correction or reprinting.
• Consults reference books or secures aid of readers to check references with rules of grammar and composition.
• Consults with authors and editors regarding manuscript changes and suggestions.
• Archives documents, conducts research, and reads copy, using the internet and various computer programs.
• Writes original content, such as headlines, cutlines, captions, and cover copy.
• Typesets and measures dimensions, spacing, and positioning of page elements, such as copy and illustrations, to verify conformance to specifications, using printer's ruler or layout software.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel