Proofreading and editing are two processes that are employed in the writing world. Both editing and proofreading take place at the end of the writing process. They typically focus on a lot of the same things, a lot of the time (i.e. punctuation, grammar, spelling). What is the difference? In most instances both proofreading and copy editing are done at the close of a manuscript editing to rectify any grammatical or typographical errors that may have been present or made throughout the writing process.

However, some authors feel that proofreading should be conducted before the final draft of an article or manuscript to spot any errors before the copyediting begins. Some authors even suggest that proofreading is riskier than eliminating sentences or words. A copy editor can fix typos and other mistakes that could still cause the structural integrity of the manuscript to be compromised if they are not involved in the process of copyediting. This concept basically states that even although a copy editor may correct errors, there is still meaning and information in the original text. Because of this, proofreading the manuscript allows for more accuracy and continuity throughout the written work.

A Chicago Manual style of copy editing must be utilized by writers to determine whether the editing is done correctly. First grammar and punctuation have to be flawless. Additionally spelling and grammar must be correct. Chicago Manual style of copy editing is basically an outline of the standard style. It typically follows "The Golden Rule" for writing and says that you must write from your heart and give readers a an underlying sense of warmth and connection to the content written.

Both the editor as well as the reader must understand that copy editing is more than proofreading. While the editor is doing this task but the reader has to perform some work. An editor who is skilled in proofreading and formatting can detect mistakes that could impact the final manuscript.

Proofreading goes beyond catching typos and grammatical errors - it also includes the detection of punctuation errors and sentence construction. It is crucial for proofreaders to be aware of when to use italics and what specific rules to use in every situation. Chicago Manual writers often have an established guideline for how to properly proofread and format their papers. This can be a case of essays, introductions, or business plan. Sometimes writers aren't allowed to go over such content until they've handed in their work to a Chicago copy editing service. It is the responsibility of the writer, to ensure that the editing service captures all aspects of punctuation and grammar.
Proofreading

A proofreading service must not just catch typographical errors, but also mistakes in the organization and reference of the information. Certain typesetting systems allow references to be added after a section or an article, making it easier for the reader to see where the referred to information is. However, often the same information could be put anywhere in the document, making it harder for readers to locate where the reference is. To avoid this problem editors who are professionals make sure that all references are included in the text even if the location is off on the bottom of the page or even a few pages down.

After editing and proofreading the material, it's the duty of a copyeditor to go through the material and again to find any errors that remain. This is even more critical when the person doing the editing is a native English speaker. A native English speaker can often catch mistakes in documents or writing more quickly than an non-native English speaking person. However, there are some situations when this isn't the case, especially in copyediting work that has already gone through the process many times. In these cases the copyeditors must return to their desks and read the documents several times in order to identify any inconsistencies that were not noticed during the initial editing process.

Professional proofreaders should pay attention to any errors or typos. A proofreader could misspell a word or create mistakes, which could cause serious issues. This is also true for making any kind of modifications to the information in a document. It can be extremely difficult to rectify errors in spelling and grammar particularly if you employ a freelance proofreader. Therefore, in addition to catching these types of errors, professional proofreaders must pay attention to anything that reads like the typical English writing errors that would be completely ignored by a non-native English speaker.