What would you do if you were handed a printed document or typed manuscript and asked to read through and indicate any errors? We are talking pieces of paper, so you can't simply track and change on screen as you would with your desktop publishing software.
Scary? It doesn't have to be: this handy guide will help you check and mark up like a professional proofreader!
We were performing an audit of our studio hardware recently and came across an old hard drive containing this unique 'cheat sheet' of proofreading symbols, which might be useful for you to use at work, college, or anywhere you might be required to check and correct printed documents.
Many years before the digital age, these special symbols were developed exclusively for the printing and publishing industries, where they continue to be used today. In the past they were often referred to as proofreaders' marks, proofreading marks or editors marks.
This free tool from Obooko contains the most commonly used marks, based on the British Standard for proofreading marks (BS 5261), created in 1976. You may have to refer to publications like the Chicago Manual of Style to find US-specific variations.
Originally, we designed this how-to sheet for a creative agency we managed many years ago in the UK, where it was part of a series of popular marketing tools we distributed free from our business website. It would be a shame to leave it gathering digital dust on a hard drive, so we decided to revive it and rebrand to Obooko.
The best way to use this free tool is to print a copy for yourself, and anyone else within your organisation involved with publishing printed matter. Alternatively, store the PDF on your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer for quick and easy access wherever you are.
Don’t worry about getting the delete mark perfect, just do your best! Always use a Textual Mark PLUS, using either margin, a corresponding Margin Mark. And be sure to draw all marks in RED.
The file comprises two pages, which are designed to be printed on A4 paper or card, but you should be able to reduce or enlarge to fit other sizes. Please feel free to share the file with your friends and colleagues, but please don't change anything!
Happy proofreading!