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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Dos and Don'ts for New Proofreaders
Dos and Don'ts for New Proofreaders
Published Jul 18, 2021
Last Updated Nov 20, 2024You’ve brushed up on your grammar, read the dictionary cover to cover, and you want to become a proofreader. Good start! But while good grammar and spelling is essential, sometimes it’s small mistakes that trip up new proofreaders. To help you avoid common mistakes, we’ve compiled our top five dos and don’ts for new proofreaders: […]
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A Guide to Referencing and Religious Texts
A Guide to Referencing and Religious Texts
Published Jul 17, 2021
Last Updated Dec 06, 2024Religious texts, whether published as books or accessed online, often play by different rules when it comes to referencing. So, as a proofreader, you’ll need to pay particular attention to referencing if your client is citing the Bible, the Quran, or any other sacred text. Here, we set out the rules for citing religious texts […]
Proofreading Tips: Abbreviations in AP Style
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Editing Tips: What to Do with Variant Spellings
Published Jul 08, 2021
Last Updated Jun 20, 2024If you want to pursue a career in proofreading, sooner or later you will encounter words that have variant spellings . In this post, then, we’re going to look at some common types of variant spellings and how to proofread them. Becoming A Proofreader If you would like to brush up on the basics of […]
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Editing Tips: Fact-Checking Fiction
Published Jul 03, 2021
Last Updated Nov 21, 2024Fiction is all about the suspension of disbelief, and factual errors can be distracting. Thus, when editing or proofreading a novel, you might need to raise issues of factual accuracy for your client, especially when a work of fiction is set in the real world. In this post, then, we set out some tips on […]
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Proofreading Tips: Punctuation in MHRA Style
Published Jul 01, 2021
Last Updated Jun 26, 2024The MHRA Style Guide is often used in the humanities, especially in the UK. But what does a proofreader need to know when working on a document that follows this style? In this post, we will look at the rules for punctuation in MHRA style, including: General guidelines about the overall punctuation conventions in MHRA […]
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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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How to Capitalize Titles in APA Style
Published Jun 20, 2021
Last Updated Dec 16, 2024The APA Publication Manual is widely used in academic writing, especially in the social and behavioral sciences. If you’re proofreading this type of writing, you need to know how to format titles of works (e.g., books or papers your client mentions) in APA style. Here, then, we’ll offer some advice for proofreaders on the following: […]
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A Proofreader’s Guide to Dates in AP Style
Published Jun 13, 2021
Last Updated Jul 23, 2025The Associated Press Stylebook is the go-to style guide for many writers, news outlets, and businesses. And if your clients use AP style, you’ll need to know how it works. With that in mind, here we’ll look at what proofreaders should know about dates in AP style, including: The basic date format (and when you […]
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5 Easy-To-Miss Apostrophe Errors
5 Easy-To-Miss Apostrophe Errors
Published Jun 10, 2021
Last Updated Oct 07, 2024A good proofreader will always check for apostrophe errors. And, as a proofreader, you should know the basics of how this punctuation mark works already. However, some apostrophe errors are easier to miss! In this post, we will explore five easy-to-miss errors to look out for: Exceptions to the rules about possessives and words that […]
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Hyphens and Dashes in AMA Style
Hyphens and Dashes in AMA Style
Published Jun 06, 2021
Last Updated May 16, 2023The AMA Manual of Style (11th edition) is an academic style guide widely used in the medical sciences. As an academic proofreader, then, you may need to learn the basics of this style. And, having previously introduced the AMA referencing system, this post will focus on how to use hyphens and dashes in AMA style. […]