proofreading
Catching written mistakes
Proofreading is the final review of written text to catch errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting before publication.
It differs from editing, which addresses style, clarity, and structure—proofreading assumes the content is settled and focuses on surface mistakes: I spent an hour proofreading the report before sending it.
The verb is proofread; the person is a proofreader.
Adjustments to fix errors
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- annotationsExplanatory additions to documents
- redliningRefusing loans by neighborhood
- copyeditingCorrecting written material
stet · caret · dele · formatting · fact-checking · cross-referencing · citations · footnotes
Preliminary version of text
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- amendmentsFormal changes to documents
- rewritingComposing text anew
- rephrasingRestating in other words
rewording · restructuring · modifications · adjustments · feedback · comments · suggestions · clarification
Lacking any mistakes
- correctnessState of being accurate
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
- detail-orientedFocused on small elements
exactness · consistency · thoroughness · carefulness · diligence · scrupulous · fidelity · rigor
Ease of understanding text
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- concisenessQuality of being brief
- comprehensibilityClarity of meaning
legibility · lucidity · intelligibility · consistency · transitions · ambiguity · redundancy · wordiness
Arranging text for print
- galleysOar-powered ancient warships
- bluelinesHockey rink demarcations
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
- camera-readyReady for photographic transfer
corrections
Adjustments to fix errors
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- annotationsExplanatory additions to documents
- redliningRefusing loans by neighborhood
copyediting · stet · caret · dele · formatting · fact-checking · cross-referencing · citations · footnotes · endnotes
draft
Preliminary version of text
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- amendmentsFormal changes to documents
- rewritingComposing text anew
rephrasing · rewording · restructuring · modifications · adjustments · feedback · comments · suggestions · clarification · improvement
error-free
Lacking any mistakes
- correctnessState of being accurate
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
detail-oriented · exactness · consistency · thoroughness · carefulness · diligence · scrupulous · fidelity · rigor · typos
readability
Ease of understanding text
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- concisenessQuality of being brief
comprehensibility · legibility · lucidity · intelligibility · consistency · transitions · ambiguity · redundancy · wordiness · logic
typesetting
Arranging text for print
- galleysOar-powered ancient warships
- bluelinesHockey rink demarcations
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
- language artsgrammar rules, vocabulary building, phonics, spelling bees, writing prompts
- Transcriptiontranscript, transcriptionist, live transcription, verbatim, dictation
- writing practicefreewriting, drafting, revision, writing prompts, prompts
- Writing Processoutline, brainstorm, notes, research, rough draft
- Review Methodsediting, fact-checking, peer review, double-checking, examining
- crowdsourcingcrowdwork, microtask, hits, worker, requester
proofreadingdrafting
Creating technical blueprints
composing · first draft · writing · rough draft · brainstorming
proofreadingcorrupting
Causing moral decay
defacing · garbling · vandalizing · mangling · neglecting
- proofreading toolsApplications checking written accuracy