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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Referencing Style or System? A Guide for the Confused
Referencing Style or System? A Guide for the Confused
Published Feb 04, 2021
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024In the Becoming A Proofreader course, we look at referencing styles and systems. But what is the distinction between a referencing style and a system? We use these terms as follows: A referencing style is a generic approach to citing sources ( Harvard, Oxford, Vancouver). However, there may be several versions or variations of any […]
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Proofreading and Editing Gendered Language
Proofreading and Editing Gendered Language
Published Jan 24, 2021
Last Updated Jan 05, 2026Language shapes how readers perceive people, roles, and even entire organizations. Gendered language refers to words, phrases, or grammatical structures that unnecessarily imply a specific gender when gender is irrelevant. Nowadays, inclusive communication isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s an expectation. Whether you’re working with marketing copy, internal documents, or academic writing, editors and proofreaders have […]
Editing Tips: Typographic Rivers Explained
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5 Errors New Proofreaders Often Miss
Published Jan 14, 2021
Last Updated Nov 18, 2024Proofreaders need to be careful not to overlook mistakes in text while they work. Here, for instance, we’re going to look at five errors that new proofreaders often miss in documents: Mix-ups involving unfamiliar homophones. Multiple independent clauses combined in a comma splice. Inconsistencies in a document that don’t involve explicit errors. Misplaced or missing […]
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Citation Styles: What Is ASA Referencing?
Published Jan 10, 2021
Last Updated Dec 20, 2024If you proofread academic writing, you may come across a variety of referencing styles. And if you proofread sociology papers in particular, this will likely include ASA referencing. But what is ASA style? And how does it work? In this post, we explain the basics. What Is ASA Referencing? ASA referencing is a citation style […]
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Microsoft Word Tips: Track Changes vs. Compare
Published Dec 27, 2020
Last Updated Jun 04, 2024When proofreading a document in Microsoft Word, you have two main methods available for recording the edits you make. These are: Using Track Changes to record edits as you make them. Editing the document and then using Compare to highlight the changes. We cover both methods in detail in the Becoming A Proofreader course. Here, […]
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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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What to Do with Biased Language
Published Dec 17, 2020
Last Updated Jan 10, 2025When editing a document, you might notice language that some might find offensive. But what should you do about biased language as a proofreader? In this post, we offer a few tips about what to look out for and how to handle biased language if you encounter it. What Counts as Biased Language? As with […]
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Style Guides for Business Writing
Published Dec 10, 2020
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024Style guides are vital resources for proofreaders and editors. But the best style guide to use may depend on the type of writing at hand. So, which style guides are best for business writing? Here, we’re going to look at some examples, including: The Associated Press Stylebook The Chicago Manual of Style The Business Style […]
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5 Tips for Proofreading Different English Dialects
5 Tips for Proofreading Different English Dialects
Published Nov 29, 2020
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024One benefit of freelance proofreading is that you can work with clients all around the world. But this may mean you encounter English dialects that differ from the one you know best. And while this can pose challenges for proofreaders, we have a few tips that can help: Set the language preferences in your word […]
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A Quick Guide to Canadian English
A Quick Guide to Canadian English
Published Nov 22, 2020
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024Canadian English combines aspects of both American and British English, as well as having its own purely Canadian terminology and usage. We’ve put together a quick guide to Canadian English for proofreaders to highlight general guidelines for working with this dialect. Canadian English Spelling Canadian English usually follows British spelling conventions. For instance: Canadian English: […]