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!

  • Freelance Proofreading Tips: The Client’s Brief

    Freelance Proofreading Tips: The Client’s Brief

    Mar 19, 2020

    • Clients
    • Finding Work
    • Professional
    • Proofreading Tips

    As a freelance proofreader and editor, your work may range from making major changes to a document to fixing typos and other minor errors. And this variability is why you need to agree on a clear brief with each client. But what is a brief? And what might it cover? Understanding the Client’s Brief In […]

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  • Freelance Proofreading Tips: 5 Types of Client

    Freelance Proofreading Tips: 5 Types of Client

    Mar 09, 2020

    • Clients
    • Professional
    • Proofreading Tips

    One of the joys of freelance proofreading and editing is the variety it offers. Every client is a little bit different, each with their own requirements and posing their own challenges. But there are some types of client you’ll encounter more often than others, including: Students, academics, and researchers Business clients Authors and publishers Private […]

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3 Tips for Staying Focused While Proofreading

  • Proofreading Resources: Style Guides

    Feb 10, 2020

    • Proofreading Resources
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Style guides are crucial for proofreading and editing. As a freelancer, you may come to depend on them quite heavily! After all, a good style guide will tell you everything you need to know to edit a document, from spelling preferences to citation styles. But which style guides do you need? And where can you […]

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  • Copy Editing vs. Proofreading: What You Need to Know

    Feb 06, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Professional
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    In the publishing world, copy editing and proofreading both take place toward the end of the editing process. However, these terms are tricky to pin down. And to confuse matters further, many freelance editors offer a mix of both. But there is a distinction between the two, so let’s look at what makes copy editing […]

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  • Editing Tips: Should You Edit Citations and References?

    Jan 27, 2020

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

    You need to know your referencing systems if you’re proofreading academic documents. Knowadays covers several major referencing styles to this end, but we’re often asked how far an editor should go with citations. The answer is But that isn’t a very helpful answer, so we’ll look more at how to edit references and citations below. […]

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  • 5 Top Tips for Giving Great Feedback on a Document

    Jan 23, 2020

    • Clients
    • Professional
    • Proofreading Tips

    Knowadays is about more than just grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It’s about how you can help clients produce excellent writing, which often involves leaving feedback. But how should you comment on a document you’re editing? Let’s find out.

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  • What to Do with Tentative Language

    Jan 13, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips
    • Other Errors
    • Proofreading Tips

    Tentative language – also known as – is a common feature of many types of writing. But what exactly do we mean by tentative language? And what should you do if you encounter hedging when editing or proofreading a document? In this post, we explain all. What Do We Mean by Hedging? If a document […]

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  • Proofreading and Editing Tips: Word Choice: Similar Words or Similar Meanings?

    Word Choice: Similar Words or Similar Meanings?

    Mar 20, 2019

    • Common Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Spelling

    Our rich, annoying language has many words whose meanings are subtly distinct. It also has many words with similar spellings. Sometimes the two intersect and we get a double whammy of confusion. Today, we look at two pairs of words we suspect are trying to catch us out. The first is recur and reoccur, which […]

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  • Proofreading Tips: Working With Religious Terms

    Proofreading Tips: Working With Religious Terms

    Feb 03, 2019

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Vocabulary Tips

    And lo, the proofreader corrected the spelling and the grammar, and she did separate sentence from sentence with proper punctuation. For six days she did this, and on the seventh day she did this also, for she worked freelance and could not afford to rest. Don’t worry, we haven’t changed our style to reflect the […]

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  • Everybody Loves Referencing

    Everybody Loves Referencing

    Dec 13, 2018

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

    You’ve checked the spelling, grammar, and punctuation. You’ve made sure the language is appropriate and flows smoothly. Now comes your favourite bit of academic proofreading. Perhaps you’d like to dress up and pour yourself a glass of wine (alcohol-free, of course: don’t drink and proofread!) before you settle down to the positive treat that is […]

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