As a proofreader your work requires solid concentration and attention to detail.  You have to notice every error in a text.  Here are some key errors to watch out for when you proofread texts

Use your proofreading and editing skills to spot and correct these mistakes

1. Words that are spelt correctly but are not in the right place, for example “We are not in a recession” when the author meant “We are now in a recession”.  These hard to spot mistakes can feel like a proofreading test even for experienced editors.
2. Repeated characters or transposed letters within a word, e.g. ‘form’ instead of ‘from’.
3. Inconsistent use of capitals or hyphenation.
4. Page numbering errors – Although page numbering can be added automatically, mistakes can happen, for instance when a section break is inserted in a Word document  the numbering system can be stopped.
5. Special characters. These are characters taken from other languages.  Sometimes the proofreader might have to edit a few words of a quote given in that language.  Other times these characters are used for systems of measurement in English.  For example, µ (mu) is used in different academic subjects to show measurement units.
6. Once you have located the errors, you need to correct them using the appropriate proofreading marks.
7. Check the design and layout of the page (this becomes particularly important when the work is to be published).
8. Check the line endings including the placement of hyphens when words need to be broken over the end of a line.
9. Assume that there could be mistakes anywhere on the page! Look for them in the heading, in recurring headers and footers, in footnotes, in the index, the contents list, bibliography and even the page numbers!
10. Work out which time of day you are at your best. Proofreading takes incredible focus, so you need plenty of energy to be able to concentrate on the work.
11. Check that dates or numbers in the text are correct. For example, if a text began “With the beginning of the Second World War in 1929…” you would want to correct the date.  If you know nothing about the topic being discussed you need to find a reliable source to help you check the dates.
12. Finally, remember that you shouldn’t just look at spelling mistakes. You need to look at punctuation and page design too.

Did this help?  If you are having any particular queries with your proofreading or essay editing, please post a comment below.