Style
Explore the nuances of style in writing. Find out how to use a style sheet, use different capitalization styles, write numbers (ten or 10?) – as well as a variety of other style considerations.
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What Is ACS Referencing?
What Is ACS Referencing?
Published Aug 06, 2020
Last Updated May 27, 2025If you’re editing or proofreading academic writing about chemistry, you may need to know how the ACS referencing system works. But you might not have come across this citation style before unless you’re a chemist! That’s why we’ve put together this guide to take you through the essentials. What Is ACS Referencing? The “ACS” in […]
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How To Use Punctuation in Chicago Style
How To Use Punctuation in Chicago Style
Published Jul 23, 2020
Last Updated Mar 10, 2025The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) contains a lot of information on punctuation! Some is just to remind the reader of standard usage (e.g. that a sentence should end in a period). But as a proofreader, it pays to know the subtleties of punctuation in Chicago style. Periods and Abbreviations in Chicago Style When it […]
Specialist Systems: AMA Referencing
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A Guide to Secondary Citations (AMA, APA, Chicago and MLA)
Published Jun 28, 2020
Last Updated May 16, 2023 -
A Guide to Proofreading LaTeX Documents
Published Jun 21, 2020
Last Updated Jan 05, 2026If you do a lot of academic proofreading, you’re likely to come across LaTeX documents at some point. LaTeX (pronounced “lay-tech”) is commonly used in scientific and technical writing, especially for papers that include equations or complex formatting. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about proofreading LaTeX documents – […]
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How to Format a Block Quote
Published Jun 18, 2020
Last Updated Jan 30, 2026How to format a block quote is a common question for anyone working with academic or formal writing. Most referencing styles have specific rules about when and how to use block quotations – and while you typically wouldn’t edit the content of a quote, you do need to ensure it’s presented correctly. In this post, […]
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Editing Tips: Punctuation in AP Style
Published Jun 07, 2020
Last Updated Jul 23, 2025AP 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? In this post, we set out a few of the basics. AP Style on Periods and Abbreviations […]
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Editing Tips: A Quick Guide to Formal Writing
Published May 31, 2020
Last Updated Aug 07, 2023One 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? […]
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An Introduction to the AP Stylebook
Published Apr 23, 2020
Last Updated May 16, 2023The 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 […]
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Style Guides for Proofreading and Editing
Style Guides for Proofreading and Editing
Published Feb 10, 2020
Last Updated May 27, 2025Style 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 favored citation style. But which style guides do you need? And where can […]
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Copy Editing vs. Proofreading: What You Need to Know
Copy Editing vs. Proofreading: What You Need to Know
Published Feb 06, 2020
Last Updated Mar 25, 2025Copy editing and proofreading are both types of editing that take place toward the end of the writing process to get a text ready for publication. But while these terms are often used interchangeably, they aren’t quite the same thing. To make matters even more confusing, many freelance editors offer a blend of both services. […]