Other Errors
An archive of posts covering assorted issues that proofreaders and editors may encounter in their work. Among other things, this includes the regional differences between English dialects, abbreviations, numbers, capitalisation, and many other errors that occur in English-language writing.
Proofreading Tips: A Proofreader's Guide to E.g. and I.e.
Proofreading Tips: A Proofreader's Guide to E.g. and I.e.
Nov 28, 2021
The terms e.g. and i.e. are common, especially in academic writing. As a proofreader, it’s important to know what they mean and how to use them. In this blog post, we give a basic introduction to e.g. and i.e., as well as some common errors to look out for when proofreading. What Do E.g. and […]
Proofreading Tips: Prepositions in Title Case
Proofreading Tips: Prepositions in Title Case
May 02, 2021
In title case – a common approach to styling titles and headings – the first letters of the main words in a title are prepositions in titles. Title Case and Prepositions If you want to know more, sign up for a free trial of the course today!
Editing Tips: What Is Alphabet Soup?
5 More Misused Phrases to Look Out for While Proofreading
Mar 21, 2021
As a proofreader, you need to be on the lookout for misspelled words and phrases. To help you on this count, we previously looked at five commonly misused phrases. But there are plenty more to look out for! In this post, we’ll take you through five more. 1. Wet Your Appetite (Whet Your Appetite) The phrase […]
When to Use Italics for Non-English Words
Feb 11, 2021
In English-language writing, words from other languages are often presented in italics. As a proofreader, you may therefore need to check that such words are presented correctly. Becoming A Proofreader The Becoming A Proofreader course covers everything you need to know to start working as a freelance proofreader! Sign up for a free trial today […]
Proofreading Tips: Editing Gendered Language
Jan 24, 2021
Many companies and individuals now aim to make their writing gender neutral. And, as a proofreader, you may have to help them achieve this. In this post, we’re going to look at some common examples of gendered language you may need to watch out for: The gendered pronoun being used as a neutral or default […]
Editing Tips: Typographic Rivers Explained
Jan 17, 2021
When proofreading a typeset text, such as page proofs for a book, you may need to keep an eye out for rivers. No, we don’t mean bodies of water. We mean gaps in the text. To find out what rivers are and what to do with them, check out our guide below. Rivers in Text […]
5 Tips for Proofreading Different English Dialects
Nov 29, 2020
One benefit of freelance proofreading is that you can work with clients all around the world. But this may mean you encounter English dialects that differ from the one you know best. And while this can pose challenges for proofreaders, we have a few tips that can help: Set the language preferences in your word […]
Date Format Variations: Little-Endian, Middle-Endian, Big-Endian
Aug 30, 2020
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 […]
5 Misused Phrases to Watch Out for While Proofreading
5 Misused Phrases to Watch Out for While Proofreading
Jul 19, 2020
Proofreading is much easier when you know what to look for in a document. That’s why we cover many common errors in our Becoming A Proofreader course. And to help you spot even more mistakes, in this post, we’re looking at five commonly misused phrases. First Come, First Serve (First Come, First Served) That’s it […]
What to Do with Tentative Language
What to Do with Tentative Language
Jan 13, 2020
Tentative language – also known as – is a common feature of many types of writing. But what exactly do we mean by tentative language? And what should you do if you encounter hedging when editing or proofreading a document? In this post, we explain all. What Do We Mean by Hedging? If a document […]