Proofreading Course
The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course Blog
  • Home
  • Proofreading Course
  • About the Author
  • Reviews
    • FAQ
  • Proofreading Exercises
  • Proofreading Stuff
    • How to Become a Proofreader
    • Proofreading Marks AKA Proofreading Symbols
    • Proofreading Test
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Store

6/7/2010

Great Proof Readers Know How to Compromise

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Proofreading Course Tips
As you’ll know if you’ve read The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course or popped into the ‘About the Author’ page on this site, as well as actively working as a proof reader, I also spent two years working as an Operations Manager for the UK’s largest home shopping business, Shop Direct. During this time, I was responsible for overseeing the production of thousands of pages each year, from design, through repro, and finally on to print (or upload, in the case of the numerous websites). Crucial to this process were the proof readers, ensuring pages were presented to the public free from error.

Now, producing pages free from error was one goal (and, it goes without saying, an important one). Another (arguably more important) goal was getting the pages to press on time. Launch dates are crucial to any business with a vast amount of tightly coordinated marketing activity planned to orbit around such launches. As for ‘to press’ dates, these are, quite simply, set in stone. To miss them is to invite very hefty fines. I’ve known fines of as much as £20,000. Per day.

So, as an Operations Manager, I was balancing the need for quality with the need to hit all scheduled milestone dates on time.

This called for compromise.

As a proof reader, particularly if you find yourself working for a commercially driven organisation (and few organisations aren’t commercially driven in one way or another), you’ll be called upon to compromise.

This means identifying corrections that absolutely must be carried out and those which are ‘nice to do’. It’s going to hurt a little, I’m afraid, but you’re just going to have to be strong.

Examples of the kinds of things that absolutely must be carried out include:

•    Spelling errors
•    Factual inaccuracies
•    Incorrect information (e.g. contact details)
•    Lack of clarity (and other ‘customer unfriendly’ copy)
•    Anything that might bring the business into disrepute

Examples of the kinds of things that are ‘nice to do’ include:

•    Stylistic inconsistencies
•    Hyphen usage
•    Split infinitives and other slight deviations from the strictest rules of English grammar
•    Personal bugbears (e.g. you might be irked by the overuse of adverbs)

When marking up a proof, use two different coloured pens, one red and one green. The red marks are crucial, the green ‘nice to do’. This enables you to demonstrate to your employer that you haven’t missed anything and at the same time lets them know that you fully appreciate the need for schedule adherence.

When I was an Operations Manager, one of my duties was carrying out performance reviews. Those proof readers that showed an appreciation of matters beyond the scope of their day-to-day activities (i.e. recognised that they were part of a greater whole) always receives glowing appraisals.

And, hopefully, so will you.

Share

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

Details
    Testimonials
    “I am one of those many fools who paid a huge amount of money for a useless course. This book... has opened so many doors for me. I now look on Mike as my mentor as I embark on a career. Thank you Mike.” 
    Emma Steel, Proofreader and International Structural Editor.

    “ I thoroughly enjoyed the course and am so glad that I decided to take it... the whole experience was invaluable. My proofreading service is now well established and your course played no small part in getting it off the ground.”
    Hache L. Jones, Proofreader.

    “I'd just like to thank you first of all for writing such a great, straight forward eBook, and then going above and beyond what I would even expect as a customer by providing us, completely free of charge, updated versions months later!” 
    Rachel Gee, Trainee Proofreader.

    “What can I say? Worth every penny and then some! God Bless! This a fabulous course.” 
    Teresa Richardson, Proofreader.

    ​“As someone who has effectively been proofreading for thirty years, I found Mike’s No-Nonsense Proofreading Course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of this discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it as the ideal starting point, and much more besides.”

    ​Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.

    Blog Author

    My name's Mike Sellars and I'm an experienced proofreader and the author of The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course. Click here to find out more about me.

    Proofreading Course Author, Mike Sellars
    My Google+ Profile

    RSS Feed

    The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course

    $53.99
    View Details

    A Fraction of the Cost of Other Proofreading Courses


    NOTE: Stock is currently limited to 10 per day, so we can continue to deliver exceptional after-sales service, answer queries and provide open-door support.


    • Learn to proofread like a professional
    • 30 years of experience distilled into a single easy-to-follow package
    • Over 1,000 pages of FREE bonus eBooks and learning materials
    • 30-day money-back 100% satisfaction guarantee
    • Follow my advice and you will earn your money back in just two hours!
    • Download it now and start learning and earning right away.
    • I operate a virtual 'open door' policy after purchase, generally answering any and all email queries and concerns within 48 hours and usually sooner.


    Credit card and PayPal payments accepted.


    “As someone who has been proofreading for 30 years, I found Mike’s course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of the discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.” Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.


    Still want to find out more? Click here.

    Proofreading Categories

    All
    A World Without Proofreaders
    A World Without Proof Readers
    Barack Obama Spelling Mistake
    Copy Editing
    Copy Editor
    Digital Proofreading
    Do Proofreaders Need Good Grammar
    Editing
    Embarrassing Spelling Mistakes
    English Usage
    Eye Care
    Freelance Proofreading
    Free Proofreading Course
    Free Proofreading Exercises
    Fun
    Grammar
    Hyphenation Rules
    If Proof Readers Ruled The World
    If Proofreaders Ruled The World
    International Proofreading
    Merchandise
    Off Topic
    Off-Topic
    Online Proofreading
    Proofreader
    Proof Reader
    Proof Reader Merchandise
    Proof-reader Or Proof Reader
    Proofreaders
    Proof Readers
    Proof Readers Equipment
    Proof Readers\' Equipment
    Proofreading
    Proofreading 101
    Proofreading Advice
    Proofreading And Women
    Proofreading Careers
    Proofreading Course
    Proofreading Course Bulletin
    Proofreading Course Discount
    Proofreading Courses
    Proofreading Ebook
    Proofreading Exercises
    Proofreading Fiction
    Proofreading Job Interview
    Proofreading Jobs
    Proofreading Joke
    Proofreading Qualifications
    Proofreading Resumes
    Proofreading Scam
    Proofreading Software
    Proofreading Test
    Proofreading Testimonials
    Proof Reading Tips
    Proofreading Tips
    Proofreading Vacancies
    Punctuation
    Scam Warning
    Second Edition
    Spell Check
    Spell Checkers
    Spelling Errors
    Spelling Fail
    Spelling Mistakes
    Working From Home

    Proofreading Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    March 2019
    February 2019
    March 2018
    July 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

  • Home
  • Proofreading Course
  • About the Author
  • Reviews
    • FAQ
  • Proofreading Exercises
  • Proofreading Stuff
    • How to Become a Proofreader
    • Proofreading Marks AKA Proofreading Symbols
    • Proofreading Test
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Store