Proofreading

Proofreading isn’t always quite as straightforward as you might imagine.

At its most minimal, proofing is essentially working through a draft with a fine tooth comb, marking up clearly to ensure that adn is turned back into and, and that the apostrophe precedes or follows the s as it should, depending on what it’s there to do. But it frequently involves more than this to an extent determined by explicit instructions from the client.

Correcting typos is always a must, but a good proofreader, if asked, will always flag up places where what’s said doesn’t seem to make sense, where numbers don’t seem to add up, where what appears in paragraph three seems to contradict what was said in paragraph one.

At its most interventionist, the line between proofreading and editing can become very blurred, segueing into ‘review these eight pieces from different authors and ensure that all read consistently, and are in line with our corporate tone of voice’.

Whatever the remit, I make sure any draft that comes my way leaves in the best possible shape.