Most professional proofreaders will answer the question “What is proofreading?” like this: Proofreading is the process of reading a manuscript that’s been edited to mark up or correct any remaining errors.
I’ve discussed in a previous post what proofreading means in traditional vs. indie publishing.
What proofreading is not
Proofreading, or proof-reading, is not the same as editing or copyediting. In fact, proofreading should come after editing and before publishing.
And proofreading is not the same as running an app’s spell-checker.
What does proofreading entail?
When professional proofreaders work on a document, they do all of the following:
- Check
- Main text
- Headers and footers
- Notes
- Appendices
- Figures and tables
- References
- Table of contents
- Index
- Glossary
- Any other part of the document, as well as formatting and layout
- Mark up errors of grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Mark up citation and reference inconsistencies
- Ensure adherence to style guide
- Cross-check
- Table of contents and main text
- Notes and main text
- Citations and references
- Main text and figures and tables
- Web links
- Query any other issue
Some proofreaders mark up the errors for correction by the author or editor. Others correct them directly. How the proofreader works depends on the needs of the person who assigned them the job.
What is proofreading against copy, and what is blind proofreading?
These are the two main types of proofreading. Proofreading against copy means checking the proof against the edited manuscript. Blind, or cold, proofreading means checking the proof on its own.
Unless a freelance proofreader works for a publisher or volunteers for Distributed Proofreaders, they’re unlikely to ever need to proofread against copy. In most cases, when proofreading manuscripts, freelance proofreaders do blind proofreading. And that’s also what most indie authors need when they hire a proofreader.
In short, proofreading is the final check-through of a manuscript before its publication.
Do you need a freelance proofreader? Send me a message at editor@languageediting.com.
Related posts:
- The small-business owner’s proofreading checklist
- What free proofreading tool do I recommend?
- Editing or proofreading: Which one is essential if you can’t afford both?
Last revised on 6 August 2022
