List of proofreader's marks

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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.

More information Abbreviation, Meaning ...
AbbreviationMeaningUse
bfBoldfaceSet in boldface
capsCapitalizeSet in capital letters
eq #Equalize spacing
flFlush leftAlign text flush with left margin
frFlush rightAlign text flush with right margin
hr #Insert hair space
italItalicsSet in italic type
lcLower caseSet in lowercase
lsLetterspaceAdjust letterspacing
romRomanPut in Roman (non-italic) font
scSmall capsPut text in small caps
setInsert question mark
spSpell outUsed to indicate that an abbreviation should be spelled out, such as in its first use
stetLet it standIndicates that proofreading marks should be ignored and the copy unchanged
trtransposeTranspose the two words selected
wfWrong fontPut text in correct font
ww[3]Wrong wordWrong word used (e.g. to/too)
Close

Symbols

Thumb
Text annotated with proofreading marks to the ISO 5776 standard
More information Symbol Name, Symbol(s) ...
Symbol NameSymbol(s)MeaningExample of Use
Dele

Delete
Pilcrow (Unicode U+00B6)Begin new paragraph
Pilcrow (Unicode U+00B6)¶ noRemove paragraph break
Caret[a] (Unicode U+2038, 2041, 2380) or or Insert
#Insert space
Close up (Unicode U+2050)Tie words together, eliminating a spaceI was reading the news⁐paper this morning.
] [Center text
]Move text right
[Move text left
Insert em dash
Insert en dash
Close

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

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