Visual Codes - Proofreaders Marks - Free Printable

This image is a reference chart for Proofreader's Marks. These are special symbols used by editors and proofreaders to mark corrections on printed text before it is published. Instead of writing out long instructions like "please make this word bold" or "move this line up," they use these quick shorthand symbols in the margins and on the text itself.

Since you didn't ask a specific question, here is a breakdown of how to read this chart so you can understand what each symbol means:

How to Read the Chart

The chart is divided into columns. Usually, the left side shows the symbol drawn in the margin (the empty space on the side of the page), and the middle/right sections show symbols drawn directly on the text or specific abbreviations.

Here are the most common marks grouped by what they do:

#### 1. Spacing and Alignment
* # (Hash/Pound sign): Insert a space. If you see this between two words that are stuck together, it means "put a space here."
* Horizontal lines through a space: Close up the space (remove extra space).
* Vertical lines with arrows (↔ or similar): Adjust spacing to be equal or correct.
* Bent arrow or hook: Move something up, down, left, or right. For example, a mark under a letter might mean "push this down."

#### 2. Text Changes
* Circle with a line through it (or similar deletion mark): Delete or take out. If a word is crossed out with a loop, it needs to be removed.
* Caret (^) or Slash (/): Insert something. If you see a caret between words, look at the margin to see what letter or word should be added there.
* Underline with a wavy line (~): Make the text bold.
* Single underline: Make the text *italic*.
* Double underline: Make the text small caps (like THIS but smaller).
* Three underlines: Make the text ALL CAPS.
* Circle around a letter: Change the font or fix a defective/broken letter.

#### 3. Punctuation Marks
Many punctuation marks have specific proofreading symbols because they are small and hard to see when handwritten in margins.
* Comma: Looks like a comma with a slash through it or a specific squiggle.
* Period: A circle with a dot inside, or just a heavy dot.
* Question Mark: A "Q" shape or a specific bracketed symbol.
* Quotation Marks: Often shown as two small commas or ticks above the text.
* Hyphen/Dash: A short horizontal line or a longer one depending on if it’s a hyphen or an em-dash.

#### 4. Common Abbreviations in Margins
* stet: This is Latin for "let it stand." If you deleted something but then changed your mind, you write "stet" and put dots under the text you want to keep. It tells the printer, "Ignore my previous delete mark; keep this text."
* tr.: Transpose. Swap the order of two letters or words (e.g., changing "teh" to "the").
* cap: Capitalize.
* l.c.: Lower case.
* ital: Italicize.
* rom: Roman (regular, non-italic font).
* wf: Wrong font. The letter looks different from the rest of the text.

Why Use These?

Before computers, all typing was done on typewriters or by hand. Editors would print out drafts and mark them up with red pen using these symbols. The typesetter (the person who arranged the metal letters for printing) would then look at the marks and fix the text accordingly. Even today, some editors still use these marks on printed proofs because it’s faster than typing comments for every tiny error.

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Final Answer:
The image is a Proofreader's Marks chart, which provides a standardized set of symbols and abbreviations used to indicate corrections in printed text. Key symbols include:
- # for inserting a space
- Loop/cross-out for deleting text
- Wavy underline for bold text
- Single underline for italics
- stet to keep text that was previously marked for deletion
- tr. to swap the position of two characters or words
These marks allow editors to clearly communicate changes to typesetters without rewriting entire sentences.