Proofing is typically the last stage of document
editing and should be performed by an experienced
editor like Dr. Barbara K. Pryor, only after you are
satisfied with your final draft.
The professional Proofreading/Light Editing
service involves checking for grammar, punctuation,
spelling, capitalization, basic formatting consistency,
typographical errors, and conformance to style guidelines,*
with no changes in wording suggested except for word
misuse (e.g., accept for except), OR proofing the
document against an original.
"Some" Examples of Errors,
Issues, or Problems Looked For According to Professional
Editing Service Requested For Your Particular Project:
Proofreading/Light Editing And Other Projects
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Grammar
Subject/verb agreement |
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Punctuation
Proper use of periods, semicolons, commas,
etc Comma splices and sentence fragments
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Spelling
Commonly misspelled words (embarrass; receive)
Usage mistakes (here for hear; principal
for principle) Consistency throughout (boo-boos
or booboos) Typos |
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Basic Formatting
Same-level headings capitalized consistently
Standardized format used for dates, numbers,
etc. Conformance to style guidelines*(see
examples of style guides supported below)
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Copyediting/Heavy Editing And Substantive
Editing/Rewriting Projects (Errors, issues, or
problems described above plus the following examples
of style and grammar problems.) |
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Ambiguous
References
Original: Tracy cut the article out of the
magazine and tossed it in the recycle bin.
Revision: Tracy tossed the magazine in the
recycle bin after cutting out the article.
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Awkward Transitions
Original: Dr. Jellinger's legs hurt from
walking all day. He sat on the bench.
Revision: Dr. Jellinger's legs hurt from
walking all day, so he sat on the bench.
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Passive
Voice
Original: He was gratified by their praise.
Revision: Their praise gratified him. |
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Wordiness
Original: Many of those ideas Jennifer barely
understood and they sounded absurd since
it felt to her that no one in their right
mind would ever have thought such a thing
without being told to. [34 words]
Revision: Jennifer barely understood many
of those ideas and felt no right-minded
person would think such absurd things without
prompting. [19 words] |
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Substantive Editing/Rewriting Projects (Errors,
issues, or problems described above plus the following
examples of content problems.) |
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Clarity
Is the meaning clear at first reading? |
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Flow of Ideas
Do thoughts flow logically? Would paragraph
7 make more sense if it were above paragraph
4? |
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*Style Guides Supported by Dr. Barbara K.
Pryor |
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American
Psychological Association (APA) |
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Modern Language Association
(MLA) |
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"Bluebook:"
Uniform System of Citation (Legal Citation)
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Chicago Manual of Style |
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Turabian
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Style Guide Preferred For
Your Particular Project (if any, please
request**see more details in How to Order
& Rates section) |
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Other
Professional Editing Services |
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