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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    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 Writing
    • 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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How to Format Dates in the US, UK and Australia

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    Christmas Shopping for Proofreaders

    Nov 18, 2018

    • Lifestyle Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    If you or a loved one works as a freelance proofreader, the holidays may well be more about dotting the Is than Morecambe and Wise. But even proofreaders deserve a treat this Christmas. So what gifts would make a professional word nerd happy this Yuletide? 1. A Room of One’s Own It’s impossible to pay […]

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  • Proofreading and Editing Tips: Three Confusing Spellings Explained

    Three Confusing Spellings Explained

    Nov 13, 2018

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Spelling

    We understand. You’ve been under a lot of strain recently. A proofreader’s job is not always easy. And sometimes the wrong spellings look so right. But don’t be fazed by or rack your brain over the constrictive straitjacket of spelling. Instead, join us for a look at the origins of these three confusing words, as […]

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  • Freelance Tips: Shortcuts and Time-Savers to Avoid

    Shortcuts and Time-Savers to Avoid

    Sep 14, 2018

    • Proofreading Software and Tools
    • Proofreading Tips

    Proofreading can be a painstaking process. And when there’s a deadline looming or a frazzled client on your back, it’s very tempting to look for shortcuts. Some of these shortcuts are legitimate time-saving tips that proofreaders should learn to improve their efficiency. But some have no place in proofreading at all. And in this post, […]

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    How to Proofread Negative Prefixes in English

    Aug 07, 2018

    • Common Errors
    • ESL Writing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Spelling

    English is a magpie language. It picks up shiny words wherever it can, and it doesn’t care how disorganised its rules become in the process. Or should that be ‘unorganised’? Take prefixes, for instance. We have de-, dis-, un-, and in-, all of which signify that something isn’t the case. And they’re not the only […]

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  • Proofreading and Editing Tips: Proofreading Creative Writing

    Proofreading Creative Writing

    Jul 30, 2018

    • Creative Writing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Truth hurts. That’s why everyday life is full of little white lies, and why most of the human race avoids telling anyone that their baby isn’t all that pretty. But proofreaders aren’t so lucky. Our career is a world of uncomfortable truths. And this is especially true when working with authors and other creative writers. […]

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    Capitalisation: Compass Points and Titles

    Jul 02, 2018

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Other Errors
    • Proofreading Tips

    In our time training proofreaders, we’ve noticed that the subtleties of capitalisation can sometimes confuse even the best students. So, today, we’re going to look at two tricky capitalisation issues that might trip you up: compass points and titles. Compass Points and Directions It is a common misconception that the four compass directions should always […]

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    Spellcheck and Proofreading Software

    Spellcheck and Proofreading Software

    Jun 25, 2018

    • Proofreading Software and Tools
    • Proofreading Tips

    We all like to feel needed. We give and give, and we’d like a little appreciation in return. But boring old human proofreaders aren’t terribly glamorous. We’re only flesh and blood. And sometimes clients seem to have more faith in technology than in humanity. In today’s blog post, then, we’re looking at non-fleshly attempts to […]

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    Dealing with Difficult Proofreading Situations

    Dealing with Difficult Proofreading Situations

    May 30, 2018

    • Business Tips
    • Clients
    • Proofreading Tips

    As with any career, some editing tasks will be more difficult than others. However, there is a line (sometimes a fine one) between difficult and unacceptable. What do you do when a client makes an unreasonable request? How can you deal with situations in which clients treat you poorly? In today’s blog post, we offer […]

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