363:
intended audience; therefore, they ask questions such as where the document will be published and who will read it, and they edit accordingly. Proofreading, rather, is required during the last stage of the editing process. Its scope is limited, as the proofreaders focus only on reading the text to ensure the document is error-free and ready for publication. Proofreading generally focuses on correcting any final typos, spelling errors, stylistic inconsistencies (e.g., whether words or numerals are used for numbers), and punctuation errors.
346:, and vice versa. Although there is necessarily some overlap, proofreaders typically lack any real editorial or managerial authority, but they may mark queries for typesetters, editors, or authors. To set expectations before hiring proofreaders, some employers post a notice that the job advertised is not a writing or editing position and will not become one. Creativity and critical thinking by their very nature conflict with the strict copy-following discipline that
51:
215:, the defining procedure of a proofreading service is to work directly with two sets of information at the same time. Proofs are then returned to the typesetter for correction. Correction-cycle proofs will typically have one descriptive term, such as "bounce", "bump", or "revise" unique to the department or organization and used for clarity to the strict exclusion of any other. It is a common practice for
302:. If a customer has already proofread the contents of a file before submitting it to a publisher, there will be no reason for another proofreader to re-read it from the copy (although this additional service may be requested and paid for). Instead, the publisher is held responsible only for formatting errors, such as typeface, page width, and alignment of
228:"Copy holding" or "copy reading" employs two readers per proof. The first reads the text aloud literally as it appears, usually at a comparatively fast but uniform rate. The second reader follows along and marks any pertinent differences between what is read and what was typeset. This method is appropriate for large quantities of
362:
Copy editing and proofreading are parts of the same process; each is necessary at a different stage of the writing process. Copy editing is required during the drafting stage. The copy editors polish the text for precision and conciseness. They attempt to understand the purpose of the writing and the
354:
proofreading requires. Thus, proofreading and editing are fundamentally separate responsibilities. In contrast to proofreaders, copy editors focus on a sentence-by-sentence analysis of the text to "clean it up" by improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and structure. The copy editor is
329:
Checklists are common in proof-rooms where there is sufficient uniformity of product to distil some or all of its components into a list. They may also act as a training tool for new hires. Checklists are never comprehensive, however: proofreaders still have to find all mistakes that are
174:
process. In the past, proofreaders would place corrections or proofreading marks along the margins. In modern publishing, material is generally provided in electronic form, traditional typesetting is no longer used and thus (in general) this kind of transcription no longer occurs.
287:"Double reading" is when a single proofreader checks a proof in the traditional manner and then another reader repeats the process. Both initial the proof. With both copy holding and double reading, responsibility for a given proof is necessarily shared by the two proofreaders.
207:("printer's errors"), as a result of human error during typesetting. Traditionally, a proofreader looks at an portion of text on the copy, compares it to the corresponding typeset portion, and then marks any errors (sometimes called "line edits") using
239:
and verbal shortcuts that accompany their reading. The spoken word "digits", for example, means that the numbers about to be read are not words spelled out; and "in a hole" can mean that the upcoming segment of text is within
219:
such corrections, no matter how slight, to be sent again to a proofreader to be checked and initialled, thus establishing the principle of higher responsibility for proofreaders as compared to their typesetters or artists.
525:
An equivalent function continues in specialist scientific, technical and mathematical publications, where complex notations or diagrams are transcribed from manuscripts to electronic document form using specialist
622:
290:"Scanning" is used to check a proof without reading it word for word, has become common with computerization of typesetting and the popularization of
851:
298:. Before the data in a Word file can be published, it must be converted into a format used by the publisher. The end product is usually called a
310:; and production errors such as text inadvertently deleted. To simplify matters further, a given conversion will usually be assigned a specific
783:
755:
692:
558:
726:
280:". Mutual understanding is the only guiding principle, so codes evolve as opportunity permits. In the above example, two thumps after
322:
Proofreaders are expected to be consistently accurate by default because they occupy the last stage of typographic production before
30:
This article is about the detection and correction of transcription errors in typeset work. For proofreading in DNA replication, see
351:
643:
844:
115:
87:
294:. Many publishers have their own proprietary typesetting systems, while their customers use commercial programs such as
376:
673:
134:
94:
837:
355:
usually the last editor an author will work with. Copy editing focuses intensely on style, content, punctuation,
614:
973:
208:
72:
101:
68:
17:
249:
83:
476:
452:
426:, watching the typesetter foreman Mr. Nannetti read over a "limp galleypage", thinks "Proof fever".
197:
61:
800:
777:
747:
487:
311:
31:
27:
Process by which transcription errors in a written or printed material are detected and removed
696:
1032:
893:
883:
552:
1011:
922:
917:
718:
499:
108:
8:
575:"Proofreading familiar text: allocating resources to perceptual and conceptual processes"
303:
204:
958:
927:
647:
866:
794:
596:
245:
193:
586:
307:
229:
39:
912:
660:
418:
260:, or similar obvious attribute being read simultaneously. Thus the line of text
167:
878:
505:
391:
295:
291:
1026:
1006:
547:
458:
423:
406:
385:
996:
937:
464:
446:
433:
429:
343:
212:
163:
155:
35:
829:
677:
600:
467: – First proofs printed from type, usually before breaking into pages
1001:
963:
953:
932:
816:
493:
413:
323:
248:. A "thump" or "screamer" made with a finger on the table represents the
241:
189:
171:
591:
574:
409:, in which the protagonist Miss Moss is a proofreader for a dictionary.
159:
151:
899:
257:
551:
50:
991:
470:
347:
232:
where it is assumed that there will be comparatively few mistakes.
200:
342:
The term "proofreading" is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to
907:
481:
356:
782:. London, Paris: Egoist Press, John Rodker. pp. 116–117.
253:
284:
might be acceptable to proofreaders familiar with the text.
262:(He said the address was 1234 Central Blvd., and to hurry!)
236:
34:. For identification of errors in grammar or spelling, see
334:
mentioned or described, thus limiting their usefulness.
824:
496: – Standard for writing and design of documents
75:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
693:"Copy That: The Categories and Classes of Editing"
719:"Editing vs. Proofreading: What's The Difference"
1024:
690:
337:
490: – Verifies color on press v. color proof.
566:
371:Examples of proofreaders in fiction include:
188:A "galley proof" (familiarly, "a proof") is a
845:
562:(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
508: – Support group of like-minded writers
859:
449: – Document technically ready to print
852:
838:
825:Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
590:
572:
473: – Standard symbols for proofreading
135:Learn how and when to remove this message
546:
461: – Common metal-type printing error
235:Experienced copy holders employ various
615:"Proofreading Marks and What They Mean"
412:Under the headline "Orthographical" in
14:
1025:
455: – Web-based proofreading project
269:he said the address was digits 1 2 3 4
223:
833:
775:
484: – Editors' marks on manuscripts
183:
73:adding citations to reliable sources
44:
776:Joyce, James (1922). "Chapter 7]".
24:
818:The Importance of the Proof-reader
384:), a 1989 novel by Nobel laureate
377:The History of the Siege of Lisbon
158:are compared against the original
25:
1044:
810:
49:
786:from the original on 2021-01-20
769:
758:from the original on 2023-02-28
729:from the original on 2021-09-10
625:from the original on 2023-03-09
436:" features a robot proofreader.
178:
60:needs additional citations for
740:
711:
684:
665:
636:
607:
540:
519:
401:the short story "Evermore" in
13:
1:
801:Facsimile copy at Archive.org
533:
366:
338:Proofreading and copy-editing
317:
150:is a phase in the process of
502: – Aspect of typography
390:the short story "Proofs" in
359:, and consistency of usage.
209:standard proofreaders' marks
7:
974:List of proofreader's marks
440:
382:Historia do Cerco de Lisboa
10:
1049:
477:List of proofreaders marks
29:
984:
946:
865:
396:Proofs and Three Parables
573:Levy B, Begin J (1984).
512:
453:Distributed Proofreaders
264:would be read aloud as "
860:Book publishing process
748:"Guide to Proofreading"
559:Encyclopædia Britannica
278:comma and to hurry bang
691:ProofreadingCamp.com.
579:Memory & Cognition
488:Press check (printing)
32:Proofreading (biology)
894:intellectual property
821:by John Wilson (1901)
644:"Proofreaders' Marks"
553:"Proof-Reading"
923:Developmental editor
918:Commissioning editor
890:Contract negotiation
500:Typographical syntax
205:typographical errors
69:improve this article
38:. For the song, see
902:rates, format, etc.
224:Alternative methods
884:Publisher's reader
699:on August 26, 2014
680:on April 29, 2010.
674:"Company timeline"
592:10.3758/BF03213351
422:, the protagonist
244:. "Bang" means an
184:Traditional method
1020:
1019:
795:Project Gutenberg
246:exclamation point
203:. It may contain
145:
144:
137:
119:
16:(Redirected from
1040:
854:
847:
840:
831:
830:
804:
798:
792:
791:
773:
767:
766:
764:
763:
744:
738:
737:
735:
734:
715:
709:
708:
706:
704:
695:. Archived from
688:
682:
681:
676:. Archived from
669:
663:
658:
656:
655:
646:. Archived from
640:
634:
633:
631:
630:
611:
605:
604:
594:
570:
564:
563:
555:
544:
527:
523:
432:'s short story "
230:boilerplate text
164:graphic artworks
140:
133:
129:
126:
120:
118:
77:
53:
45:
40:Proofread (song)
21:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1037:
1023:
1022:
1021:
1016:
985:Book production
980:
942:
928:Authors' editor
913:Literary editor
861:
858:
813:
808:
807:
789:
787:
774:
770:
761:
759:
746:
745:
741:
732:
730:
717:
716:
712:
702:
700:
689:
685:
672:
670:
666:
661:Merriam Webster
653:
651:
642:
641:
637:
628:
626:
613:
612:
608:
571:
567:
545:
541:
536:
531:
530:
524:
520:
515:
443:
369:
340:
320:
292:word processing
226:
186:
181:
141:
130:
124:
121:
78:
76:
66:
54:
43:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1046:
1036:
1035:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
988:
986:
982:
981:
979:
978:
977:
976:
966:
961:
956:
950:
948:
944:
943:
941:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
904:
903:
897:
891:
887:
886:
881:
879:Literary agent
876:
872:
870:
863:
862:
857:
856:
849:
842:
834:
828:
827:
822:
812:
811:External links
809:
806:
805:
768:
739:
710:
683:
664:
635:
606:
585:(6): 621–632.
565:
550:, ed. (1911).
548:Chisholm, Hugh
538:
537:
535:
532:
529:
528:
517:
516:
514:
511:
510:
509:
506:Writing circle
503:
497:
491:
485:
479:
474:
468:
462:
456:
450:
442:
439:
438:
437:
427:
416:'s 1922 novel
410:
399:
392:George Steiner
388:
368:
365:
339:
336:
319:
316:
225:
222:
185:
182:
180:
177:
170:errors in the
166:, to identify
143:
142:
84:"Proofreading"
57:
55:
48:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1045:
1034:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
989:
987:
983:
975:
972:
971:
970:
969:Proof-reading
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
951:
949:
945:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
905:
901:
898:
895:
892:
889:
888:
885:
882:
880:
877:
874:
873:
871:
868:
864:
855:
850:
848:
843:
841:
836:
835:
832:
826:
823:
820:
819:
815:
814:
802:
796:
785:
781:
780:
772:
757:
753:
749:
743:
728:
724:
720:
714:
698:
694:
687:
679:
675:
668:
662:
650:on 2010-08-16
649:
645:
639:
624:
620:
616:
610:
602:
598:
593:
588:
584:
580:
576:
569:
561:
560:
554:
549:
543:
539:
522:
518:
507:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
483:
480:
478:
475:
472:
469:
466:
463:
460:
459:Etaoin shrdlu
457:
454:
451:
448:
445:
444:
435:
431:
428:
425:
424:Leopold Bloom
421:
420:
415:
411:
408:
407:Julian Barnes
404:
403:Cross Channel
400:
397:
393:
389:
387:
386:Jose Saramago
383:
379:
378:
374:
373:
372:
364:
360:
358:
353:
349:
345:
335:
333:
327:
325:
315:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
288:
285:
283:
279:
276:
273:
270:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
238:
233:
231:
221:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
199:
195:
191:
176:
173:
169:
168:transcription
165:
161:
157:
156:galley proofs
153:
149:
139:
136:
128:
125:February 2009
117:
114:
110:
107:
103:
100:
96:
93:
89:
86: –
85:
81:
80:Find sources:
74:
70:
64:
63:
58:This article
56:
52:
47:
46:
41:
37:
33:
19:
18:Proof reading
1033:Proofreading
968:
938:Copy editing
817:
793:– via
788:. Retrieved
778:
771:
760:. Retrieved
752:Editor World
751:
742:
731:. Retrieved
722:
713:
701:. Retrieved
697:the original
686:
678:the original
667:
652:. Retrieved
648:the original
638:
627:. Retrieved
619:Editor World
618:
609:
582:
578:
568:
557:
542:
521:
465:Galley proof
447:Camera-ready
434:Galley Slave
430:Isaac Asimov
417:
402:
395:
381:
375:
370:
361:
352:governmental
344:copy editing
341:
331:
328:
321:
299:
289:
286:
281:
277:
274:
271:
268:
265:
261:
234:
227:
216:
213:copy editing
187:
179:Professional
148:Proofreading
147:
146:
131:
122:
112:
105:
98:
91:
79:
67:Please help
62:verification
59:
36:Copy editing
964:Typesetting
933:Book editor
869:preparation
494:Style guide
414:James Joyce
324:publication
250:initial cap
242:parentheses
192:version of
172:typesetting
160:manuscripts
875:Submission
790:2021-09-10
762:2023-02-28
733:2021-09-10
703:August 25,
654:2009-06-16
629:2023-03-09
534:References
405:(1996) by
367:In fiction
348:commercial
318:Checklists
300:conversion
198:manuscript
152:publishing
95:newspapers
671:See 1983
526:software.
282:buluhvuhd
275:buluhvuhd
266:in a hole
211:. Unlike
1027:Category
1007:Trimming
992:Printing
959:Indexing
947:Prepress
784:Archived
756:Archived
727:Archived
623:Archived
471:ISO 5776
441:See also
312:template
201:document
1012:Imprint
1002:Binding
997:Folding
908:Editing
900:royalty
779:Ulysses
601:6533431
482:Obelism
419:Ulysses
357:grammar
304:columns
272:central
190:typeset
109:scholar
954:Design
896:rights
599:
398:(1992)
308:tables
258:period
154:where
111:
104:
97:
90:
82:
723:Enago
659:from
513:Notes
254:comma
237:codes
196:or a
116:JSTOR
102:books
867:Copy
705:2014
597:PMID
350:and
296:Word
194:copy
88:news
587:doi
394:'s
332:not
306:in
217:all
162:or
71:by
1029::
754:.
750:.
725:.
721:.
621:.
617:.
595:.
583:12
581:.
577:.
556:.
326:.
314:.
256:,
252:,
853:e
846:t
839:v
803:)
799:(
797:.
765:.
736:.
707:.
657:.
632:.
603:.
589::
380:(
138:)
132:(
127:)
123:(
113:·
106:·
99:·
92:·
65:.
42:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
