This article is a list of standard proofreader's marks used to indicate and correct problems in a text. Marks come in two varieties, abbreviations and abstract symbols. These are usually handwritten on the paper containing the text. Symbols are interleaved in the text, while abbreviations may be placed in a margin with an arrow pointing to the problematic text. Different languages use different
proofreading
Proofreading is the reading of a galley proof or an electronic copy of a publication to find and correct reproduction errors of text or art. Proofreading is the final step in the editorial cycle before publication.
Professional
Traditional ...
marks and sometimes publishers have their own in-house proofreading marks.
Abbreviations
Symbols
Manuscripts
Depending on local conventions,
underscore
An underscore, ; also called an underline, low line, or low dash; is a line drawn under a segment of text. In proofreading, underscoring is a convention that says "set this text in italic type", traditionally used on manuscript or typescript ...
s (underlines) may be used on manuscripts (and historically on typescripts) to indicate the special
typeface
A typeface (or font family) is the design of lettering that can include variations in size, weight (e.g. bold), slope (e.g. italic), width (e.g. condensed), and so on. Each of these variations of the typeface is a font.
There are thousands o ...
s to be used:
*single dashed underline for , 'let it stand', proof-reading mark cancelled.
*single straight underline for ''italic type''
*single wavy underline for bold type
*double straight underline for
*double underline of one straight line and one wavy line for ''bold italic''
*triple underline for FULL CAPITAL LETTERS (used among small caps or to change text already typed as lower case).
See also
*
ISO 5776
*
Blue pencil (editing)
A blue pencil is a pencil traditionally used by a copy editor or sub-editor to show corrections to a written copy.
The colour is used specifically because it will not show in some lithographic or photographic reproduction processes; these are ...
Notes
References
External links
''The Chicago Manual of Style Online'': ProofreadingMerriam-Webster: Proofreader's MarksBritish Standards Institution BS 5261C:2005– Hardcopy for purchase
**{{cite web , url=http://www.lancingpress.co.uk/printing-information/factfile_proofmarks_apr14.pdf , title=PROOFMARKS - How to communicate your text changes without ambiguity , publisher=Lancing Press , date=April 2014 (Online summary of BS5261, open access vi
"Proofmarks"
Another (different) list of proofreading marks
Copy editing
Proofreading