Proofreading Marks and How to Use Them--Grammar Tutorial - Free Printable

The image you've uploaded is a proofreading marks chart created by *Sharon Watson* from her website *Writing with Sharon Watson*. This chart explains common proofreading symbols used to edit and revise written work. Below is a detailed explanation of each proofreading mark, its meaning, how it's applied, and the result.

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🔍 Understanding Proofreading Marks

Proofreading marks are standardized symbols used by editors and writers to indicate corrections in text. They help clarify what changes need to be made without rewriting entire sentences.

Let’s go through each row:

| Mark | What It Means | How to Use It | Result |
|--------|-------------------|-------------------|------------|
| `⁠` (a slash through text) | Take it out (delete) | Cross out extra words or letters | "Give it it to me." → "Give it to me." |
| `⁠` or `⁠` | Take it out (delete) | Used for deleting words or phrases | "Use a picture, or school ID." → "Use a picture or school ID." |
| `⁠` | Close the gap | Draw a line between two separated letters/words | "abo ut" → "about" |
| `⁠` | Close the gap | Connect split parts of a word | "proof read" → "proofread" |
| `⁠` | Capitalize | Place above the letter that needs capitalization | "Sydney Opera house" → "Sydney Opera House" |
| `⁠` | Make lowercase | Slash through uppercase letter | "the President’s job" → "the president’s job" |
| `⁠` | Add (insert) | Place above where the missing word should go | “No” she said. → “No,” she said. |
| `⁠` | Add (insert) apostrophe | Place above where an apostrophe is needed | "Coras painting" → "Cora’s painting" |
| `⁠` | Add (insert) a letter | Place above the missing letter | "sking" → "skiing" |
| `⁠` | Add (insert) a word | Place above where the word should go | "When I my head" → "When I nod my head" |
| `⁠` | Add (insert) words | Write the missing words above the line | "The peas today." → "The peas are ripe today." |
| `⁠` | Transpose | Swap two elements (e.g., letters or words) | "There is it again." → "There it is again." |
| `⁠` | Italicize | Underline the text to make it italic | "The Scarlet Letter" → *The Scarlet Letter* |
| `⁠` | New paragraph | Place at the beginning of a new paragraph | Split into two paragraphs: "They sneeze only at night." and "The next day..." |
| `⁠` | No new paragraph (connect sentences) | Draw a curved line connecting two sentences | Combine: "He builds castles. They are made completely of sand." → "He builds castles. They are made completely of sand." |
| `⁠` | Check spelling | Circle the word and write "SP" | "imput" → "input" |
| `⁠` | Spell out | Circle the abbreviation and write "SP" | "Gen. Ramirez" → "General Ramirez" |

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✔ Key Takeaways

- These marks are essential for efficient editing.
- They are commonly used in academic writing, publishing, and professional editing.
- Each symbol has a specific purpose to avoid confusion during revisions.
- The "result" column shows the corrected version after applying the mark.

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📝 Example Practice

Suppose you have this sentence:
> "i went to the store and bought some apples."

Using proofreading marks:
- `⁠` over "i" → capitalize → "I"
- `⁠` after "store" → add comma → "store,"
- `⁠` before "and" → insert space → "store, and"

Final result:
"I went to the store, and bought some apples."

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💡 Why Use Proofreading Marks?

1. Clarity: Editors can clearly see what changes are needed.
2. Efficiency: Saves time compared to rewriting.
3. Standardization: Everyone understands the same symbols.

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This chart is a great educational tool for students, teachers, and writers learning how to edit effectively. It emphasizes precision and attention to detail—key skills in strong writing.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or want to practice using these marks!