Listed below are details of what a proofreader undertakes for a publisher or client. This information is taken from the Society for Editors & Proofreaders' website. I have not listed everything that they have detailed on their site, as some of the information relates to in-house proofreaders - I am freelance. SfEP also refers to proofreaders using British Standards Institution (BSI) marks, which I do not use. I do not use any type of codes or symbols. I undertake all work on-screen using Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature. Also, I do not proofread references.
What is proofreading?
Traditionally, an author's text is copy-edited, typeset by a typesetter, and then printed. These days, however, proofreading is often performed 'blind' – that is, the proof is read on its own merits, without the edited manuscript being available to the proofreader. The medium on which the text will ultimately be seen may not be paper but a computer screen.
The proofreader reads the proof for consistency in usage and layout, for accuracy in the text and references and for typesetting errors. However, the proofreader is acting only as a quality check, making sure that the copy-editor or typesetter has not missed something. He or she is not responsible for overall consistency and accuracy.
The terms of reference for a proofreader from a client should be agreed by both parties before the work is carried out.
What does a proofreader do?
What does a proofreader not do?
What is proofreading?
Traditionally, an author's text is copy-edited, typeset by a typesetter, and then printed. These days, however, proofreading is often performed 'blind' – that is, the proof is read on its own merits, without the edited manuscript being available to the proofreader. The medium on which the text will ultimately be seen may not be paper but a computer screen.
The proofreader reads the proof for consistency in usage and layout, for accuracy in the text and references and for typesetting errors. However, the proofreader is acting only as a quality check, making sure that the copy-editor or typesetter has not missed something. He or she is not responsible for overall consistency and accuracy.
The terms of reference for a proofreader from a client should be agreed by both parties before the work is carried out.
What does a proofreader do?
- Check that page numbers are consecutive and that page headings are correct.
- Ensure consistency – particularly of alternative spellings and hyphenation – by following a style guide if one is supplied or by compiling their own.
- Watch out for typographical and design inconsistencies as well as textual ones.
- Cross-check chapter titles with the table of contents. Check that the list of end matter – that is, appendices, index, etc. – corresponds to the text.
- Ensure that illustrations and their captions and labels correspond with each other and with the text.
What does a proofreader not do?
- Copy-editing Corrections to grammar and spelling, application of house style and, especially, restructuring or rewriting should be tackled at the copy-editing stage.
- Indexing