What is proofreading? As its name suggests- proof plus reading it generally means reading for a proof to make any document error free.
Why proofreading is important?
- To ensure accuracy in grammar.
- Consistency in spelling, punctuation and formatting.
- Revision of a manuscript before it is printed or published.
- To review the final draft.
- To see the final accurate version.
- Get better grade on final paper.
- Eradicate errors.
- Avoid negative impression.
- Give big picture view.
- Achieve good results.
- Include appropriate information.
Measures to check the document
- Accuracy
- Grammatical errors
- Sentence framing
- Spelling mistakes
- Right words
- Punctuations
- Cohesion-Coherence
Steps for it
- Use a checklist
- Fact-check
- Spell-check
- Read aloud
- Focus on one line at a time
- Attend to format
- Proof again
Symbols and Signs used in proofreading
Proofreading symbols are used to identify mistakes and to state the needed correction. Here is a list of the most common proofreading marks
^ Insert something; the text to be inserted will likely be provided in the margin
x Delete
⁐ Close up space
# Add space
∼ Transpose
sp Spell out
≡ Make uppercase
_ Make lowercase
stet Let stand
eq# Make equal space
^, put a comma
. period required
;/ Insert semicolon
: put colon
= insert hyphen
N̲ en dash
M̲ em dash
^put apostrophe
? Insert question mark
! put exclamation mark
(/) parentheses
[/] Insert brackets
V(( ))V quotation marks
bf Set as bold
ital Set as italics
wf Wrong font
[ Go to left
] Go to right
|–| up
|–| down
] [ Center
¶ Begin paragraph
Proofreading Vs Editing
Proofreading is a part of editing but editing is much more than it.
The differences are actually pretty simple to understand once they are explained. They can be summed up in two sentences:
“Copyeditors catch all the mistakes the author missed,
Proof-readers catch all the mistakes the copyeditor missed.”
Qualities of a good proof-reader
- Knowledge
- Focus
- Passion for accuracy
- Patience
- Ability to be meticulous
Applications
- Proofreading helps to improve the writing efforts of students as they skip this crucial step when writing.
- It creates readable writing and eliminates errors before printing or submitting an academic paper, essay, email or any other written document.
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