Mistakes, no matter how small, degrade your writing piece. You put in immense effort day in and day out and your article gets rejected due to some minor mistakes. It is very human of us to overlook these mistakes.
Here, comes the importance of proofreading. If you are a writer then you are already aware of the necessity of proofreading services. As a writer, it is very important to know how many different types of proofreading techniques are there. Before completely relying on proofreading services, we should also have some knowledge about proofreading and the different types of it.
Before going ahead with the article let us know a little about the importance of proofreading. First and foremost, there is a simple explanation of why proofreading services are so important. It all comes down to the fact that translators, like the rest of us, are just human. Even if they try their hardest, there’s always a risk that a small mistake will go unnoticed.
There’s a lot more to proofreading programs than what meets the eye at first glance. Proofreading services depend on the purpose behind your article. So, let us now see the different types of proofreading.
Proofreading for Print Media/Pre-Print Proofreading
The most common form of proofreading is print media proofreading, which refers to newspapers, novels, and other similar publications.
Print media proofreading is a search for errors that are sometimes done as a final step before printing. These mistakes may be in formatting, spelling, or grammar, and they may have been created during editing or even overlooked during previous rounds of editing.
Here, the proofreader’s job is to go over the document one more time to make sure everything is in order. On a display screen, a missing double space between words may not be noticeable, but it will stand out on a written sheet.
As a result, proofreading for print media is often done by printing a reference copy of the media and then closely checking the written text. Mass printing will begin after the proofreader has decided that the text is error-free and perfectly typed.
Academic Proofreading
Academic proofreading, or, having your assignment or dissertation proofread, is a little different. The general process of proofreading which is correcting grammar and spelling sometimes is followed by meaning checks and academic style checks such as referencing and quoting.
Academic proofreading may provide what others may consider editing, such as form, rhythm, and language guidance for the future, depending on the proofreading service you opt for. Proofreading for any kind of academic project/research/dissertation should be done by someone well-versed in the various citation forms and their complexities (MLA, APA, and Chicago, for example).
Anyone proofreading a scholarly publication must know if a comma or a time should follow the year in a cited publication and whether the section listing sources should be termed References or Works Cited.
Academic proofreading is slightly difficult than the other types. An academic proofreader must be well versed with the following:
- What do the MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides say about headings and section formatting?
- For a document written in American English, whether to spell the name of a European organization in British English or American English.
- When quoting a rule or writing a chemical formula, whether or not to place a space in parentheses.
- In various style guides, how to format tables and figures.
- When do you use footnotes?
Academic proofreading technique is a popular and common service that proofreading providers have. This is because scholars must write papers daily, and correct spelling, grammar, and attribution are all required for publication.
Furthermore, many non-native English speakers need proofreading in English before submitting their work to foreign journals, here is where academic proofreading services become the savior.
Translation or Bilingual Proofreading
Translated texts have a different set of errors than English-language texts that is why it is essential to proofread a translated text. The emphasis of English proofreading of text written in English would be on typical mistakes of English language, such as the usage of to vs. too or the inconsistency of they’re/their/there.
Translation proofreading, also known as bilingual proofreading, is the process of checking and editing translated texts for errors. Translation or bilingual proofreaders must ensure that the translated text aligns with the original, in addition to checking for pronunciation, grammar, and punctuation.
The most popular method of proofreading is bilingual proofreading, in which the proofreader has a thorough understanding of both the source and target languages and is mindful of common translation mistakes or uncomfortable terminology that might occur during translation. They would compare the translated text and the original to ensure that everything is right. They can also spot and correct mistakes including grammatical conventions from the source language being added incorrectly to the target language.
Monolingual Proofreading
The monolingual Proofreading technique is when a proofreader does not speak the source language, he or she merely reviews the translated text to ensure that it meets all of the guidelines of the target language without considering the original text.
This is often used for texts where the target language’s ‘finish’ and style are essential.
Stylistic Proofreading
If you’re working with marketing documents or other similar materials and want the translation to be polished, stylistic proofreading and editing services will help. The proofreader will make stylistic changes to the text to ensure that it has the impression you want.
Conclusion
So, now you know how many types of proofreading can be implemented in your writing piece. The type of proofreading and editing service solely depends on the type of editing your content seeks for.
Other forms of proofreading services and proofreading techniques may include evaluating terminology to ensure it is right, depending on the objectives. When dealing with a medical or highly specialized text, even the tiniest terminology error may have disastrous consequences, which is why this service is so valuable.
However, each type of proofreader is an expert in their particular field. A bilingual proofreader is not well versed with the guidelines of academic proofreading and vice versa. You should wisely choose a proofreading service based on the goals you are expecting to achieve.
-Isabell S.
