Proofreading Tips
Whether you’re just getting started or are an experienced proofreader, there’s always something new to learn. That’s where our blogs come in! We've got expert advice on spelling, grammar, punctuation, referencing, proofreading different types of writing (from creative to business and academic), and much more!
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Editing Tips: Editing IMRaD Essays
Editing Tips: Editing IMRaD Essays
Published Nov 11, 2021
Last Updated May 16, 2023If you do a lot of academic editing or proofreading, chances are you will come across an IMRaD essay. Indeed, you may have worked on several without even knowing it! The term IMRaD stands for Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion, which is a method of structuring essays. It’s worth yourself with this structure because it’s […]
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Proofreading Tips: Parentheses and Square Brackets in Chicago Style
Proofreading Tips: Parentheses and Square Brackets in Chicago Style
Published Nov 07, 2021
Last Updated May 16, 2023Parentheses and square brackets are punctuation marks used to set off certain bits of information from the main text in a document. They’re not too tricky, but different style guides can have slightly different rules for their usage. And, as a proofreader, you’ll need to check your client’s writing against these rules. This post, then, […]
Dos and Don’ts for Proofreading Academic Writing
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Proofreading Tips: What to Do With Scare Quotes
Published Oct 31, 2021
Last Updated May 16, 2023As a proofreader, what scares you the most? If scare quotes are the spookiest things you can think of, don’t worry. It might be Halloween, but there’s no reason to fear them! As long as you know what they are and when it’s appropriate to use them, you’ll know exactly what to do when they […]
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A Proofreader’s Guide to Straight and Curly Quotes
Published Oct 28, 2021
Last Updated Feb 20, 2026Quotation marks may seem simple at first glance, but eagle-eyed proofreaders will know there’s more than one type to watch out for. In fact, quotation marks come in two distinct styles: straight and curly (or “smart”). In this post, we’ll explain: Let’s take a closer look. What’s the Difference Between Straight and Curly Quotes? The […]
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Proofreading Tips: How to Proofread Quotations
Published Oct 23, 2021
Last Updated Jun 20, 2024Academic writing accounts for a significant portion of many freelance proofreaders’ work. And, along with some other non-fiction, academic writing often relies heavily on quotations. It is thus important to know how to proofread quotations. In this post, we give an overview of things to consider when proofreading quotations in academic or other non-fiction writing. […]
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Proofreading Tips: Numbers in AP Style
Published Oct 17, 2021
Last Updated Mar 10, 2025Created by journalists to help public-facing writing in 1953, The AP Stylebook is still one of the most commonly used American English style guides around. As a proofreader, you’ll often need to check the formatting of numbers when working with a client who writes in AP style. This post will take you through how to […]
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State Abbreviations in AP Style
Published Sep 26, 2021
Last Updated May 27, 2025The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook is, at its core, a guide for newspapers and other media publications. However, it has become a popular style guide for professional or corporate writing across various industries, with many businesses following AP style for their blog articles and web content. So, if you’re proofreading for clients in the US, […]
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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 Tips: What to Do With Comma Splices
Proofreading Tips: What to Do With Comma Splices
Published Sep 23, 2021
Last Updated Nov 12, 2024A good proofreader will know how to spot and correct common punctuation errors. One of the most common of these is the comma splice. But what exactly are comma splices, and how can you fix them? Read on to find out more. What Are Comma Splices? A comma splice is what happens when two independent […]
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Proofreading Tips: How to Fix Ghost Formatting in MS Word
Proofreading Tips: How to Fix Ghost Formatting in MS Word
Published Aug 01, 2021
Last Updated Jun 20, 2024When working as a proofreader, you might find that some clients ask you to correct the formatting of a document. But have you ever come across a layout issue in Microsoft Word that seems impossible to fix? If so, you may have experienced the spectre of ghost formatting. This post will explain what this means […]