Copy Editing and Proofreading Symbols Symbol Meaning Example

Meaning
Symbol
Example
,
.
;
ital
bf
sm cap
sp
,
,
not
stet
.
no
;
bf
ital
sp
#

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Ten Rules of Proofreading
1. Never proofread your own copy.
2. Read everything in the copy straight through from the beginning to end.
3. Read copy backward to catch spelling errors.
4. Read pages out of order.
5. Have proofreaders initial the copy they check.
6. Have someone read numbers while you check hardcopy.
7. Take short breaks so you can concentrate more clearly.
8. List errors you spot over a month.
9. Alter your routine.
10. Make your marks legible and understandable.
From “How to Avoid Costly Proofreading Errors” by Carolyn Boccella Bagin and Jo Van Doren
Superscript
162
Transpose
Remove the fitting end.
Underscore
__________
The part was listed under Electrical.
Wrong font
This is the first step in the procedure
.
Meaning
Symbol
Example
wf
wf

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Document Outline

• Copy Editing and Proofreading Symbols
  • Delete
  • Remove the end fitting.
  • Close up
  • The tolerances are with in the range.
  • Delete and Close up
  • Deltete and close up the gap.
  • Insert
  • The box is inserted correctly.
  • #
  • Space
  • Theprocedure is incorrect.
  • Transpose
  • Remove the fitting end.
  • / or lc
  • Lower case
  • The Engineer and manager agreed.
  • Capitalize
  • A representative of nasa was present.
  • Capitalize first letter and lower case remainder
  • GARRETT PRODUCTS are great.
  • stet
  • Let stand
  • Remove the battery cables.
  • ¶
  • New paragraph
  • The box is full. The meeting will be on Thursday.
  • no ¶
  • Remove paragraph break
  • The meeting will be on Thursday.
  • All members must attend.
  • Move to a new position
  • All members attended who were new.
  • Move left
  • Remove the faulty part.
  • Flush left
  • Move left.
  • Flush right
  • Move right.
  • Move right
  • Remove the faulty part.
  • Center
  • Table 4-1
  • Raise
  • 162
  • Lower
  • 162
  • Superscript
  • 162
  • Subscript
  • 162
  • Period
  • Rewrite the procedure Then complete the tasks.
  • Apostrophe or single quote
  • The companys policies were rewritten.
  • Semicolon
  • He left however, he returned later.
  • Colon
  • There were three items nuts, bolts, and screws.
  • Comma
  • Apply pressure to the first second and third bolts.
  • -|
  • Hyphen
  • A valuable byproduct was created.
  • Spell out
  • The info was incorrect.
  • Abbreviate
  • The part was twelve feet long.
  • || or =
  • Align
  • Personnel
  • Facilities
  • Equipment
  • __________
  • Underscore
  • The part was listed under Electrical.
  • Run in with previous line
  • He rewrote the pages
  • and went home.
  • Em dash
  • It was the beginning so I thought.
  • En dash
  • The value is 120 408.
  • Set in italics
  • The book was titled Technical Writing Styles.
  • Set in bold
  • This is the only time we can offer this price.
  • Wrong font
  • This is the first step in the procedure.
  • Set in small caps
  • Set the MFG REGISTER to zero.
  • Abbreviate
  • The part was twelve feet long.
  • Align
  • || or =
  • Personnel
  • Facilities
  • Equipment
  • Apostrophe or single quote
  • The companys policies were rewritten.
  • Capitalize
  • A representative of nasa was present.
  • Capitalize first letter and lowercase remainder
  • GARRETT PRODUCTS are great.
  • Center
  • Table 4-1
  • Close up
  • The tolerances are with in the range.
  • Colon
  • There were three items nuts, bolts, and screws.
  • Comma
  • Apply pressure to the first second and third bolts.
  • Delete
  • Remove the end fitting.
  • Delete and close up
  • Deltete and close up the gap.
  • Em dash
  • It was the beginning so I thought.
  • En dash
  • The value is 120 408.
  • Flush left
  • Move left.
  • Flush right
  • Move right.
  • Hyphen
  • -|
  • A valuable byproduct was created.
  • Insert
  • The box is inserted correctly.
  • Let Stand
  • stet
  • Remove the battery cables.
  • Lower
  • 162
  • Lower case
  • / or lc
  • The Engineer and manager agreed.
  • Move left
  • Remove the faulty part.
  • Move right
  • Remove the faulty part.
  • Move to a new position
  • All members attended who were new.
  • New paragraph
  • ¶
  • The box is full. The meeting will be on Thursday.
  • Period
  • Rewrite the procedure Then complete the tasks.
  • Raise
  • 162
  • Remove paragraph break
  • no ¶
  • The meeting will be on Thursday.
  • All members must attend.
  • Run in with previous line
  • He rewrote the pages
  • and went home.
  • Semicolon
  • He left however, he returned later.
  • Set in bold
  • This is the only time we can offer this price.
  • Set in italics
  • The book was titled Technical Writing Styles.
  • Set in small caps
  • Set the MFG REGISTER to zero.
  • Space
  • #
  • Theprocedure is incorrect.
  • Spell out
  • The info was incorrect.
  • Subscript
  • 162
  • Superscript
  • 162
  • Transpose
  • Remove the fitting end.
  • Underscore
  • __________
  • The part was listed under Electrical.
  • Wrong font
  • This is the first step in the procedure.
    • Ten Rules of Proofreading
      • 1. Never proofread your own copy.
      • 2. Read everything in the copy straight through from the beginning to end.
      • 3. Read copy backward to catch spelling errors.
      • 4. Read pages out of order.
      • 5. Have proofreaders initial the copy they check.
      • 6. Have someone read numbers while you check hardcopy.
      • 7. Take short breaks so you can concentrate more clearly.
      • 8. List errors you spot over a month.
      • 9. Alter your routine.
      • 10. Make your marks legible and understandable.