Glossary
Proofreader Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential proofreader terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key proofreader vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in proofreader training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Consistency
- Same style throughout.
- Copy deck
- Approved text.
- Errata
- List of errors.
- Final proof
- Last review copy.
- First proof
- First review copy.
- Hyphenation
- Breaking words.
- Layout
- Page arrangement.
- Print-ready
- Prepared for printing.
- Proof
- Review copy.
- Proofreading marks
- Standard correction symbols.
- Query
- Question to the author.
- Stet
- Leave as is.
- Style guide
- Rules for consistency.
- Typo
- Typing error.
- Typography
- Use of type.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Proofreader practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Proofreader training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.