Proofreading marks and editing symbols: what each one means, and how to use them on your book
Proofreading marks are a shorthand for corrections: a mark in the text to show where, and a note in the margin to show what. Here are the common ones in plain words, how to read an edited page, and how the same corrections look in Word and on a PDF proof. For US book publishing, the reference chart is in The Chicago Manual of Style.
How a marked-up page works
Most corrections have two parts. A mark in the line of text shows exactly where the change goes: a caret for an insertion, a line through for a deletion. A note in the margin, beside that line, says what to do: the letters to add, or a symbol for the change. When a line has more than one correction, the margin notes run in the same order as the marks, separated by slashes.
The Chicago Manual of Style publishes the standard chart of proofreaders' marks for US book publishing (figure 2.6 of its 18th edition) and groups them into three kinds: operational marks (insert, delete, move), typographical marks (capitals, italics, fonts) and punctuation marks. Publishers and editors sometimes use their own variations, so if your editor's marks differ from the ones below, ask for their key.
The common marks
| Mark or margin note | What it means | How it looks in the text |
|---|---|---|
| Caret (‸ or ^) | Insert something here; the margin note says what | A small upside-down V under the line where the addition goes |
| Delete (a looped stroke, often written “del”) | Take this out | A line through the letters or words |
| Close up (two curved lines) | Remove the space | Curves above and below the gap, like “proof reading” becoming “proofreading” |
| # | Insert a space | A caret or vertical line where the space goes |
| ¶ | Start a new paragraph | The symbol, or a bracket, before the first word of the new paragraph |
| No ¶ (or “run in”) | Join this paragraph to the one before | A line connecting the end of one paragraph to the start of the next |
| tr | Transpose: swap the order | A curving line that loops around the letters or words to switch |
| stet | Let it stand: ignore the correction | Dots under the words that should stay as they were |
| cap | Make this a capital letter | Three short lines under the letter |
| lc | Make this lowercase | A slash through the capital letter |
| sc | Set in small capitals | Two short lines under the letters |
| ital | Set in italics | One line under the words |
| bf | Set in bold | A wavy line under the words |
| rom | Set in roman: remove italics or bold | A circle around the words |
| sp | Spell out: write the number or abbreviation in full | A circle around “3” or “Dr.” |
| wf | Wrong font: this character is in the wrong typeface or size | A circle around the character |
| Move left / right ([ or ]) | Shift the text to the left or right | A bracket on the side it should move to |
| Center (][) | Center the line | Brackets on both sides of the text |
| Punctuation in the margin | Insert a comma, period, apostrophe or quotation mark | A caret in the text; commas and periods are often circled, apostrophes and quotation marks set in a small inverted V |
| ? or “query” (often circled) | A question for the author, not a correction | A circled note in the margin: “Au: is this the right date?” |
Plain-language descriptions written by Scribe Media from common US proofreading practice. Exact symbols vary by editor and publisher; The Chicago Manual of Style's proofreaders' marks chart is the usual reference.
The same corrections on screen
You may never see a hand-marked page. Two kinds of file carry most corrections today:
- Word with Track Changes. Copyediting usually happens here. Insertions and deletions show in color, and queries appear as comments. You accept or reject each change, and answer each query in a reply. There is no need to learn the symbols for this stage.
- Comments on a PDF. Proofreading usually happens on the designed pages, as a PDF. Corrections are made with comment and markup tools: strike through to delete, an insert note for additions, highlights with a note for anything else. The abbreviations from the chart (stet, tr, lc, cap) still save space in those notes.
See copyediting vs. proofreading for which stage does what.
Marking your own proofs
- Ask for the key first. If your designer or publisher wants a particular set of marks or a particular PDF tool, use theirs.
- Mark only errors. At proof stage, every change can move lines and pages. Rewriting a paragraph now can push text onto the next page and break the layout.
- Make every mark unmistakable. One correction per note, written so someone who has never met you cannot misread it. If in doubt, write it out in words.
- Keep queries separate from corrections. A question is not an instruction. Circle it or mark it as a query so it is not typeset by mistake.
- Check the corrected pages. Confirm each fix went in, and that nothing around it moved.
The proofreading checklist covers everything to check on the designed pages, and proofreading practice lets you try it on a sample.
Start here: open your proof, pick five marks from the table, and use only those plus plain words for anything else.
Common questions
What are proofreading marks?
Short symbols and abbreviations an editor or proofreader writes on a page to show a correction: insert this, delete that, start a new paragraph, swap these letters. Each correction usually has a mark in the text, showing where, and a note in the margin, showing what.
Is there a standard set of proofreading marks?
For US book publishing, the usual reference is the chart of proofreaders' marks in The Chicago Manual of Style, figure 2.6 of the 18th edition, which groups them into operational marks, typographical marks and punctuation marks. Publishers and editors may have their own variations, so ask for their key.
What does stet mean in editing?
Stet is Latin for "let it stand." It cancels a correction: the original wording stays. It is usually written in the margin, with dots under the words that should stay as they were.
What does tr mean in proofreading?
Transpose: swap the order of the marked letters or words. The text is marked with a curving line that loops around the items to switch.
Do editors still use proofreading marks?
On paper proofs, yes. Much book editing now happens in Word with Track Changes, and proofs of designed pages are often marked up as comments on a PDF. The symbols are less common on screen, but the abbreviations (stet, tr, lc, cap) still turn up in comments, so it helps to know them.
Sources: The Chicago Manual of Style Online, Proofreaders' Marks (taken from figure 2.6 of the 18th edition; operational, typographical and punctuation marks), read October 28, 2026. Plain-language descriptions, the table and the tips were written by Scribe Media. Published by Scribe Media.