The Art of Proofreading: A Step-by-Step Checklist
February 06, 2026
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1 min read
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Proofreading is the final quality check before your writing reaches its audience. A systematic approach catches errors that casual reading misses.
Proofreading Checklist
Spelling & Grammar
- Check for commonly confused words (their/there/they're, your/you're)
- Verify subject-verb agreement
- Look for sentence fragments and run-ons
- Check pronoun references
Punctuation
- Verify comma usage (especially in compound sentences and lists)
- Check apostrophe placement
- Ensure quotation marks are properly paired
Formatting & Consistency
- Verify heading hierarchy
- Check consistent capitalization in titles
- Confirm citation style consistency
- Review number formatting (spelled out vs. numerals)
Pro Tips
- Read your text aloud—you'll hear errors your eyes skip
- Read backward (sentence by sentence) to focus on individual sentences
- Take a break before proofreading—fresh eyes catch more
- Print it out—formatting errors are easier to spot on paper
Start with our online proofreader for automated error detection, then do a manual review.