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.

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 |
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1 | Correction is concluded | None | ![]() |
2 | Insert in text the matter indicated in margin | ![]() |
New matter followed by ![]() |
3 | Delete | Strike through characters to be deleted | ![]() |
4 | Delete and close up | Strike through character to be deleted and use mark 21 | ![]() |
5 | Leave as printed | ![]() |
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6 | Change to italic | ![]() |
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7 | Change to even small capitals | ![]() |
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8 | Change to capital letters | ![]() |
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9 | Use capital letters for initial letters and small capitals for rest of words | ![]() ![]() |
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10 | Change to bold type | ![]() |
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11 | Change to lower case | Encircle characters to be altered | ![]() |
12 | Change to roman type | Encircle characters to be altered | ![]() |
13 | Wrong fount. Replace by letter of correct fount | Encircle characters to be altered | ![]() |
14 | Invert type | Encircle character to be altered | ![]() |
15 | Change damaged character(s) | Encircle character(s) to be altered | ![]() |
16 | Substitute or insert character(s) under which this mark is placed, in ‘superior’ position | ![]() ![]() |
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17 | Substitute or insert character(s) over which this mark is placed, in ‘inferior’ position | ![]() ![]() |
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18 | Underline word or words | ![]() |
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19 | Use ligature (e.g. ffi) or diphthong (e.g. ce) | ![]() |
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20 | Substitute separate letters for ligature or diphthong | ![]() |
write out separate letters followed by ![]() |
21 | Close up—delete space between characters | ![]() |
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22 | Insert space* | ![]() |
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23 | Insert space between lines or paragraphs* | ![]() |
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24 | Reduce space between lines* | ![]() |
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25 | Make space appear equal between words | ![]() |
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26 | Reduce space between words* | ![]() |
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27 | Add space between letters* | ![]() |
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28 | Transpose | ![]() |
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29 | Place in centre of line | Indicate position with ![]() |
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30 | Indent one em | ![]() |
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31 | Indent two ems | ![]() |
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32 | Move matter to right | ![]() |
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33 | Move matter to left | ![]() |
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34 | Move matter to position indicated | ![]() |
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35 | Take over character(s) or line to next line, column or page | ![]() |
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36 | Take back character(s) or line to previous line, column or page | ![]() |
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37 | Raise lines† | ![]() ![]() |
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38 | Lower lines† | ![]() ![]() |
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39 | Correct the vertical alignment | ![]() |
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40 | Straighten lines | ![]() |
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41 | Push down space | Encircle space affected | ![]() |
42 | Begin a new paragraph | ![]() |
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43 | No fresh paragraph here | ![]() |
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44 | Spell out the abbreviation or figure in full | Encircle words or figures to be altered | ![]() |
45 | Insert omitted portion of copy‡ | ![]() |
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46 | Substitute or insert comma | ![]() ![]() |
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47 | Substitute or insert semi-colon | ![]() ![]() |
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48 | Substitute or insert full stop | ![]() ![]() |
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49 | Substitute or insert colon | ![]() ![]() |
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50 | Substitute or insert interrogation mark | ![]() ![]() |
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51 | Substitute or insert exclamation mark | ![]() ![]() |
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52 | Insert parentheses | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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53 | Insert (square) brackets | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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54 | Insert hyphen | ![]() |
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55 | Insert en (half-em) rule | ![]() |
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56 | Insert one-em rule | ![]() |
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57 | Insert two-em rule | ![]() |
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58 | Insert apostrophe | ![]() |
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59 | Insert single quotation marks | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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60 | Insert double quotation marks | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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61 | Insert ellipsis§ | ![]() |
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62 | Insert leader | ![]() |
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63 | Insert shilling stroke | ![]() |
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64 | Refer to appropriate authority anything of doubtful accuracy | Encircle words, etc. affected | ![]() |
* 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.