Table of Symbols for Proof Correction

Notes on the use of symbols

For correcting proofs

All corrections should be distinct and made in ink in the margins; marks made in the text should be those indicating the place to which the correction refers.

Where several corrections occur in one line, they should be divided between the left and right margins, the order being from left to right in both margins, and the individual marks should be separated by a concluding mark.

Two horizontal lines. 2pt, hash, forwards slash with leg. (Underlined and ove lined) Class of service Main Sub Sub-(crossed out)Office. Section underlined, forwards slash with leg. w.f., X, (Circled R, N and /) Receipt Note Number / Stamp. Upside down T.

When an alteration is desired in a character, word or words, the existing character, word or words should be struck through, and the character to be substituted written in the margin followed by a /.

Where it is desired to change one character only to a capital letter, the word ‘cap’ should be written in the margin. Where, however, it is desired to change more than one character, or a word or words, in a particular line to capitals, then one marginal reference, ‘caps’, should suffice, with the appropriate symbols made in the text as required.

Three periods or full stops (constituting an ellipsis, see No. 61) should be used to indicate an omission, except where the preceding sentence has been concluded, in which case four full stops should be inserted, the first of which should be close up to the preceding word.

Normally, only matter actually to be inserted or added to the existing text should be written on the proof. If, however, any comments or instructions are written on the proof, they should be encircled, and preceded by the word PRINTER (in capitals and underlined).

* Extracted from British Standard 1219

(Words in italics in the marginal marks column are instructions and not part of the marks)

No. Instruction Textual mark Marginal mark
1 Correction is concluded None Forward slash
2 Insert in text the matter indicated in margin Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h New matter followed by Forward slash
3 Delete Strike through characters to be deleted d connected to a 7 at the top
4 Delete and close up Strike through character to be deleted and use mark 21 d connected to a 7 at the top with brackets on top and bottom
5 Leave as printed Set of four dots ellipsis under characters to remain Stet
6 Change to italic Single underline under characters to be altered Ital
7 Change to even small capitals Double underline under characters to be altered s.c.
8 Change to capital letters Triple underline under characters to be altered caps
9 Use capital letters for initial letters and small capitals for rest of words Triple underline under initial letters and
Double underline under the rest of the words		 c.&s.c.
10 Change to bold type Wavey up and down underline under characters to be altered bold
11 Change to lower case Encircle characters to be altered l.c.
12 Change to roman type Encircle characters to be altered rom
13 Wrong fount. Replace by letter of correct fount Encircle characters to be altered w.f.
14 Invert type Encircle character to be altered Swirl spiral in the shape of a 9
15 Change damaged character(s) Encircle character(s) to be altered X checkmark
16 Substitute or insert character(s) under which this mark is placed, in ‘superior’ position Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required 7 shape under character (e.g. 7 shape example with x ontop )
17 Substitute or insert character(s) over which this mark is placed, in ‘inferior’ position Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Upwards chevron hat shape over character (e.g. Upwards chevron hat shape example with x below )
18 Underline word or words Single underline under words affected The word underline
19 Use ligature (e.g. ffi) or diphthong (e.g. ce) Circle brackets top and bottom enclosing letters to be altered Circle brackets top and bottom enclosing ligature or diphthong required
20 Substitute separate letters for ligature or diphthong Forward slash through ligature or diphthong to be altered write out separate letters followed by Forward slash
21 Close up—delete space between characters Circle brackets top and bottom linking characters Circle brackets top and bottom
22 Insert space* Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Pound or hashtag symbol
23 Insert space between lines or paragraphs* Chevron right shape or greater than symbol between lines to be spaced Pound or hashtag symbol
24 Reduce space between lines* Left circle bracket connecting lines to be closed up less Pound or hashtag symbol
25 Make space appear equal between words Forward slash between words eq Pound or hashtag symbol
26 Reduce space between words* Forward slash between words less Pound or hashtag symbol
27 Add space between letters* 5 short vertical lines between tops of letters requiring space letter Pound or hashtag symbol
28 Transpose Square boxed line that resembles the letters UN stuck together. Line travels down, right, up, right, down in uniform amounts. between characters or words, numbered when necessary trs
29 Place in centre of line Indicate position with Square boxed corners top left and top right centre
30 Indent one em Square boxed line that travels down, left, down, right, down in uniform amounts. Small square box
31 Indent two ems Square boxed line that travels down, left double length, down, right double length, down. Two small square boxes stuck together
32 Move matter to right Square boxed line that travels down, left, down, right, down in uniform amounts. at left side of group to be moved Square boxed line that travels down, left, down, right, down in uniform amounts.
33 Move matter to left Square boxed line that travels down, right, down, left, down in uniform amounts. at right side of group to be moved Square boxed line that travels down, right, down, left, down in uniform amounts.
34 Move matter to position indicated Long square left and right brackets at limits of required position move
35 Take over character(s) or line to next line, column or page Long square left bracket take over
36 Take back character(s) or line to previous line, column or page Long square right bracket take back
37 Raise lines† Horizontal line with arrow pointing to it from below over lines to be moved
Raised squared box line travels right, up, right three times, down, right. under lines to be moved		 raise
38 Lower lines† Horizontal line with arrow pointing to it from above over lines to be moved
Depressed squared box line travels right, down, right three times, up, right. under lines to be moved		 lower
39 Correct the vertical alignment Two vertical lines Two vertical lines
40 Straighten lines Two horizontal lines through lines to be straightened Two horizontal lines
41 Push down space Encircle space affected Square box line, upside T of equal lengths for each point.
42 Begin a new paragraph Short left square bracket before first word of new paragraph n.p.
43 No fresh paragraph here Long stretched out mirrored S shape between paragraphs run on
44 Spell out the abbreviation or figure in full Encircle words or figures to be altered spell out
45 Insert omitted portion of copy‡ Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h out see copy
46 Substitute or insert comma Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Comma followed by forwards slash
47 Substitute or insert semi-colon Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Semi-colon followed by forwards slash
48 Substitute or insert full stop Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Circled period mark
49 Substitute or insert colon Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Circled colon
50 Substitute or insert interrogation mark Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Question mark followed by forwards slash
51 Substitute or insert exclamation mark Forward slash through character or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h where required Exclamation mark followed by forwards slash
52 Insert parentheses Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Left circle bracket followed by forwards slash, Right circle bracket followed by forwards slash.
53 Insert (square) brackets Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Left square bracket followed by forwards slash, Right square bracket followed by forwards slash.
54 Insert hyphen Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Forwards slash followed by dash followed by forwards slash
55 Insert en (half-em) rule Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h en with line showing width below
56 Insert one-em rule Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h em with line showing width below
57 Insert two-em rule Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h 2em with line showing width below
58 Insert apostrophe Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h 7 with apostrophe above
59 Insert single quotation marks Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h 7 with left single quote above, 7 with right single quote above
60 Insert double quotation marks Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h or Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h 7 with left double quote above, 7 with right double quote above
61 Insert ellipsis§ Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Set of three dots ellipsis followed by forwards slash
62 Insert leader Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Circled set of three dots ellipsis
63 Insert shilling stroke Forwards slash with a leg, like an lowercase h Circled forwards slash
64 Refer to appropriate authority anything of doubtful accuracy Encircle words, etc. affected Circled question mark

* Amount of space and/or length of re-spaced line may be indicated.

† Amount of space and/or length of line may be included.

‡ When fresh matter not in the copy is to be inserted, the caret mark is to be used in the text and “Take in A’ (‘B’, ‘C’, etc., as the case may be) written in the margin, the additional matter whether written on the proof or on attached slips being lettered to correspond. In the case of large insertions a horizontal arrow in the margin pointing between the lines replaces the caret mark.

§ See notes on use of symbols.