Style
In these posts, we look at how proofreaders and editors should approach different writing styles and document types. Let us know if there are any style issues you'd like us to cover on the blog.
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How to Cite Translated Works in APA Style
How to Cite Translated Works in APA Style
Feb 18, 2023
Let’s talk about APA references! You may feel confident citing straightforward sources – but what do you do if you come across something that’s not as common? If you’re conducting research or editing an academic text, you may come across a work that’s been translated from a different language. It’s important to know how to […]
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When Can You Use the First Person in Academic Writing?
When Can You Use the First Person in Academic Writing?
Dec 05, 2021
Many students are taught not to use the first person in academic writing. But is this always the case? And when should a proofreader change or comment on the point of view in scholarly work? In this post, we’ll explain the basics, including: Why the first person is traditionally avoided in academic writing. Differences in […]
Editing Tips: Editing IMRaD Essays
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Proofreading Tips: Parentheses and Square Brackets in Chicago Style
Nov 07, 2021
Parentheses and square brackets are punctuation marks used to set off certain bits of information from the main text in a document. They’re not too tricky, but different style guides can have slightly different rules for their usage. And, as a proofreader, you’ll need to check your client’s writing against these rules. This post, then, […]
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Proofreading Tips: Dos and Don'ts for Proofreading Academic Writing
Nov 04, 2021
Academic proofreading is a common source of work for many freelancers. However, there are some specific rules and requirements for proofreading academic documents that set them apart from other types of documents. With that in mind, we’ve put together five dos and don’ts for proofreading academic writing: Do correct informal language. Don’t change the content. […]
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Proofreading Tips: How to Proofread Quotations
Oct 23, 2021
Academic writing accounts for a significant portion of many freelance proofreaders’ work. And, along with some other non-fiction, academic writing often relies heavily on quotations. It is thus important to know how to proofread quotations. In this post, we give an overview of things to consider when proofreading quotations in academic or other non-fiction writing. […]
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Proofreading Tips: Numbers in AP Style
Oct 17, 2021
Created by journalists to help public-facing writing in 1953, The AP Stylebook is still one of the most commonly used American English style guides around. As a proofreader, you’ll often need to check the formatting of numbers when working with a client who writes in AP style. This post will take you through how to […]
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Proofreading Tips: State Abbreviations in AP Style
Sep 26, 2021
The Associated Press is a popular style guide for public-facing corporate communication. Proofreaders will most likely encounter it while working with journalists or PR specialists in the US. And the AP Stylebook has some pretty specific rules for abbreviations, including state abbreviations. As a proofreader, then, you should be on the lookout for any instances […]
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Proofreading Tips: How to Annotate a PDF
Jul 22, 2021
As a freelance proofreader, you may be asked to proofread a PDF at some point. And if you’re used to the tools in Microsoft Word, the process for marking up a different type of document can seem daunting. Once you get the hang of it, though, proofreading a PDF is simple. In this post, we’ll […]
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A Guide to Referencing and Religious Texts
A Guide to Referencing and Religious Texts
Jul 17, 2021
Religious texts, whether published as books or accessed online, often play by different rules when it comes to referencing. So, as a proofreader, you’ll need to pay particular attention to referencing if your client is citing the Bible, the Quran, or any other sacred text. Here, we set out the rules for citing religious texts […]
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Proofreading Tips: Abbreviations in AP Style
Proofreading Tips: Abbreviations in AP Style
Jul 11, 2021
AP style is commonly used by journalists, marketers, and PR specialists, whose writing often includes abbreviations. So, if you’re proofreading a document that uses AP style, you’ll need to know how abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms should be presented. With that in mind, then, this guide covers how abbreviations should be used in AP style. Becoming […]