The last careful read before print
Proofreading is the final quality check on your book, usually on the typeset pages, catching the typos, layout slips and small inconsistencies that survive even the most thorough edit.
- Free initial consultation
- Clear written quote
A single typo on page one can cost a reader's trust. Proofreading protects it.
Fresh eyes on the finished pages
By the time a book reaches proof, its author and editor have read it many times, and familiar text is easy to skim. A proofreader comes to it new. On a typeset PDF, they mark errors using comments or standard proof marks, checking text and layout together: spelling, punctuation, doubled words, and anything the typesetting has introduced.
Layout checks matter as much as words. Your proofreader looks for widows and orphans, awkward hyphenation at line ends, running heads that do not match the chapter, page numbers that skip, and table of contents entries that point to the wrong page. Corrections are kept minimal, because each change on a typeset page can reflow the text after it.
What you gain with proofreading
Proofreading is the final quality check on your book, usually on the typeset pages, catching the typos, layout slips and small inconsistencies that survive even the most thorough edit.
Typos caught late
Misspellings, dropped words, stray spaces and punctuation slips are marked clearly, including errors introduced during formatting that the original manuscript did not contain.
Layout checked too
We look at the page as a reader sees it, flagging bad breaks, inconsistent spacing, mismatched fonts and headings that sit alone at the foot of a page.
Minimal, safe corrections
Changes are limited to genuine errors and kept as small as possible, so your designer can apply them without disturbing pagination or introducing new problems.
Style sheet respected
If your book was copy edited, your proofreader works from the existing style sheet, so earlier decisions about spelling and usage are kept rather than overturned.
From first read to final file
You are kept informed at every stage, and nothing moves forward without your approval.
- 1
Send the proofs
Share the typeset PDF or final Word file, along with the style sheet from your copy edit if there is one.
- 2
Confirm the brief
We agree on what to check, such as text only or text and layout, and confirm the fee and return date.
- 3
The proofread
Your proofreader reads every page, including front and back matter, and marks errors in a format your designer can work from easily.
- 4
Corrections applied
You review the marked proof, approve the corrections, and pass them to your designer or to us for updating the final files.
What our notes look like
Tracked changes and margin comments, each with a reason. An illustrative sample, not a client manuscript.
The ferry left Harwich at 7.00 seven o’clock, and by the time Ada found a seat the coast had allready already thinned to a pencil line. She checked the letter again, though she knew it by heart. Her aunt had written “come quickly”, and nothing else.
Everything in the brief
The exact scope is confirmed in writing before work begins, so you always know what you are paying for.
- Authors with typeset proofs ready for a final check
- Writers whose book has already been copy edited
- Self-publishers wanting a clean file before upload
- Proofread of typeset PDF or final manuscript
- Corrections marked as PDF comments or tracked changes
- Checks on running heads and page numbers
- Table of contents verified against the pages
- Widow, orphan and bad break flags
- Short list of queries for the author
Let’s talk about your book
Share a few details and we will reply with practical next steps for proofreading, and a written quote if you would like one.
- No obligation and no pressure
- We aim to reply to every enquiry within one business day.
- Your details stay private
Book a Proofread
It only takes a minute.
You can, but a proofread is not designed to fix heavy errors or inconsistencies across a book. If the manuscript has not been edited, a proofreader will correct obvious mistakes and may suggest a copy edit if they find more than a final check can reasonably handle.
The typeset pages, ideally. Formatting can introduce its own errors, such as lost italics, broken hyphenation or misplaced images, and these only appear in the laid-out file. If you are publishing an eBook only, a proofread of the final manuscript or a preview file works well.
A careful proofread removes the great majority of errors, but no human process is perfect, and we would rather be honest about that. Working from a copy-edited text and a style sheet gives the proofreader the best chance of a very clean result.
Proofreading is usually the quickest editorial stage, though the time still depends on page count and how complex the layout is. If you have a fixed upload or print date, tell us when you get in touch and we will confirm whether we can meet it.
Yes. For illustrated books, your proofreader also checks that text sits clear of key artwork, that page turns fall where intended and that captions or labels match the images. These books have few words, so every one is visible.
Often paired with
Ready to start on proofreading?
Tell us where your book is today. We will read your sample and recommend a clear, honest next step, with no obligation.