The roles of proofreader and editor
Proofreading involves checking a 'typescript' prior to publication to ensure that there are no errors that will detract from the reading of the final published text. A proofreader looks at spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting and consistency of style.
Editing is a more lengthy task, combining the skills of a proofreader with attention to wider considerations such as: the author's 'voice', consistency of names, places and other recurring information, and accuracy of facts and other referenced matter. An editor will therefore propose more extensive changes to an author's manuscript where it is felt this will help to improve it. Increasingly though, outside of mainstream publishing, editor and proofreader roles have combined in the joint role of proof-editor. |
Traditionally, proofreaders carried out their job on paper, marking the paper 'proof' with the British Standards Institution (BSI) proof-correction marks. These symbols are usually inserted in the text and the margin in red ink.
The editor is typically involved earlier in the process than the proofreader. An editor marks their changes on the 'copy' (often in blue ink) and the pages are then generated as 'galleys' or 'proofs' by a typesetter. The proofreader's role is to check that the document has been accurately typeset in line with the editor's instructions, and to provide a final check for anything that the writer and editor might have overlooked. |
More often these days, the work of editors, proofreaders and proof-editors is carried out entirely on-screen. Usually, the author will provide an electronic copy of their work and it is this file that any amendments will be made to.
It is common practice to communicate actual or proposed amendments with Word's 'track-changes' and 'comments' facilities. This makes it easier for all parties, including the author, to more immediately identify the changes and queries that have been made. The query is important in proofreading and editing, as there are some matters that can only be resolved through consultation with the author - it might be that something has been worded a certain way for a reason rather than in error; the proofreader's role is therefore not to second-guess the author. Editors may have a little more leeway in this regard however. |