Proofreading Resources
A collection of proofreading resources designed to help proofreaders, editors, and writers refine their craft. Learn how to create proofreading checklists, make use of keyboard shortcuts, and access the best online dictionaries.
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Punctuation Guides for Proofreaders, Editors, and Writers
Punctuation Guides for Proofreaders, Editors, and Writers
Published Oct 29, 2025
Last Updated Oct 30, 2025Punctuation guides are handy tools for proofreaders, editors, and writers. It may seem like a small detail, but a single punctuation mark can dramatically change the tone, meaning, and flow of a sentence. While punctuation choices are sometimes subjective – and often depend on house style – a well-chosen guide can provide clarity when instinct […]
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Grammar Guides for Proofreaders, Editors, and Writers
Grammar Guides for Proofreaders, Editors, and Writers
Published Oct 29, 2025
Last Updated Oct 30, 2025Grammar guides are valuable resources for proofreaders, editors, and writers. English has lots of complex grammar rules and almost as many quirks and exceptions – so even the most experienced professionals need to double-check a rule from time to time. That’s why it helps to have a few trusted grammar guides close at hand. In […]
What Are Proofreading Marks? A Beginner’s Guide
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Proofreading Resources: Online Dictionaries
Published Nov 21, 2023
Last Updated Nov 21, 2024Online dictionaries are an essential tool for proofreaders and editors. As a proofreader, you’re probably very proud of your vocabulary – but we all need to look up words now and then! To save yourself some time, it pays to bookmark a few online dictionaries. But which are the best online dictionaries for proofreaders? Keep […]
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Writing Samples to Help You Practice Proofreading
Published Jul 27, 2022
Last Updated Oct 07, 2026At Knowadays, we love to help you improve your proofreading skills. Practicing on a range of texts is one of the best ways to build your skills and gain proofreading experience. So today, we’re giving you three short passages of text to practice on. They are all written in American English. Copy and paste each […]
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A Visit from St. Nicholas (A Festive Proofreading Quiz)
Published Dec 23, 2021
Last Updated May 16, 2023Here at Knowadays, we know the best way to improve your proofreading skills is to get lots of practice. And what better way to than with a festive proofreading exercise? All you need to do is copy and paste the poem below into a Microsoft Word document and see how many errors you can spot […]
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Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Proofreaders
Published Sep 25, 2021
Last Updated Feb 29, 2024If you’re a freelance proofreader, you’ll likely spend a lot of time using a laptop or computer. And knowing some keyboard shortcuts can make your life much easier when proofreading a document. Plus, the faster you can proofread, the more you can earn! In this post, we’ll take you through a few useful keyboard shortcuts, […]
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Proofreading Checklist: Thesis or Dissertation
Published Jun 27, 2021
Last Updated Nov 28, 2024Whether at master’s or PhD level, theses and dissertations are complex documents. This can make them difficult to proofread. With that in mind, though, we’ve prepared this handy proofreading checklist you can use when working on a thesis or dissertation. Parts of a Thesis or Dissertation Theses and dissertations typically comprise several parts, including: A […]
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Proofreading Checklist: Student Essay
Published May 09, 2021
Last Updated Jun 03, 2025Academic proofreading can be a great source of work for freelancers. But what should you look for when proofreading a student essay? In this essay proofreading checklist, we set out the issues that often affect essays, from basic typos to errors with citations and formatting. Mechanical Issues in Student Essays No matter the document type, […]
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The Fourth Wise Man (a Christmas Proofreading Story)
The Fourth Wise Man (a Christmas Proofreading Story)
Published Dec 24, 2020
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024We all know the story of the Three Wise Men who came bearing gifts at the birth of Jesus. But did you know that a fourth wise man was left out of the nativity story? This Christmas, we will finally tell the untold part of this tale: the story of Barry the proofreader. Three Kings […]
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15 Great Books on Proofreading and Editing
15 Great Books on Proofreading and Editing
Published Sep 10, 2020
Last Updated Sep 25, 2025Becoming an outstanding proofreader and editor takes work and training – but you knew that already! Reading books on proofreading and editing is a handy way to further refine your craft. Here are 15 great choices to add to your list of essential resources. Grammar and Punctuation Guides Grammar and punctuation guides look at how […]
