The Secret Art of the Proofreader Behind Every Great Book

Have you ever read a book, or any other text, and found an error? The anger that comes from this happening is greater when the text you are reading is yours. If you are thinking about publishing your book and want to avoid grammatical or style errors, do not hesitate to invest in a good proofreader.

You can opt for a digital platform or a professional in the sector. Either option is valid. What you cannot do is believe that the correction of the text is a dispensable factor, since it is a fundamental step to guarantee the good presentation, literary quality and professionalism of any book.

Especially authors who opt for the advantages of self-publishing should consider how they will proofread their text. While in traditional publications it is the publishers who are in charge not only of editing texts but also of revising them, when the book is self-published the responsibility for ensuring that there are no errors falls on the author. This, as we have mentioned and as we will explain below in more detail, can go to a professional corrector or use specific and specialized software.

What is a proofreader

As the name suggests, a proofreader observes, revises, analyzes, corrects and improves texts. His work is not only grammatical, but also stylistic. That is, beyond checking spelling mistakes, it also checks aspects such as textual structure or coherence. An example would be changing one word for another to gain meaning and clarity, or adding punctuation marks where appropriate to improve narrative rhythm.

Generally, when we talk about a proofreader we are referring to the person who is professionally dedicated to it. However, digitalization has meant the arrival and improvement of digital tools that also fulfill this function. In this way, software such as Grammar or Microsoft Word's own proofreader are also considered "text proofreaders." The difference is that, obviously, their ability to explain, advise or individualize is less. children's book ghostwriter They work behind the scenes, breathing life into characters and plots while the credited author takes the spotlight.

In any case, text correction is a fundamental prior step for the publication of a text.

How can you identify and correct errors in a text, either manually or using digital tools?

When we consider what the work and function of a proofreader is, we ask ourselves how it is possible to detect and correct errors that so many people go unnoticed. 

Whether you use a machine or not, the key is in the detail. The more analysis capacity there is, the greater the efficiency and effectiveness of the correction. That is why the tools are programmed and professionals are trained to achieve that precision.

How to detect and correct errors

The relevance of accurate proofreading in literature and other written media

It is no secret that everyone at some point, and quite frequently, makes spelling mistakes. To a certain extent it is normal that this is the case because it is human to err. However, it is also no secret that reading a book (or any other text) in which there are multiple grammatical or style errors gives us a bad impression.

The reality is that we expect a certain correction of published texts, such as books, magazines or advertising posters. We have expectations about the quality and professionalism of those texts that, in one way or another, are published. Those that do not meet these expectations generate distrust in us and make us think that their author did not care enough.

The conclusion, therefore, is that as authors we must take care of our writing and accept that a literary review done by ourselves is not enough.

Types of corrections: spelling, grammar, style and content

We have briefly mentioned how a proofreader's approach to a text involves correcting spelling, grammar, and also style or content. We explain in detail what each type of correction consists of:

• Spelling correction: all words are checked to be spelled correctly as stipulated in a dictionary. 
• Grammatical correction:it is often confused with spelling correction, but it is not the same. Grammatical correction checks that everything is well written according to grammatical rules. Let's see it in an example: the spelling correction would verify that, indeed, the word "vole" is written with "v" and with an accent in the "é"; On the other hand, grammatical correctness would verify that this is the correct verbal form to express the first person singular in the past perfect of the indicative mood. Another example would be the sentence "he is good": on a spelling level the sentence is correct, since all the words are correctly written according to the dictionary, but on a grammatical level there are errors, since the verb and the pronoun do not agree.

• Style correction: focuses on checking that the text is understandable, that is, that the reader will understand it. It is, therefore, a more subjective type of correction, since there are no grammatical rules or a dictionary that can govern a "good style." Instead, you have to assess the audience that will read the book. For example Book Marketing Agency, if it is a work of youth or children's literature, the copyeditor must check that the language or tone is appropriate for readers. Likewise, you must take into account where the text is going to appear, since a blog is not the same as a post on social networks or an academic book. Therefore, very varied aspects are valued, from lexicon to structuring, but always without "invading" the author's voice.

• Content correction: it is a correction for which, in addition to linguistic knowledge, specific knowledge about the topic being discussed is required. A content editor who reviews a text about a historical event must verify that the facts included are true or that there are no conceptual errors.

Difference between proofreading and text editing

Before continuing and getting into the subject of the types of proofreaders and their use, it is worth clarifying the difference between proofreading and editing.

• Editing: involves a very in-depth analysis of the text to ensure that the text is understood and attractive to readers. That is, an editor adopts a, to a certain extent, commercial vision of the text, seeking to ensure that it is clear and that it manages to convey the author's message. To do this he can make modifications to the general structure (for example, changing the order of the chapters or eliminating entire parts).
• Correction: the analysis focuses on grammatical and stylistic aspects of the text, but not the book in general. The proofreader, therefore, does not evaluate aspects such as the structure of the chapters, but rather the textual structure (the division of paragraphs, punctuation, the correct use of a preposition or a verbal form, etc.). Spelling and grammar correction is usually done after editing, to finish "cleaning" the text of any errors it may have.

Both processes, therefore, are important and complementary, although each of them focuses on a different aspect.

"The man who has made a mistake and does not correct it makes another, greater mistake."

– Confucius

Confucius

Proofreader Skills and Tools

A proofreader is professional when he fulfills his role, there is no doubt about that. The question is what are the specific skills that make a concealer efficient and effective.

In general, we could say that attention to detail, linguistic knowledge and adaptability to different styles and types of text are three fundamental pillars. Let's see why.

Attention to detail: a critical and clinical look at the text

A proofreader's observation skills must be thorough. Every small mistake must be caught and every improvement, even if it may seem insignificant, must be made.

A reading that is not attentive to detail can cause errors such as accent marks or two letters whose position has been exchanged to be overlooked. When we read without that clinical, untrained and unprofessional eye, those errors do not attract our attention because our brain does not detect them, but rather registers the word correctly. On the other hand, a corrector must have his or her gaze trained to correct these errors.

Linguistic knowledge: linguistic aspects and common doubts about writing in Spanish

When to use one word or another, when to put a comma or a semicolon, when an adverb is not being used appropriately... These are all questions that require advanced linguistic knowledge. That is why proofreaders have normally studied careers such as Philology, Linguistics or Translation. Likewise, online platforms for correcting texts have been developed and designed with the help of professionals in these fields.

In general, there are linguistic aspects that raise doubts in Spanish speakers. The correctors not only know the answers to these doubts, but they also know what the guidelines and standards are that regulate the use of the language.

If they do not know them, they have the tools or means to find the solution (for example, analyzing the historical use of a word to certify if it exists, if not, or how it is mostly written).

Adaptability to different types of text and styles

Although all texts have words and that may make you think that they are all "the same", the truth is that correcting the explanatory text of a museum is not the same as correcting a poem or a novel.

Furthermore, each author writes in a different way and the editor must know how to adapt and make the appropriate corrections according to the author's voice or what he or she wants to express. For example, an author may take poetic license to create beauty or to mark the way a fictional character speaks; the corrector must detect and appreciate these licenses without correcting them.

Adaptability to different types of text and styles

What are the best tools and platforms for online proofreading and how to use them?

As we have been mentioning, with the term "text editor" we may be referring to a professional or software. In this section we are going to focus on the latter, that is, on the platforms that offer online text correction.

The fact that they are digital should not make us think that they are worse or that they are not as efficient as a human person. The reality is that professional correctors often use these tools as support. The platforms, therefore, are helpful and professionals usually use them to do a first review of those aspects that can be automated (for example, spelling and grammar). Then, they are the ones who do a second check to detect those errors that the machine may have missed or to correct more subjective aspects such as stylistic or content. 

However, thanks to advances such as artificial intelligence, online correctors are becoming more precise. Currently there are several options depending on the type of correction desired. Their great advantage is that they are accessible, especially for independent authors on a tight budget. These are some of the best-rated tools (in Spanish).

Lorca Editor

If you know Grammar, one of the best proofreaders in English, you will like to know that Lorca Editor offers essentially the same functions but for texts written in Spanish. 

You could say that Lorca Editor is a 360 proofreader, since it not only corrects spelling and grammar, but also makes suggestions on style. For example, it detects and warns when the same word is used many times (and very often).

Another point in favor of Lorca Editor is that it is a very easy-to-use freeware, you don't even need to download anything. You just have to register with your email, paste and copy the texts and start the correction. 

Microsoft Word Text Corrector

This is perhaps one of the most used spell checkers due to its accessibility. Most writers use the Microsoft Word word processor and do a first revision with it.

Although it is a good tool, especially as a spell checker, and provides suggestions, sometimes it can be insufficient, so it is always advisable to use more specialized software like some of the ones we recommend here.

Language Tool

Like Lorca Editor, Language Tool stands out for making quite complete and specific corrections, arguably even more advanced.

As another addition, it can be installed as an extension in the browser (just like Grammar); This makes its use even easier, since you don't even have to copy and paste the text on the web. However, the disadvantage is that for the extension to work in Word or Google Docs you have to pay for a premium version.

abcCorrector

Although abcCorrector 's functions focus on grammar correction, the extension can be used in Word. In this way it completes the work of the processor's own checker, which sometimes does not detect certain errors. 

As a point in favor of abcCorrector, we can say that computer scientists and linguists worked together in its development.

Other additional tools

Until now we have talked about software that is itself a text corrector. Additionally, we want to recommend other tools that, although they do not correct texts, can help us in the task if we are going to do it manually or want to complement what has already been done.

• The website of the Royal Spanish Academy: offers a dictionary of meanings that can help you choose the most precise word. In addition, the Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts is also available online, very useful for verifying the use of certain words.
• Word reference: In addition to the bilingual English-Spanish dictionary, Word reference also offers Spanish thesaurus. On occasions when a word has been repeated a lot, this tool is very useful for finding replacements. Another similar tool is the Reverse electronic dictionary.
• CREA (Reference Corpus of Current Spanish): like any other corpus, CREA stores thousands of different texts. Through it, therefore, you can search for a word and do an analysis of how it has been used, in what contexts... 

How to choose a proofreader?

If you want to hire a professional proofreader, it is important to evaluate different aspects. The budget is one of them, but there are others such as your experience, your specialization and your references.

• Price: The work of a proofreader must have a price. Of course, there are rates that are more affordable than others. The difference usually lies not only in the quality, but also in what is included or not. For example, there are professionals who only do spelling and grammar correction, while others also do stylistics. Our recommendation is that you request several quotes and compare them, but always looking beyond the price.
• References: the opinions of other clients will help you assess whether or not the rates adjust to the work performed. You can also request information about whether or not they are registered in a group such as the Union of Correctors, which is usually a point in favor of their professionalism.
• Experience: In addition to references, looking at previous work can help you verify the proofreader's experience. There are other aspects that also help verify that he is a professional person (for example, the way he answers your questions, his transparency when sending proposals or even how he writes emails).
• Specialization: we have already mentioned that the ideal is to go to a proofreader who is specialized in the same type of text that you have written. This will make the entire process more agile and productive for both parties.

What economic considerations must be taken into account when hiring proofreading and writing services?

The most common thing is to ask for quotes from several proofreaders. Logically, and as happens in any field, the rates of some professionals and others vary depending on what they include and how they include it.

The choice, therefore, may not only depend on the numerical figure, but also on the type of correction to be made and other factors such as delivery times. Otherwise, it is likely that by choosing the cheapest option we will end up with an insufficient correction or one that takes too long to arrive.

It also does not mean that the most expensive budgets are the best, but rather that they may be the most complete or the fastest. 

These are, therefore, the aspects that you should consider:

• Your budget: if you are self-publishing, you should add proofreading as an expense in addition to what it costs to print a book. Depending on your budget, you can access some concealers or others.
• Delivery times: the most in-demand proofreaders are likely to be the ones who charge the most, since they have a high workload and will ask for extra to prioritize one text over another.
• The type of correction: style corrections are usually more expensive than spelling corrections, as they require different knowledge and review. You must consider what you need as an author to avoid paying more or less.
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Delivery times

Where to find professional concealers

Finding professional proofreaders is not too difficult, a quick internet search will get you several contacts. However, what is more complicated is having the good eye to choose someone really good.

The first thing you need to know is that most proofreaders are self-employed, so the normal thing is that you can contact them directly. However, there are also agencies that act as intermediaries and you tell them your needs so that they can find a corrector for you from among all those in their database. Some of these agencies are: 

• es
• own letters
• Alliterate

Agencies, therefore, can allow you to delegate the search and selection of the professional. However, in most cases, they prevent you from having direct contact with the concealer.

Other platforms to find a text editor are:

• Union of Correctors: they have a directory of professionals that you can filter by specialization, language, place of residence, etc. To find the most suitable proofreader for you.
• Search pages for freelancers: an example is Freelancer, in which different professionals (not just proofreaders) publish their profiles and the services they offer. 
• Other associations of proofreaders: although the Union of Proofreaders is the main one, there are other associations through which you can get in direct contact with a professional proofreader. One of them is Asserted (in which there are also translators) and another is Redacted (with hundreds of proofreaders of texts in Spanish).

Of course, and as we have mentioned, you can also do a Google search. Among the results, in addition to agencies and associations, you will see websites of professional proofreaders.

How to work effectively with a concealer

Once the proofreader has been chosen and hired, it is time to start working with him. It is going to be a process in which both parties must be involved, since making corrections is complex, but so is receiving them. For everything to go well, it is important to follow some tips and recommendations:

• Fluid and transparent communication: even when author and proofreader work remotely. It is essential that the author communicate what her expectations and needs are and that the proofreader be honest about whether or not he will be able to help and about aspects such as what the budget includes or what the delivery times are. Of course, all this must be specified in the contract.
• Respect for delivery deadlines: if the proofreader has set deadlines, he must comply with them, but the author must also accept and respect them, without pressuring him or asking for daily updates.
• Resolution of doubts: at first it will be the proofreader who asks for information about the target audience or the intention of the text, which will help him to correct it properly. The author must answer these questions precisely. Once the text is delivered, the proofreader will be the one who, beyond the review, must deliver an attached document with the pertinent explanations.
• Feedback: Corrections can sometimes be seen as criticism or attacks, but it is important for the author to understand that this is not the case. He must therefore be open to that feedback and accept the corrections for what they are: improvements in the quality of his text and a learning opportunity.

"Your best teacher is the last mistake you made."

–Ralph Nader

Benefits of opting for a professional correction

Whoever publishes a book does so with certain expectations. He wants the book to be read and, above all, to connect with its readers. For this, in addition to the story and the content itself, the form and how everything is written is important.

How a proofreader can improve the quality of your work?

To ensure that these aspects, and many others, are met, we have seen that the solution is in the text editor. Whether with Lorca Editor-type software or by hiring a human proofreader, there are many advantages of text correction:

• It provides credibility and professionalism in publications: something that any self-published author wants to achieve so that their book stands out from the rest and is not seen as of lower quality or as written by an "amateur."
• Improves the readability and fluency of the text: an error (of any kind) can be like a bump in reading. The reader will then have to reread a part or think about whether something is well written or not, when the objective is that his only concern is to enjoy the text.
• Reduction of errors that could affect the interpretation of the content: in addition to giving a bad look, an error can create misunderstandings or ambiguities. 
• Saving time and money: doing a single revision by hand will involve overlooked errors that you will not detect until you already have printed copies. Imagine having to print a new batch of books and throw away all the previous ones because of a blunder that a professional correction would have fixed in time. That is wasting time and money.
• Adaptation to style and standards: in addition to adapting the style to the public, there are texts that must also adapt to standards. This occurs with academic texts that are going to be published in specialized media, such as a scientific journal. A proofreader (digital or human) is aware of these standards and ensures that the text conforms to them.
• Learning: receiving corrections and suggestions about your own text implies not only improving that specific text, but also your writing.

Despite all these advantages, do you decide to carry out the correction yourself? Then we advise you not only to use a free tool, but also to invest in a concealer course. Even if you don't want to work as a professional, you can apply the learning to your own text. Some of the best schools for this are Calame & Cram or Escritores.org.

Proofreading: an essential factor in the success of your self-published book

As if it were a magic wand, although with little magic and a lot of professionalism behind it, correcting a text will make your book shine.

Especially if you are going to self-publish, after so much effort and investment in your work, you do not want anything to spoil it or for anything to cast doubt on its quality and your reputation as an author. To make this happen, trust a proofreader, whether human or digital or a combination of both.

When your text is complete and corrected, you can hire professional printing services. You will do so with the confidence that what you are about to publish is worthwhile and ready for readers to enjoy. At Collabra we will be happy to accompany you during this and other phases of the self-publishing process, because like you we want to seek and find excellence in our publications.