I.C. firm launches proofreading web site

A new Web-based proofreading service, ProofreadingPal.com, has been launched by Web developer Brian Kaldenberg and Greg McLaughlin in Iowa City.

Users upload documents to the web site, where they are proofed by two proofreaders and returned to the author with comments.

ProofreadingPal.com employs proofreaders from throughout North America. Most of them have masters degrees or PhDs, and have backgrounds in education and writing.

Kaldenberg said the unique aspect of the web-based service is that it uses two proofreaders for each document, allowing for better edits and allowing proofreaders to learn from each other.

McLaughlin is a University of Iowa finance graduate who is known to University of Iowa football fans as a former Hawkeye field goal kicker. He oversees hiring of proofreaders.

Kaldenberg moved to Iowa city in 2008. He had the idea for the web site when his wife was finishing her graduate thesis, and they hired a freelance proofreader to help her.

"Locating in Iowa city made perfect sense because of the great access to qualified graduate students and the Iowa Writer's Workshop, Kaldenberg said.

The idea for the site came to Kaldenberg while his wife was finishing her graduate thesis. They hired a freelance proofreader to help her.

“I knew this service was in demand and could be offered across the country,” said Kaldenberg. “Locating in Iowa City made perfect sense because of the great access to qualified graduate students and the heralded Writer's Workshop program.”

Kaldenberg currently operates three web-based services from the Iowa City area: Kaldenberg Consulting, Gamerosters.com and ProofreadingPal.com.