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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What Is an Adjectival Noun?
What Is an Adjectival Noun?
Last Updated Jan 21, 2023
You might know of adjectives as words used to describe nouns, such as the yellow jacket or silly song. But can a noun ever work the way an adjective does? The answer is yes . . . sometimes. An adjectival noun functions as an adjective and is located before another noun in a sentence. Want […]
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What Is a Dangling Modifier? (With Examples)
What Is a Dangling Modifier? (With Examples)
Last Updated Jan 16, 2023
As a proofreader, you’ll need to spot and fix grammatical errors. One of the most common of these is the dangling modifier. In this post, we’ll provide a crash course on what dangling modifiers are, how to identify them, and what to do with them when proofreading. What Is a Dangling Modifier? A modifier is […]
How to Use Comparatives and Superlatives (With Examples)
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One Word or Two? 10 Common Mistakes
Last Updated Jan 07, 2023
Are you confident about terms being one word or two? If you are, congratulations! If not, though, you’re not alone. Errors of this type are some of the most common in the English language. In this post, we’ll cover some of the most common mistakes so that you’ve got the basics covered – whether you’re […]
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What Is the Present Perfect Tense? (With Examples)
Last Updated Dec 26, 2022
The present perfect tense is one of the most common verb tenses in English, and despite the name containing the word present, it describes actions relating to both the past and present. Does it sound confusing? It doesn’t have to be! Read on for how to recognize and use the present perfect tense. How to […]
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What Is an Oxford Comma? (With Examples)
Last Updated Dec 21, 2022
Commas can be a confusing part of punctuation, and the Oxford comma is no exception. In this post, we’ll explain what exactly an Oxford comma is and how you should deal with them as a proofreader. The Oxford Comma (AKA The Serial Comma) Commas are used to separate items in a list. An Oxford comma, […]
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What Is Antiquated Language? (And How to Proofread It)
Last Updated Dec 14, 2022
As people change and advance, so does language. English is no exception to that; some of its words stand the test of time, while others fall from favor and are replaced by new words. In today’s blog post, we’ll shed some light on antiquated language in English and how to proofread it. What Is Antiquated […]
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A Complete Guide to Formatting Tools in Microsoft Word
Last Updated Dec 04, 2022
Microsoft Word is a popular type of word processing software with a wide variety of features. As a freelance proofreader, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with its tools, as you’ll likely use them as part of your workflow. While proofreading doesn’t always include formatting, many proofreaders offer it as an additional service. Microsoft […]
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What’s a Colloquialism?
Last Updated Nov 21, 2022
A colloquialism is an informal word or phrase commonly used in everyday conversation and often specific to a geographic region. For example, the word “y’all” (you all) is commonly used in the southern US, but not necessarily elsewhere in the world. Sometimes, a colloquialism’s popularity is a bit more widespread, like “head over heels” (falling […]
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When to Use “I” and “Me” in a Sentence
When to Use “I” and “Me” in a Sentence
Last Updated Nov 19, 2022
Is it “you and me” or “you and I”? This can be a complex question, even for native English speakers. The difference lies in whether you need to use a subject pronoun or an object pronoun. In this post, we’ll dig into what these pronouns are and how to establish when “I” or “me” is […]
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Literally and Figuratively: What’s the Difference?
Literally and Figuratively: What’s the Difference?
Last Updated Nov 16, 2022
The English language’s waters can be muddy. So too can the difference between this pair of words: literally and figuratively. Literally and figuratively aren’t the same thing, despite what some people may think. Literally used to denote a literal, or letter-by-letter, meaning. People didn’t start to use literally in a figurative sense until about 200 […]
