Punctuation Guides
Here are some guides that contain virtually everything a proofreader needs to know about punctuation and its many rules and irregularities.
These books won’t always give definitive answers (punctuation is often subjective and down to style, after all) but they are useful if you want to build an awareness of punctuation rules, and use this to give good advice to your clients.
Books
- Penguin Guide to Punctuation, by R L Trask, Penguin, 2004
- The Best Punctuation Book, Period, by June Casagrande, Ten Speed Press, 2014
Online Punctuation Guides
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Business Writing Style Sheet
Use this example style sheet as a model for creating your own when proofreading or editing a business document.
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Academic Writing Style Sheet
You can modify this template to make notes on stylistic preferences in an academic document.
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Nonfiction Style Sheet
Use this style sheet template to note down stylistic elements in nonfiction writing, whether it’s a technical guide, historical study, or biography.
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Fiction Style Sheet
There can be many unique stylistic elements in creative writing, so a customized style sheet helps you keep track.
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Publishing Glossary
This is a collection of terms you might come across when proofreading or editing for a client in the publishing industry.