What is proofreading?
Proofreading is the final step before publication and usually occurs after a manuscript has been typeset.
As a proofreader, my role is to be the final ‘pair of eyes’ or quality control prior to publication.This is done by checking for and correcting errors and inconsistencies in the text.
Typically, I'll check for the following:
- incorrect spelling
- poor grammar and punctuation
- omitted or duplicated wording
- material in the wrong place (e.g. illustrations) or incomplete (e.g. cross-references)
- poor presentation (e.g. unacceptable word breaks, widows and orphans)
- that any copy-editing changes have been applied.
I proofread blind or against copy.