Proofreaders’ Marks
Basic Tools for
Proofreading
and
Editing
Editing Printed Documents
Use a pen with contrasting-colored ink.
Use standard proofreaders’ marks to
show corrections.
Mark all corrections clearly.
Correcting General Errors
Use a caret () to show an insertion.
Place a diagonal (/) through an unwanted letter.
Change a letter by placing a diagonal through
it and writing the correct letter above it.
Deleting and Changing
Delete words and phrases by running a
horizontal line through them.
Change text by first deleting it and then
writing the correction above the deletion.
Transposing
Use the transposition symbol to
indicate a reversal of keystrokes,
words, phrases, and even sentences.
Closing Up and Inserting Spaces
Close up an extra space with loops above and
below the space.
Show where a space is needed by using the
insertion caret and placing the number sign
directly above the caret.
Just a few more
proofreaders’
marks . . .
Changing Internal Punctuation
+
–
±
To add internal punctuation, place the comma, semicolon,
or colon inside a caret at the point of insertion.
To delete internal punctuation, place a diagonal through
the mark.
To change internal punctuation, delete the incorrect mark
and insert the correct one.
Changing Closing Punctuation
+
To add closing punctuation, write periods, question
marks, and exclamation marks—and circle them.
–
To delete closing punctuation, place a diagonal
through the mark.
±
To change closing punctuation, delete the incorrect
mark and add the correct one; circle the new mark.
Other Punctuation
Add quotation marks or an apostrophe by placing
the mark in an inverted insertion mark ().
Add a hyphen by using the insertion mark () at the
point of entry and placing an equal sign (=) directly
above the caret.
Capitalizing Words
 To show that a single letter should be
capitalized, place three short lines under it.

To show that entire words should be
capitalized, underline the word or word
group three times.
Correcting Capitalized Words
Place a diagonal ( / ) through a capital letter
that should appear in lowercase form.
Use a diagonal and a straight line to show
which letters should not be capitalized in
words appearing in all capital letters.
Number Usage
If a figure should be written in words, circle
the figure.
If a number written in word form should be in
figures, draw a horizontal line through it and
write the correct figure or figures above it.
Abbreviations
If an abbreviation should be spelled out,
circle the abbreviation.
If a word or words should be abbreviated,
draw a horizontal line through the word or
words and write the abbreviation above the
lined-out text.
Paragraphs
To insert a new paragraph, place a paragraph
mark (¶) at the point of insertion.
To delete a new paragraph beginning, write No ¶
where the paragraphs are to be combined.
Italics and Bold
Underline any words that should appear
in italics.
Place a wavy line under any words that
should be bolded.
11th
The Finished Document
OUT