What is Proofreading?

I am often asked what proofreading entails. Here is a list of the common tasks I perform:

  • Find and correct missing or incorrect articles, prepositions, pronouns, spelling mistakes, capitalisation, punctuation and verb tense;
  • Highlight a sentence or passage that is overly complex or where the intended meaning is not clear;
  • Flag errors in labelling diagrams, figures or formatting;
  • Check that all entries in the reference list or bibliography are in order, consistent and free of errors;
  • Raise queries;
  • Send regular progress reports.



What is NOT included in proofreading:

  • Translation;
  • Rewriting passages to clarify meaning;
  • Changing the text to develop or change ideas or arguments;
  • Reduce or increase the length of the work so that it falls within the specified word limit;
  • Contribute additional material to the original;
  • Correct information within the work;
  • Rewrite sections where argumentation or logic is faulty;
  • Change the words or figures or notation (except to identify the correct spelling or verb tense of the word used);
  • Rearrange passages of text, sequence of code or section of other material;
  • Check calculations or formulae;
  • Re-label figures or diagrams;
  • Correct faulty references or compile reference lists or bibliographies.

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