Proofreading is literally translated as “correction”. But in our understanding, it is the proofreading of a foreign text by a native speaker. Unlike editing, proofreading is less about working on grammar and spelling, and more about the logic of the narrative, form and style of presentation.
If the article is not written by a native speaker, the el salvador phone number material proofreader will bring it into the required form based on the linguistic features of the country or region. Proofreading is always used when translating texts to level out the linguistic features of the source text.
Ideally, editing should be done by a specialist who not only knows the language at a native level, but also lives permanently in the environment where the audience is. A proofreader can use neologisms and words in the text that are already common in society, but are not reflected in dictionaries. This way, the article will be perceived by the reader more easily and naturally.
Content
What does proofreading involve?
In our team, a proofreader takes into account several parameters when proofreading a text:
Capitalization of headings. Several variants are used in English articles: APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, etc. The requirements for the register for each text are individual, depending on the style of the brand's content direction.
Relevance to the topic. Checks whether the article has the necessary meaning. Tracks the logic of the composition of headings, sentences - how much they reveal the topic and complement each other.
Formatting: Checks for headings, bulleted and numbered lists.
Grammar. Checks the text for lexical and syntactic errors. The proofreader also checks to what extent the text as a whole complies with the norms and rules of the language.
Stylistics and TOV. Monitors the unity of the stylistic and visual design of the article, and, if necessary, the compliance with the brand's tone of voice.
Spell checking and typo correction. Often this stage falls on the shoulders of another specialist - a proofreader.
Contentim's Recommendations: How to Proofread Effectively
The main rule of our editorial team is not to try to edit the style and correct typos at the same time. Ideally, different people should correct spelling errors and do creative editing . If one specialist does this, then at least you need to take a break between processes, especially if there are many edits. We recommend that you do the final proofreading no earlier than an hour or two after editing.
Here are some more tips on how to improve your proofreading:
Before you start editing your copy, make sure you understand your brand's goals and what the content means for its audience.
Study the article as if you were a regular reader. Speak the text out loud, removing your hands from the keyboard as soon as you finish editing a paragraph.
Monitor each thought and how clear it is to the reader. Are the sentences logically structured, do they complement each other or lead to a dead end? Do you have to strain to understand what is being discussed, or does the article read easily and naturally?
