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!

  • Editing Tips: How to Punctuate Dates

    Editing Tips: How to Punctuate Dates

    Jul 09, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    There are various ways to punctuate dates. This poses a challenge for proofreaders. Should you correct punctuation in dates in a document? And how does punctuating dates vary in different situations? In this post, we answer your punctuation questions. Punctuating Numerical Date Formats Commas Between Days and Years in Dates The US date format uses […]

    Read more
  • A Guide to Secondary Citations (AMA, APA, Chicago and MLA)

    A Guide to Secondary Citations (AMA, APA, Chicago and MLA)

    Jun 28, 2020

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

Understanding the Proofing Options in Microsoft Word

  • A Guide to Proofreading LaTeX Documents

    Jun 21, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Formatting
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    If you do a lot of academic proofreading, you will almost certainly encounter LaTeX at some point. And no, this doesn’t have anything to do with rubber gloves or clothing! To find out about the LaTeX system and what you need to know as proofreader, check out our guide below. What Is LaTeX? LaTeX (pronounced […]

    Read more
  • Editing Tips: How to Format Block Quotes

    Jun 18, 2020

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

    When proofreading academic writing, you may come across longer passages of quoted text. And while you would not usually edit quotations, most referencing systems require longer passages to be formatted as block quotes. In this post, we look at how that works. What Are Block Quotes? A block quote or block quotation is a quotation […]

    Read more
  • Is Fact-Checking Part of Proofreading?

    Jun 14, 2020

    • Proofreading Tips

    As a freelance proofreader or editor, you may sometimes be asked to fact-check a document. But is fact-checking part of proofreading and editing? And what does it mean to fact-check something? In this post, we run you through the basics. Is Fact-Checking Part of Proofreading and Editing? As we’ve discussed elsewhere, the lines between proofreading […]

    Read more
  • Editing Tips: Punctuation in AP Style

    Jun 07, 2020

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation
    • Style

    AP style – as set out in The Associated Press Stylebook – provides advice on many elements of writing, including punctuation. But what do you need to know about punctuation in AP style to work as a freelance proofreader? Becoming A Proofreader If you’d like a try a sample module of our Becoming A Proofreader […]

    Read more
  • Editing Tips: A Quick Guide to Formal Writing

    May 31, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Business Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    One key stylistic distinction for proofreading is between informal and formal writing. But what is formal writing? What makes it formal? And when should a document use a formal style? In this post, we look at what you need to know to work on formal documents. What Are the Key Stylistic Features of Formal Writing? […]

    Read more
  • A Quick Guide to DOIs and URLs

    May 17, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Referencing and Citations

    Many referencing systems require a DOI or URL for online sources. But what exactly is the difference between DOIs and URLs? And how should you approach them as a proofreader? What Are DOIs and URLs? DOIs (digital object identifiers) and URLs (uniform resource locators) are both ways of linking to content online. So, what exactly […]

    Read more
  • Writing the Time: AM and PM or a.m. and p.m.?

    Writing the Time: AM and PM or a.m. and p.m.?

    May 14, 2020

    • Proofreading Tips

    AM and PM are terms used when writing times. However, there are a few different ways to write them, which can be tricky when proofreading. Should you just aim for consistency? Or is there a correct way to do it in certain contexts? In this post, we explore: What the terms AM and PM mean. […]

    Read more
  • An Introduction to the AP Stylebook

    An Introduction to the AP Stylebook

    Apr 23, 2020

    • Business Editing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    The AP Stylebook is the go-to style guide for anyone working in journalism. But why is this guide so popular? And what do you need to know about it as a proofreader? Let’s take a look. What Is The Associated Press Stylebook? The Associated Press Stylebook is created by the Associated Press (AP), a major […]

    Read more