Proofreading
Giving your work a final check before publication, ensuring it’s as polished and perfect as it can be.
Proofreading is one of the last stages in the publishing process, and it is usually done after all the editing, design and typesetting is complete. Everything is in place, and fingers are hovering over the ‘publish’ button – the proofreader’s job is to make only changes that are absolutely necessary.
The final polish
Proofreading is commonly mistaken for editing, so you might find that you need something a bit more than a traditional proofread. If that’s the case, check out my editing services.
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A proofreader will work from the final ‘proofs’ of a piece of work, usually provided as a PDF, which fixes the layout that the designer has put in place. They work on an extremely detailed level, checking, among other things:
consistency of spelling and style throughout the text
other text errors (e.g., using form instead of from, missing text, extra spaces)
punctuation, or lack thereof
consistency of spacing between elements on a page, such as headings and text
formatting of footnotes or endnotes
accuracy of running heads/feet (the information at the top and bottom of a page)
accuracy of page numbers and whether they conform to the table of contents
formatting, content and placement of tables, graphs, diagrams and images
presence of correct captions for tables, graphs, diagrams and images
correct cross referencing within a document
addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, url links.
My process
1. Talk to me
Tell me about your project using this simple form. Just pop in a few details so I can get a feel for what you need and the format you prefer (Word, Google Docs or PDF).
2. Get feedback
Once you return your form, I’ll review it and get back to you with any questions, an estimated timeframe and a quote. Nice and simple.
3. I do the work
I’ll work on your text based on your brief. If anything’s unclear, I’ll check with you. Then I’ll return your files along with an editorial report and style sheet, explaining exactly what’s been done.
4. Review and refine
You review the work and together we can work through any queries you have, or changes you’d like to make. Once you’re happy, we can sign everything off.
Need a proofreader?
Tell me a bit about your project and I’ll get back to you shortly.