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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5 Easy-to-Miss Quotation Mark Errors
5 Easy-to-Miss Quotation Mark Errors
Published Nov 08, 2020
Last Updated Aug 03, 2023Among other things, a good proofreader will check documents for proper use of quotes and quotation marks. However, there are many easy-to-miss quotation mark errors, including 4. Smart Quotes vs. Straight Quotes In typography, quotation marks come in two styles: Smart (or curly) quote marks – These are standard in most writing now, and most […]
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A Quick Guide to Numbers in MLA Style
A Quick Guide to Numbers in MLA Style
Published Nov 05, 2020
Last Updated May 16, 2023Your client might not know all the details of MLA style. As an academic proofreader, then, your work may involve checking that documents follow MLA conventions. Thus, in this post, we’re looking at how to present numbers in academic writing according to MLA style. Numbers in MLA: Numerals or Words? MLA style sets out two […]
A Quick Guide to Citation Styles in CSE Referencing
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What are Stacks and Ladders?
Published Oct 18, 2020
Last Updated Mar 14, 2025Previously, we’ve looked at widows and orphans, which thankfully did not involve any husbands or parents dying. Today, we look at stacks and ladders, which will not involve any literal piling or climbing. What are these metaphorical stacks and ladders, then? And what do they have to do with proofreading? Check out our simple guide […]
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5 Tips for Keeping Your Critical Distance While Proofreading
Published Oct 15, 2020
Last Updated Jun 18, 2025It can be hard to focus on proofreading if you’re too involved in a text or if you’ve made several passes already and become too familiar with it to easily spot errors. Overfamiliarity can cause you to overlook mistakes that would be obvious to fresh eyes. The key to overcoming this issue is to maintain […]
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What Counts as Plagiarism in Academic Writing?
Published Oct 01, 2020
Last Updated Jan 13, 2025To do their job well, academic proofreaders need to know what constitutes plagiarism. This is partly so they can help clients avoid it. But guidelines on academic plagiarism may also affect the kinds of services you can provide. With that in mind, here, we look at: What counts as plagiarism in academic writing. What proofreaders […]
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What Is AIP Referencing?
Published Sep 24, 2020
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024Knowadays provides in-depth advice on academic proofreading, including outlining several major citation styles. But there are other specialist styles that you may encounter in your work. Today, for example, we’re taking a quick look at AIP referencing. What Is AIP Referencing? AIP referencing was created by the American Institute of Physics. It is often used […]
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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 […]
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Date Formats: Little-Endian, Middle-Endian, Big-Endian
Published Aug 30, 2020
Last Updated Jul 02, 2025In the Becoming A Proofreader course, we look at how date formats differ between American English, British English, and Australian English. There are, though, more than three countries in the world, so it’s worth looking at regional date format variations more generally. Luckily, there are only three basic date format styles you need to know: […]
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Editing Tips: Punctuation in APA Style
Editing Tips: Punctuation in APA Style
Published Aug 27, 2020
Last Updated Jun 26, 2024The APA Publication Manual is one of the principal academic style guides. And if you’re proofreading academic writing, especially in the social and Becoming A Proofreader Want to know more about style guides and proofreading? Then our Becoming A Proofreader course could be just what you’re looking for. Sign up for a free trial today […]
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How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word
How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word
Published Aug 23, 2020
Last Updated Sep 12, 2025Track Changes is a key tool for proofreading in Microsoft Word. And if you want to work as a proofreader, you’ll need to know how it works. In this post, then, we’re going to run you through the basics of how to use Track Changes when editing a document in Microsoft Word. What Is Track […]