This article is a list of standard proofreader's marks used to indicate and correct problems in a text. Marks come in two varieties, abbreviations and abstract symbols. These are usually handwritten on the paper containing the text. Symbols are interleaved in the text, while abbreviations may be placed in a margin with an arrow pointing to the problematic text. Different languages use different proofreading marks and sometimes publishers have their own in-house proofreading marks.[1]

Abbreviations

These abbreviations are those prescribed by the Chicago Manual of Style.[2] Other conventions exist.

Abbreviation Meaning Use
bf Boldface Set in boldface
caps Capitalize Set in capital letters
eq # Equalize spacing
fl Flush left Align text flush with left margin
fr Flush right Align text flush with right margin
hr # Insert hair space
ital Italics Set in italic type
lc Lower case Set in lowercase
ls Letterspace Adjust letterspacing
rom Roman Put in Roman (non-italic) font
sc Small caps Put text in small caps
set Insert question mark
sp Spell out Used to indicate that an abbreviation should be spelled out, such as in its first use
stet Let it stand Indicates that proofreading marks should be ignored and the copy unchanged
tr transpose Transpose the two words selected
wf Wrong font Put text in correct font
ww[3] Wrong word Wrong word used (e.g. to/too)

Symbols

Text annotated with proofreading marks to the ISO 5776 standard
Symbol Name Symbol(s) Meaning Example of Use
Dele

Delete
Pilcrow (Unicode U+00B6) Begin new paragraph
Pilcrow (Unicode U+00B6) ¶ no Remove paragraph break
Caret[a] (Unicode U+2038, 2041, 2380) ‸ or ⁁ or ⎀ Insert
# Insert space
Close up (Unicode U+2050) ⁐ Tie words together, eliminating a space I was reading the news⁐paper this morning.
] [ Center text
] Move text right
[ Move text left
M̲ Insert em dash
N̲ Insert en dash

Manuscripts

Depending on local conventions, underscores (underlines) may be used on manuscripts (and historically on typescripts) to indicate the special typefaces to be used:[4][5]

  • single dashed underline for stet, 'let it stand', proof-reading mark cancelled.
  • single straight underline for italic type
  • single wavy underline for bold type
  • double straight underline for SMALL CAPS
  • double underline of one straight line and one wavy line for bold italic
  • triple underline for FULL CAPITAL LETTERS (used among small caps or to change text already typed as lower case).

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The circumflex character ^ and latin letter v are sometimes shown but these are not correct.

References

  1. ^ "Proof Correction Marks" (PDF). British Standards Institution. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Proofreaders' Marks". The Chicago Manual of Style Online. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Proofreading Marks: What Do They Mean?". Scribendi.
  4. ^ "Proofreading Marks Chart – Some of the Most Common Proofreading Marks". graphic-design-employment.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ^ Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2020. Bloomsbury. 5 September 2019. ISBN 9781472947512.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proofreading_mark
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