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!

  • Whomever or Whoever: What’s the Difference?

    Whomever or Whoever: What’s the Difference?

    Nov 06, 2022

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips

    If you’re confused about when to use whomever or whoever, you’re not alone. In today’s post, we’ll explain the difference between whomever and whoever and how you can determine which one to use. Who and Whom Whoever and whomever take their forms from who and whom, two words that belong to a time when many […]

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  • How to Use Semicolons (With Examples) 

    How to Use Semicolons (With Examples) 

    Oct 24, 2022

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause, and it typically serves two purposes: linking two closely related independent clauses and separating items in a multipart list. But how are they different from colons? And when is a semicolon a better choice than a comma? As a proofreader, you’ll need to know […]

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Common Homophone Errors (and How to Avoid Them)

  • The Bad Big Wolf? A Proofreader’s Guide to Adjective Order

    Oct 08, 2022

    • Common Errors
    • ESL Writing
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips

    If the phrases “black little dress” and “red dry wine” sound strange in your head, you have intrinsic knowledge of English adjective order. When we use multiple adjectives to modify a noun or nouns, they don’t fall into a random sequence. Rather, they follow a pattern based on their function. In fact, most native English […]

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  • What Is an Executive Summary? (And How to Edit One)

    Sep 21, 2022

    • Business Editing
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    If you’re a proofreader or editor who specializes in business writing, you’ll need to know how to edit an executive summary. An executive summary is a short overview of a business document that outlines the basic topics covered. In today’s post, we’ll explain executive summaries in more detail before giving you some tips on how […]

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  • How to Proofread and Edit an Academic CV

    Sep 15, 2022

    • Academic Editing
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    If you’ve worked with professional CVs before, you may feel prepared to proofread and edit an academic CV. But there are some important differences between professional and academic CVs that you should know about. In this blog post, we give a brief guide to the content and structure of an academic CV and set out […]

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  • Proofreading Tips: When Should You Write Out Numbers in Full?

    Aug 12, 2022

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    Style guides vary a lot on even the basics of how to write numbers. APA style, for instance, recommends writing out numbers under 10 as words and using numerals for larger numbers. But Chicago style recommends writing out numbers up to and including 100. And MLA style recommends writing out any number that can be […]

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  • Common Clichés (And How to Avoid Them)

    Aug 10, 2022

    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    Part of your job as a proofreader or editor is to help your client avoid clichés in their writing. This will involve highlighting overused terms and phrases and suggesting less clichéd alternatives. But to do this, you’ll first need to know what clichéd language is and how to spot it. This is where our guide […]

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  • Proofreading Tips: A Guide to Countable and Uncountable Nouns

    Aug 04, 2022

    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips

    Common nouns can be either countable or uncountable. But what does this mean in practice? And what does a proofreader need to know about countable and uncountable nouns? In this post, we set out the basics of how these noun types work and some common errors to look out for. What Are Countable Nouns? Countable […]

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  • Writing Samples to Help You Practice Proofreading

    Writing Samples to Help You Practice Proofreading

    Jul 27, 2022

    • Proofreading Resources
    • Proofreading Tips

    At Knowadays, we love to help you improve your proofreading skills. So today, we’re giving you three short passages of text to practice on. They are written in American English. Just copy and paste each passage into a Microsoft Word document and make any changes you feel are necessary (focusing on clear errors rather than […]

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  • Proofreading Tips: Is or Are? A Guide to Collective Nouns

    Proofreading Tips: Is or Are? A Guide to Collective Nouns

    Jul 20, 2022

    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips

    Collective nouns are nouns that refer to a group of people or objects, including words like team, family, and crowd. But are they singular or plural? And how do you use collective nouns in a sentence? These are things you need to know as a proofreader. Read on to find out more. Collective Nouns and […]

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