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!

  • Proofreading Tips: A Quick Guide to Canadian English

    Proofreading Tips: A Quick Guide to Canadian English

    Nov 22, 2020

    • Dialects
    • Proofreading Tips

    Canadian 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: […]

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  • Proofreading Tips: Plagiarism and Copyright in Creative Writing

    Proofreading Tips: Plagiarism and Copyright in Creative Writing

    Nov 15, 2020

    • Creative Writing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Plagiarism in creative writing is harder to identify than, say, academic plagiarism. Despite this, proofreaders may want to look out for potential plagiarism and copyright issues in creative writing. To help you navigate these muddy waters, we’ve prepared a quick guide to the basics. What Is Plagiarism in Creative Writing? It is hard to define […]

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5 Easy-to-Miss Quotation Mark Errors

  • A Quick Guide to Numbers in MLA Style

    Nov 05, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations
    • Style

    Your 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 […]

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  • A Quick Guide to Citation Styles in CSE Referencing

    Oct 22, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations
    • Style

    If you edit a lot of scientific writing, you will likely encounter CSE referencing at some point. But this system can be confusing, as it actually permits three citation styles. In this guide, then, we’ll set out the basics of CSE referencing, including what to look out for as a proofreader. What Is CSE Referencing? […]

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  • Editing Tips: Stacks and Ladders Explained

    Oct 18, 2020

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Vocabulary Tips

    Previously, 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

    Oct 15, 2020

    • Professional
    • Proofreading Tips

    It can be hard to focus on proofreading if you’re too involved in a text, or if you’ve made several passes already and you’re now too familiar with it to easily spot errors. But there are things you can do to maintain critical distance when proofreading, including: Change your perspective on the document by proofreading […]

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  • Editing Tips: Checking Your Sources Online

    Oct 04, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Resources
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations

    As a proofreader, you may need to look up information online, such as reference formats or jargon, when working on a document. And this makes the internet an invaluable resource. But the internet is also full of very dumb things. So, how can you be sure the information you’ve found is trustworthy? And what should […]

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  • Proofreading Tips: What Counts as Plagiarism in Academic Writing?

    Oct 01, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    To 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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  • Specialist Citation Styles: What Is AIP Referencing?

    Specialist Citation Styles: What Is AIP Referencing?

    Sep 24, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations
    • Style

    Knowadays 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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  • Numeric Citations in ACS Referencing

    Numeric Citations in ACS Referencing

    Sep 17, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations
    • Style

    ACS referencing offers a couple of methods for citing sources in the chemical sciences. This includes a number–note system, where you cite sources using numbers in the text. But how do numeric citations work in ACS referencing? In this blog post, we run you through the basics. Numeric Citations Styles in ACS Referencing The number–note […]

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