Style

In these posts, we look at how proofreaders and editors should approach different writing styles and document types. Let us know if there are any style issues you'd like us to cover on the blog.

  • How to Write Currency

    How to Write Currency

    Feb 05, 2024

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    An often overlooked aspect of proofreading and editing is how to write currency. If you work with professional clients, you’ll often see currencies in report or article drafts. And if you proofread or edit documents for ESL clients, you’re likely to come across essays related to mathematics and currency. In this post, you’ll learn about: […]

    Read more
  • What Are Trigger Words? (And How to Use Them in Writing)

    How to Write a Style Sheet for Proofreading or Copy Editing

    How to Write a Style Sheet for Proofreading or Copy Editing

    Nov 28, 2023

    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Style guides are a vital resource for any proofreader or editor. But not every client will have one. And in some cases, you may need to create a custom style sheet when editing a document. But when do you need to create a style sheet? And what should it include? What Is a Style Guide? […]

    Read more

How to Proofread Resumes and CVs

  • A Guide to Citing Shakespeare in Academic Writing

    Nov 09, 2023

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations
    • Style

    Are you confident when it comes to citing Shakespeare? Shakespeare’s plays are so influential that many style guides have special rules for citing them. As a proofreader, you’ll need to look out for citations like these when working on academic writing and make sure they have been added correctly.  If you’re not sure how to […]

    Read more
  • How and When to Use Sic in a Quotation

    Oct 26, 2023

    • Academic Editing
    • Editing Tips
    • Formatting
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    When proofreading, you might see the term sic used in a quotation. However, many people misuse this term or use it when there is an alternative available. As such, proofreaders and editors should make sure they know how and when to use this term in a quotation. In this blog post, we explore: What sic […]

    Read more
  • How to Capitalize Titles

    Sep 12, 2023

    • Formatting
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    As a proofreader, you need to know how to capitalize titles correctly. However, this process is not always straightforward because the rules about capitalizing titles can vary between different style guides. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to capitalize titles by focusing on the four common styles of title capitalization: Title case, which […]

    Read more
  • What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?

    What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?

    Apr 17, 2023

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Affect and effect are examples of homophones – two words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. People frequently confuse the two words because we often use affect and effect in similar contexts.  This blog post will explore the difference between affect and effect and help you know which one to use – […]

    Read more
  • How to Cite Translated Works in APA Style

    How to Cite Translated Works in APA Style

    Feb 18, 2023

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations
    • Style

    Let’s talk about APA references! You may feel confident citing straightforward sources – but what do you do if you come across something that’s not as common?  If you’re conducting research or editing an academic text, you may come across a work that’s been translated from a different language. It’s important to know how to […]

    Read more
  • Titles in Academic Writing

    Oct 11, 2022

    • Academic Editing
    • Editing Tips
    • Style

    In academic writing, a strong title hooks the reader, reflects the tone and content of the paper, and contains keywords to increase the paper’s visibility on search engines. If you’re an editor working with academic clients, you may need to highlight issues in their titles and subtitles. Read on for some tips on how to […]

    Read more
  • Proofreading Tips: When Should You Write Out Numbers in Full?

    Proofreading Tips: When Should You Write Out Numbers in Full?

    Aug 12, 2022

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Style guides vary a lot on even the basics of how to write numbers. APA style, for instance, recommends writing out numbers under 10 as words and using numerals for larger numbers. But Chicago style recommends writing out numbers up to and including 100. And MLA style recommends writing out any number that can be […]

    Read more
  • Proofreading Tips: Plagiarism in Business Writing

    Proofreading Tips: Plagiarism in Business Writing

    Jun 28, 2022

    • Business Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    While plagiarism is less obviously a problem in business writing than in, say, creative or academic writing, it can still be an issue. And a good proofreader may need to highlight plagiarism in their client’s work. But what does plagiarism look like in the context of business writing? And how do you address it? In […]

    Read more