Proofreading is an essential part of the publishing process. It’s not just a matter of fixing up American spellings and correcting ‘it’s versus its’ or ‘affect versus effect’. Although this is super important; I’ve seen these errors in headlines and pull-out quotes, literally showcased in the most glaring and uncomfortable spotlight.
Easy-to-make errors
Other common errors are digits in years transposed, making the date far in the future or past. For example, 2091 rather than 2019. Numbers can often be problematic: decimal points missing in prices, or commas omitted in large numbers making them very hard to read. Likewise, small typos can often fly under the spell-check radar. This means that ‘managers’ can unwittingly and unfortunately become ‘mangers’!
A close read by a professional – someone with sharp attention to detail, grit and tenacity – is essential. Let’s face it, reading an 80 plus page annual report and financial statements is not everyone’s cup of tea. Proofreading can be slow and painful, but a professional will read – every. single. word – like their life depends on it (professional one anyway).
Style and formatting
A large part of the job is ensuring consistency in style and formatting. Typically, in longer documents like annual reports, a number of individuals will input content. This means that there will often be significant variation in the use of acronyms and whether words are spelt out in full or not – such as Million, million, M, Mn. Also bulleted lists may or may not be punctuated. This lack of consistency looks sloppy and can cause confusion.
Similarly, discrepancies may be introduced at the graphic design stage. Sometimes headings will need to be in specific fonts and colours to link up sections of the document. Other times, labels and titles may fall off graphs and diagrams. With small text edits, the pagination can change, throwing out the table of contents and any cross-references in the publication. A professional proofreader is on the look-out for all these potential pitfalls.
Correct word choice
While proofreading is not a copy edit, if a word is used incorrectly or repeated when a synonym would work better, a proofreader will suggest a change. Overall, they will ensure a polished, professional, error-free publication. Commissioning a professional is a very wise investment for peace-of-mind.
For help proofreading your professional documents and marketing materials, contact Caroline Roberts on 0404 960 908 or caroline@luminous-copy.com
Luminous Copy 