Editorial Proofreading (The Standard)

Proofreading is an essential, often overlooked and underestimated step in the publishing process. It is the final, meticulous check of a text before it is published. Even after a thorough copyedit, a few errors may remain and often new ones introduced during design and layout. As the final safeguard before publication, editorial proofreading ensures accuracy and consistency across every element of the page—text, visuals, formatting, and typography—through a careful word-by-word and character-by-character review that catches even the smallest errors. From language to layout, I assess over 110 distinct components during an editorial proofread, each one essential to delivering a polished, error-free publication. 

These 110+ components fall into key categories such as:

• Correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors
• Verifying adherence to style guides and house style conventions
• Checking alignment, spacing, and design consistency
• Flagging layout and visual issues
• Reviewing tables, figures, and data displays
• Identifying typographical errors
• Reviewing digital functionality (e.g., URLs, bookmark, in-document navigation links)
• Implementing corrections from the author, editor, compositer
• Checking that corrections were implemented correctly

Please note:  The elements of editorial proofreading apply whether the final manuscript is printed as a book or distributed as a PDF (or other electronic file).  Digital proofreading,  however, includes additional checks specific to onscreen content, interactive functionality, platform requirements, digital accessibility features, and user experience. 

For this service, I typically work on:

• Academic and nonfiction - all disciplines
• Fiction and genre - all categories
• Publication types - scholarly books, scholarly & research journals, trade books, textbooks, dissertations, reference books

To request my resume or a complete list of projects, please get in touch via email or through the contact page.