GUIDE TO PROOFING
Proofing Tips
Proofing is one of the most demanding activities
you can imagine. One error per thousand characters is 99.9% correct
and is totally unacceptable for professional use.
If you are a professional designer or marketeer
you may have come across proof marks.These are an
easy to use set of marks which allow a proofer to show where deletions
and changes to text should occur. To download a printable guide to proof
marks please click here. (not yet working)!
A basic guide to a good method for proofing
your work now follows, I hope you find it useful!
The First proofing is COPY
Proofing, that is, all the words:
Determine whether you will
use English (British) spelling or US English.This may depend as much
on where the material is going as where it originated.
1. You cannot proof
your own typesetting (if you absolutely must, leave it overnight or
do something totally unrelated before).
2. Proofing involves
progressive layers of testing:
The first test is for individual words, don't read
for meaning. A useful technique is to start at the bottom and read
backwards to the beginning.
a. use your computer
spell checker to catch the simple problems
b. check every word manually to
catch the substitution problems (there for their etc.)
c. check every proper name, address
& phone number, double check all prices.
d. if possible, confirm titles or
positions, (Sales Manager or Manager of Sales)
Proofing for meaning can be tricky if you don't
know the specific terminology so, never change somebody else's words
unless they have given you permission to do so.
