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In a nutshell…

Proofreading is the final stage a piece of text goes through before it is released into the public domain. The text has been typeset or designed, and made into a final proof which needs to be read carefully and thoroughly. Proofreading involves standing back from the piece and looking at it as a whole rather than its constituent parts. As the author, even if you don’t realise it, your nose is too close to the page to be able to see the piece in its entirety. It’s the proofreader’s job to pull back and see it as the reader will see it.

I provide a one-to-one service where I will work with you to ensure your text truly is ready to ‘go live’.

What does it involve?

Proofreading generally involves, but is not limited to, the following work:

• Checking spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting (this will usually be ensuring consistency of capitalisation or hyphenation rather than picking up any obvious spelling mistakes, as these should have been picked up at the copyediting stage)
• Checking for logic and flow – this involves standing back from the work and checking that pages run on correctly, page numbers are present if necessary, there aren’t any conspicuous widows or orphans (words or sentences that sit on their own and need to be moved forward/taken back), and references to tables or diagrams are correct
• Ensuring accuracy throughout the piece, for example making sure that tables of contents correspond with the headings in the document, and that paragraph references refer the reader to the correct paragraphs)
• Checking for textual inconsistencies, for example ‘time-table’ being both hyphenated and unhyphenated in the same paragraph
• Sometimes proofreading might involve reading against copy, i.e. checking the proof against the edited copy to ensure all changes have been incorporated correctly.

What texts do you work with?

When it comes to proofreading, nothing is out of bounds. A proofreader is needed everywhere the written word appears. In today’s web-based world there’s arguably more written text being sent out into the public domain than ever – anything that is written and is intended to be read by an audience will benefit from a professional proofread.

The kind of texts I proofread includes but is not limited to:

• Fiction
• Non-fiction
• Articles (print or web)
• Reports
• Newsletters
• Dissertations
• Letters
• Brochures and leaflets
• Website content
• Adverts
• Manuals
• Packaging

No proofreading job is too big or too small. I can work with you on one paragraph to go on your website, or on the entire manuscript of a full-length novel.

Contact Sally at Write Sense Media to learn more.