What is proofreading service?

by Target Language Translation Services

- November 17 2021

Proofreading, the act of finding and correcting mistakes in copies of printed text before the final copies are printed, is the final step that must be taken before a document can be considered complete to be submitted. The main objective of proofreading is to examine a text carefully in order to discover and further correct the errors. Whether it is an academic essay or research study, a professional paper such as a memo, an email, a proposal, or a corporate summary, or whether it is a personal note, the clarity of the intended message may be compromised if errors in terms of usage, typography, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, language style or spelling remain in place. Therefore, high-quality proofreading services are of great importance.

About proofreading

Look out for all errors

Professional proofreaders offering proofreading services all have their own way of working but it’s generally good practice to tackle one problem at a time such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.

First of all, this allows proofreaders to work through the content multiple times, which means they’re only looking out for one type of error each time, rather than multiple different types that could confuse the situation.

On the final run, a professional proofreader will probably look out for any final mistakes that could have been missed, regardless of which type.

Check for accurate language

It’s tempting to think that a proofreader simply does a spellcheck and then passes things on. Sadly, this isn’t the case. A proofreader also needs to make sure that writers are using language correctly, which can often include industry-specific vocabulary.

This is why it’s vital to find a proofreader with industry knowledge, for example, someone with medical knowledge proofreading the documentation for an anaesthetic machine.

It’s necessary to have checks in place to find proofreaders who are able to make sure the content is accurate before and after the proofreading services process.

The research process

No matter how much industry knowledge the proofreader has, they’ll always need to conduct research before and during the project. Thankfully, this is much easier today than it was a few decades ago and proofreaders can often do all their research online. Even still, it takes more than an internet connection to find the right information – especially when it comes to technical fields.

So, aside from industry knowledge, find a proofreader with the research skills to get the info they need – that’s just good proofreading services practice.

Make sure intended meaning comes across

Words are a funny thing. Sometimes people put a sentence together that makes perfect sense to themselves, but leaves others scratching their heads. This is one of the main reasons proofreading services are so vital – because people can’t judge their own work objectively. So proofreaders also have to take on some editorial responsibility and make sure intended meaning comes across. Which can be tricky with something as subjective as meaning.

Maintain style and voice

It’s inevitable that a proofreader is going to make changes to your content. The more changes they make, though, the more chance there is that the original style and voice could be affected. A proofreader needs to do two things here: make sure it protects the style and voice in the content and ensure both are consistent throughout. Consistency is important and a proofreader needs to check for any irregularities in work while also protecting it from any changes they make.

Conclusion

The value of a piece of writing depends on its ability to engage the reader and convey its intended message. Proofreading can make sure that writing is free from any errors and can help in increasing the reputation and image of writers professionally.

This article is reprinted from translate plus, EdiThumbs and Proof Reading, LLC.

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