Have you ever heard of interrogative pronouns? Well, if you’ve ever asked someone a question, then you’ve probably used an interrogative pronoun. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at each of the five interrogative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and what. We’ll explain exactly how we use them, with examples. What Is an Interrogative Pronoun? Pronouns are words that help simplify language by standing in for a noun. They are often used to avoid the repetition of the noun in a sentence. Interrogative pronouns are a type of pronoun used to ask questions (the word “interrogative” means ..read more

Should job titles be capitalized? We understand if you’re unsure – capitalization rules in English can be confusing. However, proofreaders must know the rules regarding capitalizing titles and capitalizing job titles. In today’s blog post, we’ll discuss when it’s best to capitalize job titles and when it’s best to leave them in lowercase. When to Capitalize Job Titles We need to emphasize this right away: There are times when job titles must be capitalized! You should capitalize them in the following situations: Formal titles Respect for those in high-status roles Direct addresses Job title i ..read more

Why is fact-checking important? The answer is simple – in the digital age, misinformation and fake news are more common than ever before. Fact-checking is a vital stage in the content publishing process. It ensures that content is accurate, truthful, and legally and ethically sound. There are a number of steps involved in fact-checking. These include: Identifying and researching facts, statements, and claims Interpreting and analyzing source materials Drawing and expressing conclusions based on research Being aware of these steps is essential for anyone who works in content creation. In this ..read more

An often overlooked aspect of proofreading and editing is how to write currency. If you work with professional clients, you’ll often see currencies in report or article drafts. And if you proofread or edit documents for ESL clients, you’re likely to come across essays related to mathematics and currency. In this post, you’ll learn about: The nuances of writing currency The names, symbols, and codes of some important global currencies The ways referencing style guides recommend writing currency (helpful if you’re working with academic documents) Writing Currency: Names When writing currency n ..read more

This post will explain when to use a comma with so. So is a tiny word that can lead to major comma confusion, so read on for our straightforward explanation. We’ll also cover coordinating and subordinating conjunctions because an understanding of them is important for this topic. And we like to give you that extra bit of help. We’re nice like that! Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions Conjunctions are words that join clauses, phrases and other words together. They have a mnemonic that makes remembering some of them easier: FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so). The nature of a c ..read more

Style guides are a vital resource for any proofreader or editor. But not every client will have one. And in some cases, you may need to create a custom style sheet when editing a document. But when do you need to create a style sheet? And what should it include? What Is a Style Guide? While proofreading and editing, you will often need to use a style guide. A style guide is a set of standardized guidelines for writing, formatting, and editing documents (or other types of contents). Style guides can include: Guidelines for grammar and punctuation usage Preferred spellings and word choices Desc ..read more

If you’re considering a career as a proofreader or editor, you should be aware of proofreading marks. Although most proofreading and editing is now done via a computer in a program like Microsoft Word, you may need to use proofreading marks if a client wants you to work on paper. In this blog post, we answer the following: What is a proofreading mark? How to use proofreading marks Are proofreading marks still important? We also provide a free proofreading marks chart that you can use to get familiar with some of the most common marks. Let’s take a look. What Is a Proofreading Mark? Proofrea ..read more

Online dictionaries are an essential tool for proofreaders and editors. As a proofreader, you’re probably very proud of your vocabulary – but we all need to look up words now and then! To save yourself some time, it pays to bookmark a few online dictionaries. But which are the best online dictionaries for proofreaders? Keep reading to find out! In this blog post, we’ll share our top recommendations. Why Are Online Dictionaries Useful for Proofreaders? Before we dive into our favorites, let’s take a look at the reasons why proofreaders should never be without one (or two, or three, or four). As ..read more

As a freelance proofreader, you may be asked to check resumes and CVs. These documents come in many types, so it is worth knowing how they work so you can proofread them effectively.  In this blog post we’re going to explain: The difference between a resume and a CV The three most common types of resumes (chronological, functional, and combination)  How to proofread resumes and CVs What Is the Difference Between a Resume and a CV? In the USA, many people distinguish between a resume and a CV as follows: A resume is a short (1–2 pages) summary of a person’s work experience, skills ..read more

Have you ever wondered how long a sentence should be? Sentence length plays a crucial role in conveying a message effectively. Finding the right balance between conciseness and detail can make or break your content. As a proofreader or editor, you may need to support your clients in adjusting the length of their sentences. In today’s blog post, we’ll explain: How to identify the ideal sentence length How to proofread long sentences How to make a sentence shorter So, how long should a sentence be? Let’s explore this in more detail. What Should Be Your Average Sentence Length? Regarding the av ..read more