Book proofreading

A typo in a book spoils the whole impression a good edition makes. Our qualified literary editors and proofreaders can bring a text on any subject into perfect shape, so that your readers really enjoy reading your work. Book proofreading is the process of finding and correcting the errors and typos that were made while the text was being written and that spoil the impression of the printed edition.

Why books need proofreading

A proofreader has a keen eye for detail and a good command of grammar, punctuation and spelling. They also have to work quickly and efficiently, because deadlines in publishing are often tight. In addition, proofreaders have to communicate effectively with authors, editors and other members of the publishing team in order to resolve any issues or to suggest improvements.

Proofreading comes at the end of the work on the errors in a book. In other words, it is the last check before the layout. It is aimed at correcting the errors and other shortcomings that make it difficult for the reader to take in the text.

The work of a proofreader is quite complex and painstaking. It requires great concentration and perseverance.

After the work is done, our specialists make all the changes in accordance with the rules. They know the norms of the language perfectly and take a responsible approach to the proofreading and editing of books.

How book proofreading is carried out

The proofreading of a book can be done by one specialist or by several. It depends mainly on the amount of work.

If the text has already been laid out in PDF, we carry out a number of additional checks.

• We compare the tables, formulas and figures with the original.
• We point out the technical shortcomings of the layout, for example errors in the placement of running heads and page numbers, or bad word divisions and widow and orphan lines.
• We check that the page numbers and the names of the headings in the table of contents match those in the text.
• We control the uniformity of the design: the highlighting of fonts, the hierarchy of headings, the consistency of headings of the same level, and the design of tables, figures, formulas, links and captions.

Besides correcting errors, the proofreader makes sure that the design of the text elements is uniform throughout the edition. We also take into account the subtleties that are often not obvious to the reader but that determine how comfortable the book is to read.