Proofreading Basics: An Essential Guide for First-Time Authors, Editors, Proofreaders, and Publishers

Every book is an opportunity to improve the author’s reputation and credibility.

If you know how to write a sentence that sounds good and notice when someone forgets the period or closing parenthesis, does that make you a proofreader? It could—but there’s more to proofreading than recognizing the errors.

You can find excellent books that teach grammar, punctuation, and style rules. But knowing the rules isn’t the same as knowing how to proofread effectively, strengthen writing, or prioritize the most critical errors.

Proofreading Basics is your guide to tackling a book manuscript or interior file with confidence. Learn what to focus on first, how to handle sentences that follow the rules but still don’t sound quite right, and—most importantly—the mindset needed to adapt your approach to each project. Whether you're polishing your own work or refining someone else’s, this book will help you elevate your proofreading skills and ensure every book you touch is the best it can be.

Here’s what you’ll gain from Proofreading Basics:

• A step-by-step guide to the proofreading process—from the moment you receive a manuscript to the final quality check
• An understanding of the most important errors to identify and correct
• A clear breakdown of the differences between a pre-design and a post-design proofread
• Practical strategies for using Microsoft Word effectively, including tracking changes, electronic searches, and leveraging the all-important navigation pane
• A comprehensive checklist to ensure print-ready files meet professional quality standards

Proofreading done well is an art that combines precision, accuracy, judgment, and collaboration.

Jennifer Regner has been writing, editing, and proofreading nonfiction books for over a decade. Her love of the English language and reading, along with a technical background in chemical analysis and research was an excellent foundation for a second career in the nonfiction book publishing industry. She has written, edited, and proofread dozens of books to produce easy-to-read, award-winning books on topics such as commercial real estate investing, nutrition and wellness, and the application of behavioral assessments such as DISC, driving forces, and acumen (value) in the workplace.