As proofreaders and editors, having an opportunity to work with people from anywhere in the world is great, but it means we may come across words and spellings with which we’re unfamiliar. We need to be able to recognize the different dialects and understand whether we’re using them correctly. 

This post will show you how to recognize the most common English dialects and will recommend some available tools for checking unfamiliar terms.

Check Your Proofing Language

The first thing you need to do before you begin work on a document is make sure you’ve set the right proofing language in your word processor. Doing so will help the software flag dialect inconsistencies in the text.

Many English dialects exist, each with their own distinct rules. Here are some of the most common ones: 

• American (US)
• British (UK)
• Canadian
• Australian
• New Zealand
• South African
• Irish
• Indian

Many people are familiar with the US and UK dialects, and knowing these is a great start because they influence many of the other dialects. But you need to be aware that the various dialects have their own features.

Learn Some Common Rules

Knowing the common spelling differences between English dialects is helpful. That way, you’ll be able to recognize errors quickly. 

For example, US spelling favors the endings or, er, og, ize, yze, ed, and able, yet many of the corresponding UK spellings end in our, re, ogue, ise, yse, t, and eable.

While memorizing these spelling rules can be helpful for recognizing possible differences in dialect, if you’re still not sure about certain words, other tools are available.

Try an Internet Search

English is the most commonly used language on the internet. It may sound too easy, but sometimes a simple search is all you need to discover whether a word or phrase is correct in your desired dialect. Type the term and see what comes up. Often, a definition will appear that specifies which English dialect the word is from.

If that doesn’t work, you can try getting a little more specific. Type the term again along with the specific dialect you want to check. For example, if you search “lorry US English,” the first result that would likely come up is “truck.”

Use Online Dictionaries

When you’re doing the kind of internet search mentioned above, the first result you see will often be from a dictionary. These are great resources for checking unfamiliar words. 

While some people may prefer to flip through the pages of a dictionary on their bookshelf, using online versions can be a lot simpler. But make sure to use reputable sources so you get the most up-to-date information. 

In the example above, if you typed “lorry” into Cambridge’s search, you would see “UK” in the result, appearing right after the “noun” designation, indicating that British English uses the word.

Use the Google Ngram Viewer

The Google Ngram Viewer is a very valuable tool. It lets you search for words and phrases and then provides information on how people have used them most commonly. One of its many features allows you to compare the uses and spellings of words across different English dialects. Learning how to use the Google Ngram Viewer isn’t hard, so if you’ve never used it, don’t be intimidated!

Check Your Style Guide

Style guides can be very important for proofreading and editing. Many types of style guides are available. If your client doesn’t have a preferred or required one, you can look at a regional style guide for the specific English dialect. Doing this will help you recognize unfamiliar words or spellings.

Ask for Clarification

Finally, if none of the methods above have given you clarity, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re working with an English dialect you’re really unfamiliar with and a word has you totally stumped, communicating with your client for clarification is advisable. 

If that’s not possible, try flagging the word with a comment. That way, your client will be confident in your abilities and won’t think that you simply let a potential mistake slide.

Becoming A Proofreader

If you use the tools and follow the steps outlined above, you should be able to recognize and understand almost any English word or phrase, regardless of dialect.

If you want to become a true master, our Becoming A Proofreader course covers British, Australian, and American English. Whether you’ve been proofreading and/or editing for years or you’re looking for an exciting new freelance career, check out our free trial today!

The post How to Check Unfamiliar Terms in Different English Dialects appeared first on Knowadays.

While neither version of English is more correct than the other, it’s important to follow the specific conventions of the dialect you’re working with. And if it sounds complicated, it’s not! The differences are relatively straightforward once you get the hang of them. Want to learn more? Keep reading for information on how to punctuate quotations in UK and US English. 

Quotation Marks and US English

US English typically uses double quotation marks for quotes and dialogue. For example:

The boat was considered a “high-speed” ferry.

The ballerina said, “I don’t want to dance today.” 

For quotes within a quote, US English uses double quotation marks for the outside quote and single marks for the inside one. Check out this example:

Porter (1999) writes that the “scientists yelled ‘Eureka!’ frequently” in the early days of the project.

Now, let’s look at how these same examples are written when we use UK English conventions.

Quotation Marks and UK English

While US English dictates that writers use double quotation marks for quotations, UK English specifies the use of single quotations. For example:

The boat was considered a ‘high-speed’ ferry.

The ballerina said, ‘I don’t want to dance today.’ 

For quotes within a quote, UK English conventions are the reverse of US English ones. We use single quotation marks for the main quote and double quotation marks for the inside quote. For instance:

Porter (1999) writes that the ‘scientists yelled “Eureka!” frequently’ in the early days of the project.

How to Punctuate Quotations in US and UK English

The style of quotation marks is not the only difference between UK and US English. US English rules specify that punctuation (such as periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation points) go within quotation marks. In UK English, we place punctuation within quotation marks only if it’s part of the original text being quoted. For example:

If a quotation is split, the comma goes inside the quotation marks in both dialects.

For example:

You can find more tips on how to proofread quotations here.

Becoming A Proofreader

Want to learn more about the differences between UK and US English? Try our Becoming A Proofreader course and learn everything you need to know about grammar, punctuation, and spelling conventions. Sign up for a free trial today to find out more.

The post Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks? appeared first on Knowadays.

British vs. American Spelling

For the most part, American English uses the spelling “-ize” exclusively:

She didn’t realize spelling could be so complicated.

He wants to organize the books by color.

I specialize in grooming guinea pigs.

If you’re proofreading a document written in American English and your client uses the “-ise” suffix, this will need to be corrected.

British English, on the other hand, usually favors the “-ise” spelling. However, it’s still technically correct to use the spelling “-ize” when writing in British English, as long as this spelling is used consistently:

She didn’t realise/realize spelling could be so complicated.

He wants to organise/organize the books by colour.

I specialise/specialize in grooming guinea pigs.

As with most aspects of the English language, though, the rule has exceptions.

Exceptions to the Dialect Rule

Some words are always spelled with one suffix, regardless of which dialect is being used. This can be because the actual suffix is a compound or part of a longer word or because the word itself is not a verb. Some examples include:

• “Despise” from the Latin words de (“down”) and specere (“look at”).
• “Compromise” from the Latin words com (“together”) and promissus (“promise”).
• “Advertise” from the noun “advertisement.”
• “Capsize” from the Spanish word capuzar (“to sink headfirst”).
• “Prize,” a noun referring to a reward in a competition (not to be confused with the verb “to prize/prise open”)

You will need to keep an eye out for these and similar words in your client’s writing and be careful not to alter them. Changing “compromise” to “compromize,” for example, would be incorrect, even in American English.

Tips for Proofreading Word Endings

Now that you know the rules for spelling “-ise” and “-ize” words, here are some tips on how to find and deal with them when proofreading.

1. Set the Proofing Language

When you open a document to start editing, one of the first things you should do is set the proofing language to either British or American English. 

In Microsoft Word, you can do this by going to the Review tab and selecting Language > Language Preferences > Office authoring languages and proofing or Language > Set Proofing Language.

In Google Docs, go to File > Language and select your preferred dialect.

This should highlight most of the “-ise”/“-ize” spelling errors in the document. However, be aware that you shouldn’t just rely on this tool, especially if your client is using a style guide that advocates non-standard spelling.

2. Check the Style Guide

Occasionally, your client may be following a style guide that advocates for an alternative spelling than the one expected for the dialect. If this is the case, you should prioritize the spelling recommended by the style guide.

It also means that you should pay special attention to your client’s “-ise” and “-ize” spellings in case they have missed this requirement.

3. Look Out for Inconsistencies

While British English usually accepts both the “-ise” and “-ize” spelling, your client will need to be consistent with the spelling they choose. If, for example, they have spelled the word “realize” as both “realise” and “realize” in the same document, you’ll need to correct these to either:

• The spelling that occurs most often
• The “-ise” version of the word to keep with standard British English spelling

4. Use the Search Function

You can use the search functions in your word processor to locate “-ise” and “-ize” words.

In Word, go to Home > Find and type in either “is” or “iz” to find the suffix you’re looking for. This will help you to locate words that don’t end in “e” but could still be affected by the misuse of the suffix, such as “realising/realizing”.

You can use the same tool in Google docs.

Remember, not every word ending in “-ise” or “-ize” will need to be corrected to the alternative spelling. 

When you use search tools, check each instance containing the suffix separately so that you only change the spellings that are actually incorrect.

5. Leave Your Client a Comment

If you come across multiple misuses of the “-ise” or “-ize” spelling, consider leaving a comment for your client explaining the issue. You should also do this if you have replaced all instances of one spelling with the other to check that this is the author’s preference.

Becoming A Proofreader

Our Becoming A Proofreader course will teach you all you need to know about proofreading different dialects (and lots more!). If you think proofreading could be the career for you, sign up for a free trial and start your freelance journey.

The post British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize? appeared first on Knowadays.

While colloquialisms are acceptable in certain forms of writing, like fiction or creative writing, they’re widely discouraged in formal writing (e.g., resumes and business reports). As a proofreader or editor, it’s important to know their appropriate usage so that you can flag any issues with your client. Keep reading to learn more about when and how to use colloquialisms.

Colloquialisms in Writing

While largely considered informal, colloquialisms have their place in writing. It makes sense to use them in dialogue because they make the story seem more real and connect the characters to their geographic location. For example, a character who says this is likely to be identified as British:

  “That bloke is knackered after playing football all day.”

Colloquialisms are also used to establish a voice and can signal certain character attributes to the reader. For instance, a character that speaks like this might be seen as more laid back by the readers:

  “Move it along; I ain’t got time for that today.”

If you use too much formal language in fiction or creative writing, you might confuse or lose the reader’s attention. As a proofreader or editor, you should point out places where a client’s work could use more colloquial language.

When to Avoid Colloquialisms

Although colloquialisms can enrich dialogue and descriptions, they shouldn’t be used in formal writing. For example, colloquialisms have no place in academic writing, like essays, dissertations, and journal articles. As a proofreader or editor, you may have academics as clients who don’t realize that a word or phrase is too informal for the tone of their document. If you think this might be the case, it’s important to find a good replacement for a colloquialism or make a comment that calls attention to the problem.

Is a Colloquialism the Same as Slang and Jargon?

While a colloquialism is like slang or jargon, there are key differences. Slang is informal casual language that’s more common in speech than in writing. It’s often specific to different cultures and can evolve over time. For example:

  I love my birthday gift; it’s so groovy.

  What’s wrong? Why are you so salty today?

  I’ve known her forever; she’s my BFF.

As a proofreader or editor, if you notice your client uses slang too much or in the wrong way, you should flag it and suggest a rewrite or a different word.

Jargon is a word or expression associated with a specific profession or company, making it difficult for outsiders to understand. While proofreading or editing, you may notice the use of jargon in corporate, technical, or legal documents, and it’s generally acceptable if the intended audience is other employees or professionals in that field. However, if the work is meant for a broader audience, it’s best to point out alternatives to jargon to the client. 

Proofreading and Editing Courses

Colloquialisms can be a valuable writing tool when used correctly, and editors and proofreaders must know when and how to use them to best help their clients. If you want to learn more about how to spot errors in writing and ensure the appropriate written tone of voice, consider our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses.

And if you pass our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with a distinction score of at least 80%, you’re guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed. Sign up for a free trial today!

The post What’s a Colloquialism? appeared first on Knowadays.

• Practice/Practise
• Licence/License
• Advice/Advise

To see how noun and verb spelling differences work, read on below.

Practice/Practise

A common term that trips up even the most experienced proofreaders is practice/practise. In British and Australian English, practice (spelled with a c) is a noun:

The doctor’s practice was busy that day.  

But the verb form is spelled practise (with an s):

You must practise regularly to learn an instrument.

In American English, though, practice (with a c) is used for both forms of the word:

I practiced yesterday.

I went to basketball practice.

As a proofreader, you’ll need to ensure your client’s spelling is correct for their dialect (and, in UK and Australian English, for the form being used).

Licence/license

In British and Australian English, licence is a noun and license is a verb. For example:

I finally got my driving licence.

I am now licensed to drive. 

But license (with an s) is both the noun and verb in American English:

I have some artistic license.

But I am not licensed to publish libel.

As above, you’ll thus need to ensure your client uses the correct spellings for their dialect.

Advice/Advise

In some cases, the noun–verb distinction is the same in all regional varieties of English. For example, advice is always a noun:

Thanks for the great advice.

Advise, however, is always a verb:

She advised me on how to write a CV.

Using the Spellchecker

When proofreading in Microsoft Word, setting the proofing language is a great way to catch noun and verb spelling differences, but you shouldn’t rely on it to pick up on them all. As a proofreader, you’ll still need to pay careful attention to catch any and all spelling mistakes.

For more guidance on proofreading different English dialects, check out our post here.

Become a Proofreader

A keen eye for detail and the vigilance to perfect every document you encounter are the hallmarks of a great proofreader. If you think you’ve got what it takes, we offer a free trial of our accredited Becoming A Proofreader course so you can see for yourself. Sign up today!

The post Proofreading Tips: Noun and Verb Spelling Differences appeared first on Knowadays.

Dialect-Based Spelling Variants (UK and US English)

The most common spelling variants occur when different dialects use different spellings for the same term. This is most obvious in UK and US English, where there are systematic spelling differences for certain letter combinations and word endings.

As a proofreader, you should be familiar with the most common differences already. For example, you should know that US English favours “-er” endings over “-re” ones in words like “centre/center,” “fibre/fiber,” “sombre/somber,” “litre/liter,” and so on.

However, you also need to be aware of exceptions to these trends, such as:

• UK English uses “metre,” with the standard “-re” spelling, for the measure of distance and the poetic term, but it uses the US-style “meter” for an instrument used to measure something (e.g., a “gas meter,” a “speedometer,” and similar devices).
• Many US theaters use the UK spelling in their name (e.g., the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans), even though “theater” is the standard spelling in US English.

There are also cases where the spelling associated with one dialect is a rare variant in another dialect. “Grey,” for example, is standard in UK English, but some publications also accept it as a variant spelling in the US. This means that it will not be picked up by a spellchecker. But since “gray” is by far the most common spelling in the US, you would want to check uses of “grey.”

If you’re unsure of how widely used a spelling is in US or UK English, Google’s Ngram Viewer is your friend. Simply enter the spellings and select a dialect, then you can compare usage over time. If your client seems to have used the less common spelling, such as with “grey” in US English, you can then leave a comment prompting them to check the non-standard usage.

Non-Standard Spellings in Proper Nouns

Proper nouns often use archaic or unusual spellings of otherwise familiar words.

Take Reading Gaol, for example. The spelling “gaol” (as opposed to “jail”) is archaic and would not generally be used outside of this context. Were you to see it elsewhere, then, you might correct it to use the more modern spelling. But in the name of a building, the old spelling is fine.

Company and product names may also be spelled eccentrically as a stylistic choice. Some well-known examples include “Krispy Kreme,” “Froot Loops,” and “Tumblr.”

When you see a non-standard spelling in a proper noun, then, make sure to look it up online.

Formal vs. Informal Spellings

Sometimes, it is “alright” to use informal or simplified spellings in a piece of writing. “Alright,” for instance, is a variant spelling of the term “all right.” And while you would correct “alright” if it appeared in a piece of formal writing, since it is still considered non-standard, it may not be a problem elsewhere as most people are familiar with what “alright” means.

Whether an informal or non-standard spelling is acceptable, then, may depend on the context.

In some cases, non-standard spellings may even be preferable. For instance, while “gonna” and “gotta” would be entirely out of place in an academic paper, they might be more effective than “going to” and “got to” at capturing a casual, informal voice in a novel or advertisement.

If you spot a non-standard spelling, then, think about the context before making a correction.

The only proviso here is consistency: if, say, a client uses “gonna” in one place but “going to” in another with no clear reason for the change (e.g., if one character in a story uses less formal language than the others), you will want to flag this for your client to check.

Compound Words and Compound Plurals

Compound words can be open, closed, or hyphenated. However, some compound words are flexible in this regard, meaning you may need to watch out for spelling variants.

This is especially common when a word starts out as hyphenated and later becomes a single word. Examples of this include “email” and “ebook,” which are now both commonly written as closed compounds, but which were once commonly hyphenated (i.e., “e-mail” and “e-book”).

Similarly, some plurals of compound words have variant spellings based on which part of the term is pluralized, such as with “cupsful” and “cupfuls.” The former is pluralized as it would be were the words separate (i.e., “cups full”); whereas the latter treats the compound as a word in its own right and pluralizes it by simply adding an “s” to the end (like you would most other nouns).

In these cases, where multiple spellings are available, you will want to:

• Check your client’s style guide to see if a preferred spelling is provided.
• Check on Google Ngrams to see if either variant is more common in a given dialect.

But if no guidance is available, just check that one spelling is used consistently for each term.

Other Variant Spellings

Finally, there are variant spellings that don’t fit neatly into any category or follow any clear rules. This might be frustrating, but it is something you may have to deal with as a proofreader!

Take “usable,” for example. This is by far the most common spelling for this word in any English dialect. And 99% of the time, it will be the correct spelling to use for any writer. However, UK and US dictionaries both list “useable” (with an extra “e”) as an acceptable variant spelling.

Were you to see “useable” in a document, then, you might want to flag it for your client, noting that it is an unusual spelling in modern English and suggesting using “usable” instead. But, ultimately, this comes down to your client’s preference. And if they opt for “useable,” no matter how unusual this choice might be, your role will be limited to checking for consistency.

We mention this here just to highlight that dealing with variant spellings is not simply a matter of following set rules. As with many aspects of proofreading and editing, there is a subjective element at play, and there won’t always be a clear “right” or “wrong” answer.

As a proofreader, then, you need to be vigilant! If you see an unfamiliar spelling, don’t just correct it automatically. Instead, check that it isn’t a variant form your client has chosen to use.

Becoming A Proofreader

If you would like to brush up on the basics of spelling, including regional spelling variants, then check out our Becoming A Proofreader course. Claim your free trial today to find out more!

The post Editing Tips: What to Do with Variant Spellings appeared first on Knowadays.

Our Becoming a Proofreader course covers British, Australian, and American English. These are the three main dialects used internationally, but there are many other English dialects you might encounter as a proofreader. In this post, we look at a few examples.

Dialects and Proofreading

Why are dialects relevant to proofreading? Simply because English dialects often differ in various ways, especially in terms of spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.

These differences can be subtle, such as with British and Australian English, where formal writing conventions are broadly the same. In fact, many English dialects from around the world are based on British English. This is due to the influence of the British Empire, which colonized many countries and spread use of English in the process.

In these cases, the differences between dialects are typically most noticeable in terms of vocabulary, especially when it comes to informal collocations and slang.

Sometimes, though, the differences are more extensive, such as the spelling differences between British and American English in words like “colour/color” and “centre/center.”

As a proofreader, then, you need to check which dialect your client is using before you start working on a document. You can then adapt your edits accordingly.

Most of the time, clients will specify one of the major dialects covered in the Becoming A Proofreader course (i.e., British, Australian, or American English). But if your client asks for you to work in another English dialect, you’ll need to know how it works.

To give you a sense of what to look for, we’ll look at a few examples below.

New Zealand English

New Zealand English draws on British and Australian English. In standard, formal writing, then, you can usually follow the rules of British English when proofreading.

However, there are a couple of notable exceptions to this, including:

• Like Australian English, New Zealand English almost always favours “-ise” over “-ize” in word endings (whereas either is acceptable in UK English).
• New Zealand English uses the spelling “fiord” instead of “fjord.”

In terms of vocabulary, New Zealand English has influences from British English (e.g., duvet instead of doona or comforter), Australian English (e.g., ute instead of pickup truck), and American English (e.g., eggplant rather than aubergine).

It also boasts many New Zealandisms and words borrowed from the native Maori language, which are especially common in conversational or creative writing.

Canadian English

Canadian English combines aspects of British and American English, notably:

• In terms of spelling, Canadian English follows British English in most respects, but it favours “-ize” word endings, and uses “-e-” instead of “-ae-” in words like “encyclopedia.” It also leans toward US spelling on words where there is a strong commercial or cultural link between Canada and the US, such as with automotive terms (e.g., tire, not tyre).
• With a few exceptions, Canadian English tends to favour US-style punctuation.
• Canadian English combines British and US vocabulary. It leans toward US words more often, especially in areas where there are strong links between the countries (e.g., automotive words again, like using hood instead of bonnet). It also boasts a number of Canadianisms.

Conventions can also vary in different parts of Canada, with US spellings and words more widespread in areas closer to the USA. This variation makes flexibility key when proofreading, with internal consistency often the most important factor.

Indian English

While it was originally introduced by the British Empire, English is now an official language in India and widely used in areas such as business and education. In fact, India is only behind the United States in terms of its total number of English speakers.

Broadly, Indian English is based on British English and follows UK spelling, grammar, and vocabulary conventions in many respects. However, there are two key differences:

• Indian English often uses its own numbering system, which differs in both terminology and the use of commas as dividers between groups of digits.
• English speakers often use words drawn from other Indian languages (e.g., brinjal rather than aubergine or eggplant) and Indianisms unique to Indian English.

These Indianisms can be tricky for proofreaders, as they may not seem like fluent English to those unfamiliar with the dialect. “Do the needful,” for example, might sound unusual to someone accustomed to UK or US English. But this phrase (meaning “do what is required”) is common in Indian English, even in formal business writing.

In cases like this, then, you may need to gauge whether the usage is suitable for the intended audience. If not, you can leave a comment to explain the issue.

Proofreading Different Dialects

As a proofreader, you have the chance to work with clients from all over the world. This can be a great thing, but it does mean you need to be aware of dialects!

Knowing the differences between UK and US English is a great start, as many other dialects draw heavily on one or the other, or use a mix of conventions from both. But, as this post has shown, other dialects have their own distinctive features, too.

Thus, if you’re proofreading a document in an unfamiliar dialect, make sure to check any words or phrases that seem out of place, especially with less formal writing.

Becoming A Proofreader

To learn the key differences between UK, US, and Australian English, you can study the Becoming A Proofreader course. Sign up for a free trial today to find out more.

The post Editing Tips: A Rough Guide to English Dialects appeared first on Knowadays.

What Is Oxford Spelling?

“Oxford spelling” is so called because it reflects the spelling style used by the Oxford University Press (OUP). In practice, though, it is essentially a version of British English that uses “z” spellings for “‑ize” suffixes (e.g., organize, organization, organized, organizers).

More specifically, when there is more than one way to spell a word, Oxford spelling favors the spelling closest to the word’s etymological roots. In most cases, this follows standard British English conventions (e.g., archaeology instead of the US English spelling archeology). But there are a few cases where the older spelling isn’t the one most associated with British English.

The clearest example is “‑ize” words, where the “z” spelling is closer to the original Greek. The “‑ise” spellings, on the other hand, come from a later French influence on English.

However, it can affect other words, too. For instance, Oxford spelling favors “yogurt” over “yoghurt” because the original Turkish word it came from does not have an “h.” This rogue “h” simply appeared because of how Arabic words were transcribed at the time.

What You Need to Know

The most important thing to remember is to use British English spelling conventions, but with “‑ize” suffixes in words like “organize,” “realize,” and “monetize.” However, there are a few subtleties to this system that you might want to be aware of:

• Some “‑ise” words are always spelled with an “s,” even under Oxford spelling rules or in US English (e.g., advertise, advise, chastise, comprise, disguise, revise, surprise).
• Words with “‑yse” suffixes keep the “s” spelling, unlike in American English (e.g., paralyse is correct in Oxford spelling, but it would be paralyze in US English). This is because the Greek root of this suffix was also spelled with an “s,” not a “z.”
• As noted above, this spelling style also affects some other words, like “yogurt.” This is rare, but you may want to check any unusual spellings you see before correcting them.

If you’re not sure which spelling to use for a term, check a dictionary that uses Oxford spelling. The best choice here is the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) given that it is published by the OUP. But for alternative options (without a subscription fee), you can try online dictionaries that use this approach to spelling, such as the Cambridge Dictionary or the Lexico website.

These dictionaries will have both “z” and “s” spellings for many words. But when this happens, the main entry (i.e., the top spelling on the page) will be the “Oxford” spelling.

When Should I Use Oxford Spelling?

As mentioned above, the OUP uses Oxford spelling in all of its publications. Thus, if you’re ever working on something published by the OUP, you’ll need to keep the rules above in mind.

Likewise, many other publishers and publications have adopted this spelling style, including the scientific journal Nature, Encyclopædia Britannica, and Cambridge University Press.

However, Oxford spelling is also considered an international form of English. As a result, many international organizations use it, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, Interpol, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, the Red Cross, and Amnesty International.

Consequently, you should always check your client’s instructions on this count. International clients and publishers may well ask you to use “Oxford” conventions.

How to Become a Proofreader

For more on how to approach spelling and style as a proofreader, our Becoming A Proofreader course has you covered. Sign up for a free trial today to find out how it works.

The post Proofreading Tips: What Is Oxford Spelling? appeared first on Knowadays.

1. Set the language preferences in your word processor to match the dialect of the document.
2. Check dictionaries, style guides, and online resources for advice.
3. Make sure to check punctuation as well as spelling and vocabulary.
4. Start out with formal documents, which tend to vary less between dialects.
5. Take a course that covers proofreading in different dialects.

Read on to find out more about how to proofread effectively in different English dialects.

1. Change the Language Preferences in Your Word Processor

As a proofreader, you should check the proofing language in your word processor every time you start working. This is especially important when you’re proofreading a document in a dialect other than your own. In Microsoft Word, you can set the proofing language by:

1. Going to Review on the main ribbon.
2. Selecting Language > Set Proofing Language.
3. Picking the relevant English dialect from the list in the menu.
4. Clicking OK to set the proofing language in the document.

Microsoft Word will then use the selected dialect when you run a spellcheck. This won’t spot every error, so don’t rely on it too much. But it will help you spot errors you might have missed otherwise (or even spellings from the wrong dialect you’ve introduced while editing).

2. Use Dictionaries, Style Guides and Other Resources

There are plenty of resources available that proofreaders can use to learn about or check details of different English dialects. Some of the most important include:

• Regional dictionaries and dictionaries that list regional spellings.
• Regional style guides (as well as your client’s style sheet if they have one).
• Websites that discuss English dialect differences (make sure to search for the dialect as well as the issue, such as “colour or color Canadian English” instead of simply “colour or color”).
• Google Ngrams, which lets you compare usage of words and spellings in different dialects.
• Forums and online groups where you can ask questions (although make sure responses come with a source, as user-submitted advice is not always reliable).

In addition, it helps if you have international friends! For instance, if you’re British but have a Canadian friend or colleague, you can ask them for advice on Canadian English. It’s worth double checking this online if they’re not an expert, but asking a native is a great first step!

3. Don’t Forget Punctuation

Spelling and vocabulary differences will usually stand out, but it’s easy to overlook regional differences in punctuation. British and American punctuation, for instance, differ on whether to use ‘single’ (UK) or “double” (US) quote marks and how to punctuate abbreviations.

There is room for variation (e.g., American English tends to favor em dashes over en dashes for asides in text, but this is a matter of preference in most cases). But it is always worth checking the dominant punctuation style for the dialect of the document you’re proofreading.

4. Hone Your Skills on Formal Writing

If you are new to a dialect, it’s usually best to start with formal writing (e.g., essays, business reports). Why? Simply put, formal English tends to vary less between different dialects.

There will still be variations in spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. But formal documents typically use standard English, which means less slang and cultural references.

In less formal or creative writing, by comparison, it helps to know the dialect a bit better. For example, you could encounter dialogue or narration that uses regional jargon, such as:

“What’s the John Dory?” Amelia asked excitedly.

An editor new to the Australian dialect might find this confusing. They might even try to “correct” it. But this is just Australian slang for “what’s the gossip?” and doesn’t need correcting.

5. Learn More About Proofreading in Different Dialects

Taking a course that covers regional differences between English dialects will help you proofread with confidence. Our course covers spelling, grammar, and punctuation in British, American, and Australian English, setting you up for working in all three dialects.

If you want to find out more, try our free trial course today and start learning.

The post 5 Tips for Proofreading Different English Dialects appeared first on Knowadays.

Canadian English Spelling

Canadian English usually follows British spelling conventions. For instance:

Canadian English: theatre, centre, colour, defence

American English: theater, center, color, defense

It also uses the same noun–verb spelling distinction for words like “practice” and “practise” or “licence” and “license” as British English, which does not exist in American English. And most Canadians follow the rule about doubling the “l” in words like “travelling.”

However, Canadian English follows US conventions in a few cases:

• With -ize/-yze endings instead of -ise/-yse (e.g., organize, realize, analyze).
• Using -e- instead of -ae- in words like “encyclopedia.”
• Words where Canada has strong connections to the US, such as most automotive terms (e.g., curb vs. kerb, tire vs. tyre) and the word “aluminum” (not “aluminium”).

In addition, there is variation across Canada. American English exerts more influence in some places than others, meaning American spellings are more likely to be adopted.

This variation can be confusing, so it’s important to follow your client’s style guide on spelling preferences. But if you’re in doubt about a specific word, you can always look it up online.

Vocabulary

As with spelling, Canadian vocabulary includes a mix of British and American terms, though it leans toward American English. This is especially true in areas where there is a lot of exchange between the US and Canada, such as the previously mentioned automotive industry (e.g., Canadians are more likely to say “hood” than “bonnet” or “highway” than “motorway.”

There are also lots of words where either the British or American term will be accepted. “Holiday” and “vacation” are both commonly used and understood, for example.

And there are many terms unique to Canada, often called Canadianisms. Many of these are less formal, but they include plenty of everyday words (e.g., a “toque” is a woolen hat).

Due to this mix of American, British, and Canadian terms, it can be difficult to know which is correct when proofreading. But as long as you follow your style sheet and look up any unfamiliar Canadianisms you encounter, you should be able to ensure clarity.

Canadian English Punctuation

Canadian English follows American punctuation practices in most respects: e.g., using double quote marks as standard, or adding a full stop to abbreviations like Mr. and Mrs.

There are exceptions: Canadians only typically use a serial comma for clarity, not in every list of three or more items. And Canadians are happy to use either spaced en dashes – like this – or unspaced em dashes—like this—for parentheticals, whereas em dashes are far more common in US English. And while neither of these are likely to pose major issues, it is worth being aware of these conventions when editing a document in Canadian English.

As a rule, though, you should follow US punctuation rules when proofreading Canadian English, as well as checking that everything is clear and consistent.

Tips and Resources for Proofreaders

Proofreaders who are not native Canadians can still proofread in the Canadian dialect. But to make sure you get it right, keep the following in mind:

• Follow your client’s brief and style sheet where available, including all guidelines on spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. If they do not provide this information, make sure to ask them if they have a preferred style guide before you start working.
• Set your word processor to use Canadian English for the spellchecker.
• Check a quality Canadian English dictionary or style guide. You can purchase a style guide, like this one, but there are also free ones available online.
• Make sure to check any unfamiliar spelling or vocabulary online.

And, as always, clarity and consistency within a document are vital.

Becoming A Proofreader

Our Becoming A Proofreader course covers a variety of topics that are pivotal to quality proofreading in any dialect. Check out our free trial and start learning today.

The post Proofreading Tips: A Quick Guide to Canadian English appeared first on Knowadays.