Editing Tips

Advice on the skills you need as a freelance proofreader and editor. Check out our editing tips and advice to develop your abilities and impress your clients.

  • Proofreading Resources: Books on Proofreading and Editing

    Proofreading Resources: Books on Proofreading and Editing

    Sep 10, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Freelance Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    Becoming an outstanding proofreader and editor takes work and training, but you knew that already. Reading books on proofreading and editing is a handy way to further refine your craft. Here are some great choices to add to your list of essential resources. Grammar and Punctuation Guides Grammar and punctuation guides look at how the […]

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  • Date Format Variations: Little-Endian, Middle-Endian, Big-Endian

    Date Format Variations: Little-Endian, Middle-Endian, Big-Endian

    Aug 30, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips
    • Other Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    In the Becoming A Proofreader course, we look at how date formats differ between American English and British/Australian English. There are, though, more than three countries in the world, so it’s worth looking at regional date format variations more generally. Otherwise, simply leave a comment prompting your client to check the date format(s) used in […]

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  • Editing Tools: How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word

    Aug 23, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    Track Changes is a key tool for proofreading in Microsoft Word. And if you want to work as a proofreader, you’ll need to know how it works. In this post, then, we’re going to run you through the basics of how to use Track Changes when editing a document in Microsoft Word. How to Turn […]

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  • Editing Tips: What Are Word Divisions?

    Aug 09, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation
    • Style

    When proofreading a typeset text, such as the page proofs for a book, you may need to look for issues with word divisions. But what is a word division in proofreading? And how should proofreaders approach them when checking a document? In this post, we explain the basics. What Are Word Divisions? Part of typesetting […]

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  • Proofreading Resources: Online Dictionaries

    Jul 26, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Spelling

    As a proofreader, you may be proud of your vocabulary. But we all need to look up words now and then. And with that in mind, it pays to bookmark a few online dictionaries! Which are the best for hardworking proofreaders? Take your pick from the following… Free Online Dictionaries Of the major print dictionaries […]

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  • Editing Tips: How to Punctuate Dates

    Jul 09, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    There are various ways to punctuate dates. This poses a challenge for proofreaders. Should you correct punctuation in dates in a document? And how does punctuating dates vary in different situations? In this post, we answer your punctuation questions. Punctuating Numerical Date Formats Commas Between Days and Years in Dates The US date format uses […]

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  • 5 Top Tips for New Freelance Proofreaders

    Jul 05, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Freelance Tips
    • Lifestyle Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Skills and Experience

    If you’re just starting out in the world of proofreading and editing, what do you need to know? And what should you expect? In this post, we offer five top tips for new freelance proofreaders. 1. Focus on the Brief A clear brief is key for any proofreading or editing job, especially for newer freelancers. […]

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  • Understanding the Proofing Options in Microsoft Word

    Jun 25, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Formatting
    • Proofreading Tips

    The spellchecker in Microsoft Word cannot replace expert proofreading, but it can be a useful tool for proofreaders. We look at this in our Becoming A Proofreader course. However, to make the most of this tool, you need to understand the proofing options in Microsoft Word. How to Access the Proofing Options in Microsoft Word […]

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  • A Guide to Proofreading LaTeX Documents

    A Guide to Proofreading LaTeX Documents

    Jun 21, 2020

    • Academic Editing
    • Editing Tips
    • Formatting
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Style

    If you do a lot of academic proofreading, you will almost certainly encounter LaTeX at some point. And no, this doesn’t have anything to do with rubber gloves or clothing! To find out about the LaTeX system and what you need to know as proofreader, check out our guide below. What Is LaTeX? LaTeX (pronounced […]

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  • Is Fact Checking Part of Proofreading?

    Is Fact Checking Part of Proofreading?

    Jun 14, 2020

    • Editing Tips
    • Freelance Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    As a freelance proofreader or editor, you may sometimes be asked to fact check a document. But is fact checking part of proofreading and editing? And what does it mean to fact check something? In this post, we run you through the basics. Is Fact Checking Part of Proofreading and Editing? As we’ve discussed elsewhere, […]

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