What Does a Proofreader Do?
Okay, so this is the final one of my four articles on the different types of editors you might use to edit your book.
It is entirely up to you which type you use, but for me I prefer just working with one person who does it all.
Anyway, that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. Today, I’m looking at what a proofreader does and while they are vital for your book.
Okay, so a proofreader is a professional person who will read your text and pick out any errors for you. Those errors could be to do with grammar, spelling, punctuation, typography, or consistency.
So, let’s look at them bit by bit…
1.Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation
There’s nothing worse than a book that’s chock full of spelling errors, has poor grammar or the punctuation is off. Your proofreader will identify the mistakes and make suggestions as to how you can correct them. They will also look at sentence structure and correct any mistakes.
2.Typography
What is typography? Well, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, typography is “the design of the writing in a piece of printing or on a computer screen.” The text needs to be clear and consistent. What your proofreader will do is look for any typographical errors, such as duplicated or missing letters, misplaced words or symbols, and incorrect capitalisation.
3. Consistency and Formatting
Like other types of editors, your proofreader will look at the consistency and formatting of your text and ensure these are the same all the way through. Things they will look at include consistency in style and language, indentation, spacing, alignment, headings and subheadings, bullet points and font styles.
4. Fact checking and cross referencing
If you have any references or citations that need to be cross-checked, your proofreader will do this too. They will make sure everything you have written is accurate and supported by a reliable source. If they find any errors, they will flag this up.
If you want to find out about the three other types of editors, see my articles on them:
What does a Developmental Editor do?
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