Intro to Proofreading Flashcards
What does proofreading focus on?
looking for errors missed during the editing process
What things are proofreaders expected to correct?
Grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors
Inconsistent spellings of words
Formatting errors
Incorrect capitalisation
Typesetting issues (e.g. incorrect use of italics or inconsistent font size/type)
What must proofreaders NOT do?
make any major alterations to the text
What additional things might Proofreaders ONSCREEEN do?
make minor changes to the text for clarity or concision or formatting
Modern freelance proofreaders do what?
combine elements of proofreading and copy editing
What do Style sheets and style guides do?
set requirements for how a document should be written. Issues covered by a style sheet often include spelling, grammar, punctuation, referencing, and formatting.
What skills do proofreaders need?
Strong technical language skills – The rules of English are flexible, but you need to know them to know when to bend them. As such, a proofreader should have strong technical knowledge of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Proficiency at spotting small errors and inconsistencies in documents – This requires concentration, attention to detail, and the ability to spot errors that everyone else missed.
Excellent communication skills – Proofreaders may need to work closely with clients, including authors, editors, and publishers. In addition, they often have to follow the instructions set out on a style sheet.
Knowledge of the difference between proofreading and editing – Proofreading typically implies a limited scope to make edits. If significant changes are needed in a document, the proofreader should notify the editor and/or author and send the document back for amendments to be made.
What two points should you be aware of in academic editing?
the documents you encounter may be more complex than similar student writing, in terms of both the content and the writing style
many academic editing clients speak English as a second language, so they may need more help expressing themselves clearly in writing even if they are experts in their field.
