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Proofreading

 

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Proofreading



 
 
Proof-reading traditionally means reading a proof copy
Copy

Copy may refer to:*Copying or the product of copying, the duplication of information or an artifact*Copy , a shell command.*Copy , written content in publications, in contrast to photographs or other elements of layout...
 of a text
Writing

Writing is the representation of language in a textual Media through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and the recording of language via a non-textual medium such as Magnetic tape sound recording....
 in order to detect and correct any errors. Modern proofreading often requires reading copy
Copy (written)

Copy refers to written material, in contrast to photographs or other elements of layout, in a large number of contexts, including magazines, advertising, and book publishing....
 at earlier stages as well.

Proof-reading in printing and publishing
A proof copy is a version of a manuscript
Manuscript

A manuscript is any document that is written by hand, as opposed to being printed or reproduced in some other way. The term may also be used for information that is hand-recorded in other ways than writing, for example inscriptions that are chiselled upon a hard material or scratched as with a knife point in plaster or with a stylus on a wa...
 that has been typeset
Typesetting

Typesetting involves the presentation of textual material in graphic form on paper or some other Recording medium. Before the advent of desktop publishing, typesetting of printed material was produced in print shops by compositors or typesetters working by hand, and later with machines....
 after copy-editing. Proof typescripts often contain typographical errors introduced by mistyping (hence the word typo to refer to misplaced, missing or incorrect characters).






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Encyclopedia


Proof-reading traditionally means reading a proof copy
Copy

Copy may refer to:*Copying or the product of copying, the duplication of information or an artifact*Copy , a shell command.*Copy , written content in publications, in contrast to photographs or other elements of layout...
 of a text
Writing

Writing is the representation of language in a textual Media through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and the recording of language via a non-textual medium such as Magnetic tape sound recording....
 in order to detect and correct any errors. Modern proofreading often requires reading copy
Copy (written)

Copy refers to written material, in contrast to photographs or other elements of layout, in a large number of contexts, including magazines, advertising, and book publishing....
 at earlier stages as well.

Proof-reading in printing and publishing


A proof copy is a version of a manuscript
Manuscript

A manuscript is any document that is written by hand, as opposed to being printed or reproduced in some other way. The term may also be used for information that is hand-recorded in other ways than writing, for example inscriptions that are chiselled upon a hard material or scratched as with a knife point in plaster or with a stylus on a wa...
 that has been typeset
Typesetting

Typesetting involves the presentation of textual material in graphic form on paper or some other Recording medium. Before the advent of desktop publishing, typesetting of printed material was produced in print shops by compositors or typesetters working by hand, and later with machines....
 after copy-editing. Proof typescripts often contain typographical errors introduced by mistyping (hence the word typo to refer to misplaced, missing or incorrect characters). Traditionally, a proofreader checks the typeset copy and marks any errors using standard proof correction marks (such as those specified in style manuals
Style guide

A style guide or style manual is a set of standards for design and writing of documents, either for general use or for a specific publication or organization....
, by house style, or, more broadly, by the international standard ISO 5776
ISO 5776

ISO 5776, published by the International Organization for Standardization , is a document which specifies symbols for proofreading such as of manuscripts, typescripts and Galley proof....
, or, for English, the British Standard BS-5261:2). This process may be known as a line edit. The proof is then returned to the typesetter for correction, and in many cases the production of a second proof copy (often known as a revise). Proofreading is considered a specific skill that must be learned because it is in the nature of the mind to correct errors automatically. Someone not trained in proofreading may not see errors such as missing words or improper usage because their mind is showing them what it is trained to recognize as correct. DP Proofreading Guidelines

The term proofreading is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to copy-editing
Copy editing

Copy editing is the work that an editing does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of a manuscript. copy refers to written or typewritten text for typesetting, printing, or publication....
. This is a separate activity, although there is some overlap between the two. Proofreading consists of reviewing any text, either hard copy on paper
Paper

Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon or packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
 or electronic copy on a computer
Computer

A computer is a machine that manipulates Data according to a list of Code .The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century , although the computer concept and various machines similar to computers existed earlier....
, and checking for typos and formatting errors. This may be done either against an original document or "blind" (without checking against any other source). Many modern proofreaders are also required to take on some light copy-editing duties, such as checking for grammar
Grammar

Grammar is the field of linguistics that covers the conventions governing the use of any given natural language. It includes morphology and syntax, often complemented by phonetics, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics....
 and consistency issues.

In fiction

Examples of proof-readers in fiction include History of the Siege of Lisbon (Historia do Cerco de Lisboa), a novel of 1989 by Nobel laureate Jose Saramago
José Saramago

Jos? de Sousa Saramago, Order of St. James of the Sword is a Nobel Prize for Literature Portugal novelist, playwright and journalist....
 and the short story Proofs in George Steiner
George Steiner

Francis George Steiner , is an influential European-born United States literary critic, essayist, philosopher, novelist, Translation, and Education....
's Proofs and Three Parables (1992).

See also


  • Copy editing
    Copy editing

    Copy editing is the work that an editing does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of a manuscript. copy refers to written or typewritten text for typesetting, printing, or publication....
  • Distributed Proofreaders
    Distributed Proofreaders

    Distributed Proofreaders is a web-based project that supports the development of e-texts for Project Gutenberg by allowing many people to work together in proofreading drafts of e-texts for errors....
  • Fact checker
    Fact checker

    A fact checker is the person who checks factual assertions in non-fictional text, usually intended for publication in a periodical publication, to determine their veracity and correctness....
  • Galley proof
    Galley proof

    In printing and publication, proofs are preliminary versions of publications. They may be uncut and Bookbinding, or in some cases electronic publishing....
  • Obelism
    Obelism

    Obelism is the practice of annotating manuscripts with marks set in the margins. Modern obelisms are used by editors blue-penciling a manuscript or typescript....
  • Style guide
    Style guide

    A style guide or style manual is a set of standards for design and writing of documents, either for general use or for a specific publication or organization....
  • Typographical personification
    Typographical personification

    Typographical personifications are usually better known by a myriad of colorful and fanciful names, such as Typo fairies, Typo demons, and the like....
  • Typographical syntax
    Typographical syntax

    Typographical syntax, also known as orthotypography, is the aspect of typography that defines the meaning and rightful usage of Glyphs, notably punctuation, and elements of Comprehensive layout such as justification and indentation....
  • Writing circles
  • Printing press check
    Printing press check

    The printing press check is step in the printing process. It takes place after a printing press is set up but before the print run is underway....


Bibliography



External links

  • by John Wilson
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