What Are Proofreaders Marks?
Wise authors proofread carefully before sending their work off for publication. Sometimes, even after careful revision a typographical error may still appear in the final copy. Originally developed as a way for authors to clearly communicate corrections to printers, proofreader marks differ from editor's marks in that the corrections tend to be minor and typographical only. An author proofreading a work marks directly within the print where the change is required and notes in the margin the specifics of a change. Teachers also make use of proofreader marks to correct mechanical errors in students' papers.
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Delete
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Unlike editor's notes, which include the full mark and correction needed above the line of print, proofreader marks make use of the margin. To note an extra character that needs to be deleted, the proofreader makes a simple slash moving upward from left to right through the offending character. Draw a horizontal slash through the word to mark an entire word for deletion. On the right margin, the proofreader draws the symbol for the exact operation required. Proofreaders mark to have a character deleted and the space it took up removed or to have a character deleted and replaced with another character.
Insert
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When a draft has a letter or punctuation mark missing, the proofreader symbol to insert the missing character is a caret drawn in the line where the symbol should be. The proofreader then draws the symbol instructing the printer to insert the specific missing character. For example, if a line is missing an entire word, then a caret is drawn under the end of the word immediately prior to the missing word. On the right margin, the proofreader writes the word to be inserted. Punctuation marks include carets or circles around the mark to help clarify what mark is required.
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Typesetting
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These types of marks are becoming less common as the use of word processors is widespread; however, sometimes an author or reader needs to show how the typesetting of a line must be corrected. A line may include an extraneous space that needs to be deleted, also referred to as being closed up. Proofreader marks can show where a line break or new paragraph is required, as well as indicating when a word should be typeset in italic, roman or boldface.
Notes to Author
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Some marks indicate a question for the author. A note in the margin that reads OK asks the author whether a particular line is set as intended. Printers or teachers may use this note if they find a particular line confusing. Writing the letters 'sp' in a circle on the right margin indicates that the printer or author must spell out an abbreviation or number. The proofreader who wrote an unintended mark can draw dashes under the mark in the line and write the word 'stet' on the right margin. That mark indicates to leave the word, character or format as it stands.
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