Proofreading marks are symbols used to denote corrections to a manuscript. Many editors today use “track changes” features on various software programs and add comments in the margins, but there are some who prefer to work with the physical pages and that’s where these marks come in. They are often seen on “proofed galleys,” and are an industry standard for marking final corrections before preparing a book for publication.
These handwritten marks are usually made in red ink in the margins, or along the lines of each page, and can look like alien script at first glance. However, with just a small amount of familiarity, you can make productive use of the feedback and convert the squiggles and dashes into concrete improvements to your work.
In this article, I will go over some common proofreading marks you may encounter, suggest a few ways you can commission a proofed galley, and finally leave you with a Story Weapon on how to productively handle seeing your pages covered in red.
Proofreading marks are symbols editors use to indicate corrections, formatting changes, and revisions on a manuscript before publication. This article explains common proofreading marks, how writers can work with professional proofers, and why understanding these edits makes the publishing process less intimidating. Ultimately, proofreading marks are tools for refinement that help transform a draft into a polished, publishable book.
Common proofreading marks
One of the most common marks you’ll see is the caret, a ^ shape in the line. It simply means “insert here,” and the missing word or punctuation will be written in the margin above it. So if an editor writes “I went ^ home” with “back” in the margin, they’re telling you to change the sentence to “I went back home.”
Another small but important mark is the word “stet,” which is Latin for “let it stand.” If an editor marks a change and then later writes “stet” next to it, they’re telling you to ignore their correction and keep your original phrasing. It’s essentially a way of saying, “On second thought, your version was better.”
A “delete” mark indicates, unsurprisingly, that something should be removed. On paper, this is often a loop or a line through the word with a small “dele” or “del” in the margin. In plain language, it just means: cut this word, letter, or piece of punctuation.
You may also see a mark telling you to close up a space. It is used when two words that should be together have been separated, such as “in side” instead of “inside.” The editor will usually draw a pair of curved lines between the characters, and note that the space should be removed.
The symbol ¶ (a pilcrow) is used to indicate a new paragraph. When it appears in the margin, it means “start a new paragraph here.” You may also see the opposite: a note telling you to combine two paragraphs if the break isn’t necessary. That might look like a curved line (resembling a sideways ‘S’) connecting the end of the first paragraph to the beginning of the next. The editor will then write ‘no ¶’ or ‘run in’ in the margin to confirm the break should be removed.
Another useful mark is “tr” for transpose, which means “swap the order.” It can apply to two letters or entire words.
If you see a horizontal S-shape that weaves over the first word and under the second, it’s telling you to reverse them for clarity or rhythm.
Finally, you may see “sp” to flag a spelling issue, or indicate that something should be spelled out rather than abbreviated. It’s a simple reminder that a word looks off and needs to be checked.
You don’t need to memorize every symbol in the proofreader’s toolkit. If you learn a handful of the most common marks, you’ll be able to make sense of most edited pages you receive.
How to commission a proofed galley
If you’re working toward publication, one way to get comfortable with proofreading marks is to have a professional proofreader or editor mark up your manuscript. Many freelance editors still work in a way that mimics traditional galleys: they’ll comment in the margins, track changes, and sometimes use the same shorthand on a .doc file that they would once have used on paper.
You can commission these editors through a variety of online marketplaces.
Fiverr offers a wide range of proofreaders and copy editors at various price points. However, it’s worth reading their sample work carefully, as consistency of quality is always an issue when hiring from the general marketplace.
Sites like Upwork can connect you with freelance professionals — working more like a job board, where you post a project, and editors apply.
Reedsy is an additional marketplace of editors who have been vetted, and many of whom have worked with top publishing houses. Because of the higher standard and experience level on Reedsy, it’s typically the most expensive option.
In addition to these marketplaces, you can also find specialized book‑editing services. These teams understand the publishing world, and can return a marked‑up manuscript that looks and feels like a traditional proof. Our in-house editors, for instance, will review your work and return a proofed galley with corrections and comments, giving you a clear, line‑by‑line map of what to fix and why.
Another way you may encounter a proofed galley is during the formal publishing process itself. In traditional publishing, once your manuscript has gone through the main rounds of editorial work, it is typeset and prepared for printing. At that stage, a proof is created so that any remaining errors and formatting issues can be caught before the book goes to the printers.
The exact tools and symbols vary from house to house, and much of this work now happens on screen rather than on paper, but the underlying idea is the same: someone goes through the text with a fine‑toothed comb and marks what needs to change.
As the author, you may be asked to review some of these proofs yourself, especially to catch lingering typos, continuity slips, or small factual errors. Even if the marks show up digitally as comments and tracked changes, rather than red pen on paper, understanding the basic language of insert, delete, “stet,” and ¶ will make the whole process feel much less daunting, especially if it’s your first interaction with professional editors at a publishing house.
You can also simulate a proofed galley on your own. Print out a copy of your manuscript and read it with a pen in hand, using a few of the basic symbols listed earlier in this article. Circle a misspelled word, mark a caret where an addition is needed, or draw a pilcrow where a new paragraph should begin. Seeing your work in a physical, marked‑up form can give you a fresh perspective, and help you search for mistakes with a clearer eye.
Your story weapon: Getting in the right mindset
The most important lesson you can take from a proofed galley is how to move past the initial discomfort of seeing your pages covered in marks. Reviewing a manuscript full of unfamiliar symbols and suggested edits can activate every fear and insecurity you have as a writer.
Don’t be alarmed. Even the best books on the market were subject to substantial edits and rewrites. Beyond the initial discomfort, you may find that the “red‑ink” changes are in fact pure gold: they’re the adjustments you, as the author, could never have spotted alone.
They may be the exact set of edits that bring your book to its fullest potential. Once you accept this, you can start calmly working your way through these proofreading marks, one change at a time.
Proofreading marks are not a judgment of your ability, but a language of refinement that helps transform a finished draft into a publishable work. If you are ready to navigate your work from draft to polished revision, join one of my next workshops: The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, Story Day.
