PROOFREADERS' MARKS AND PROOFREADING SYMBOLS

Proofreaders' marks or, as they are often called "proofreading symbols", are still used, but with much less frequency than in the past. The advent of the Internet and word processing programs such as Microsoft Word and WordPerfect with their editing functions have made these proofreaders' marks almost obsolete. However, for those who do not like on screen editing and for those who must edit the hardcopy, these marks are still indispensable. The following is a complete list as taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Local, in-house style guides may vary from company to company with additional marks specific to that industry but the proofreading symbols below are common to all. If you wish to be an all-encompassing editor or proofreader, ready for any situation, you should know these proofreaders' marks and be able to use them with ease.

Symbol	Definition	Sample
	delete
	close up
	delete and close up
	caret
	insert a space
	space evenly
	let stand
	transpose
	separates proofreader marks. Is also used as a final stroke after and insertion
	move to the left
	move to the right
	set as ligature (such as æ)
	align horizontally
	align vertically
	broken character
	indent or insert em quad space
	begin a new paragraph
	spell out
	set in CAPITALS
	set in  SMALL CAPITALS
	set in lowercase
	set in italic
	set in roman
	set in boldface
	hyphen	multi-colored
	en dash	1965–72
	em (or long) dash	Now—at last!—we know.
	superscript or superior
	subscript or inferior
	centered
	comma
	apostrophe
	period
	semicolon
	colon
	quotation marks
	parentheses
	brackets
	query to author: Is this as it is supposed to be?
	inverted letter
	wrong font

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