Crafting an engaging, cohesive, and impactful written piece, whether it’s a novel, a blog post, or an academic paper, can be a challenging endeavor. Once the last word is typed, it’s tempting to consider the job done. But any seasoned writer will tell you that writing is only half the battle.

The other half? Rigorous proofreading. A good proofreader not only refines your work by eliminating grammatical errors, typos, and punctuation inconsistencies, but they also enhance readability and ensure your message resonates clearly with your intended audience. In other words, a professional proofreader can be your secret weapon to standing out in the crowd. Here, we present to you our curated list of the top 8 proofreaders in the US who can help polish your work to perfection.

1. Julia Richardson

Julia Richardson is an experienced editor specializing in middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) fiction and non-fiction. She has worked with renowned authors like Ursula K. Le Guin, Ellen Hopkins, and R.L. Stine, contributing to their critical and commercial success. Her editorial prowess has been recognized at Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt​​.

Her genre expertise extends to biographies, memoirs, children’s non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, fantasy, and more, making her a versatile choice for a wide array of writing projects​​.

Famed author Roland Smith describes her as “a fantastic editor” who treats each book as her own​​. With over a decade of industry experience, Richardson’s dedication to inspiring creativity and intellectual growth in authors is unparalleled​​.

2. Deborah Heimann

Meet Deborah Heimann, a seasoned US proofreader and editor with over two decades of experience in both fiction and popular nonfiction fields. Deborah’s expertise extends across a wide range of genres including psychology, philosophy, and current affairs. She views editing as a conversation, ensuring your voice shines through while providing clarity and polish. Deborah’s collaboration with authors, publishers, and nonprofits over the years has seen her work with notable organizations like Storey Publishing, Guilford Press, and The Poetry Foundation. With a diverse portfolio spanning from academic prose to theatrical plays, Deborah’s support guarantees a refined final product​​.

3. Brooke Maddaford

Brooke Maddaford brings over 25 years of editorial experience, including 9 years in-house and 16 years as a freelancer, to her role as a nonfiction editor. She prides herself on strengthening an author’s voice, content, and intention while enhancing and clarifying the writing​. Her services are comprehensive, flexible, and customizable, covering everything from manuscript assessments and developmental editing to proofreading and query letter reviews​. Maddaford has worked on acclaimed titles such as ‘A Futile and Stupid Gesture’ and ‘The Life I’ve Picked’, both receiving high praise and recognition​. Her areas of expertise span memoirs, biographies, social sciences, history, and children’s nonfiction, among others​. Maddaford also holds certificates from esteemed institutions like the University of Denver and the University of Chicago​, further solidifying her commitment to editorial excellence.

4. Meredith Tennant

Meet Meredith Tennant, a dedicated editor known for her thoughtful editing and meticulous proofreading skills, executed with a sharp eye and gentle touch​​. With a rich background in the field, Meredith has been a self-employed editor, copyeditor, and proofreader since 2008, bringing her expertise to various literary works​​. She specializes in both fiction (spanning fantasy, middle grade, picture books, and romance) and non-fiction genres (including biographies & memoirs, cooking, food, wine, & spirits, and health & wellbeing)​​. Meredith’s mission is to guide and encourage authors, transforming their raw manuscript into a polished, professional work while ensuring their voice remains intact​​.

5. Georgette Beatty

Georgette Beatty is a seasoned freelance editor and proofreader with over 20 years of experience spanning print and digital content. She boasts an impressive portfolio that includes developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading in a wide variety of topics. From health and fitness to food and cooking, from history to children’s fiction, her extensive expertise ensures a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence. Her credentials include membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association and the American Copy Editors Society, with a series of professional courses enhancing her skillset. Notably, she has been instrumental in the creation of the popular “For Dummies” series during her tenure at John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and has contributed to the success of Scholastic Reading Counts! as an editorial manager. Whether it’s children’s literature, young adult fiction, or non-fiction topics, Georgette offers a comprehensive suite of services to help authors produce their best work possible​.

6. Aja Pollock

Aja Pollock is a highly skilled editor and proofreader based in Austin, United States. For over fifteen years, she has lent her expertise to a diverse array of authors and publishers, including Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Macmillan, as well as self-publishing authors. Aja prides herself on her meticulous approach, ensuring prose sings and stories resonate while preserving the author’s unique voice. A testament to her finesse are the glowing testimonials from acclaimed authors, praising her keen eye and transformative input. Her services span developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading across genres like fantasy, historical fiction, and biographies. Aja holds a BA in Medieval Culture from Brown University and is an alumnus of the NYU Summer Publishing Institute​.

7. Tera Cuskaden

Tera Cuskaden is a seasoned editor with over a decade of experience specializing in romance and its subgenres. She has worked as an Editorial Director at Entangled Publishing, Content Editor at Kensington Lyrical, and Senior Editor at Samhain Publishing, and has edited over 300 books, including New York Times and USA TODAY bestsellers. Authors praise her for her detailed, insightful, and supportive feedback, with one bestseller describing the experience of working with Tera as ‘creatively gratifying.’ Tera’s expertise in plot, pacing, character arcs, and romantic tension make her an invaluable asset for writers looking to polish their manuscripts to perfection.

8. Glenn McMahan

Glenn McMahan is an accomplished editor with an impressive roster of books published by esteemed university presses such as MIT, Harvard, and Princeton. Specializing in developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and indexing, Glenn’s portfolio includes award-winning books and works endorsed by Nobel Prize-winning economists. In 2023, he edited the lauded book “Disrupting Racism: Essays by an Asian American Prodigy Professor.” His editing skills cover a wide range of non-fiction genres from biographies and economics to parenting and spirituality. Glenn’s accolades include awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press. He holds a master’s degree in Journalism and graduated from the University of Denver Publishing Institute. Trust in Glenn’s proficiency and experience to elevate your manuscript to its highest potential.

Armed with this curated list of the top 8 proofreaders in the US, you’re now better prepared to give your written work the polish it needs to shine. After all, elevating your message with professional proofreading isn’t just an option—it’s the key to effective communication in our content-driven world.