Using standards when proofreading Konuyu gönderen: Anna Muntean Stacanova
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I am 'upgrading' my knowledge in proofreading. In the book "A Practical Guide for TRanslators' G Samuelsson talks about using British Standards while proofreading.
British Standards BS 5261: Part 2 1976
I looked at them. It must be hard to use when not proofreading a printed copy.
Are they still being used? If not, are there standardized proofreading marks that are used now?
Thank you
| | | | | Use ´Track Changes´ in Word | Mar 7, 2010 |
It is far simpler when you work with text in electronic form.
Most of the texts I proofread are in Word.
Here I use the ´Track Changes´function, which shows all my suggested changes and marks the text I delete, without removing it. I can also add notes and comments as necessary. When I have finished, I save the file again as a CLEAN version and accept all changes. Then I remove the comments.
I deliver both files to the client, who can either accept my CL... See more It is far simpler when you work with text in electronic form.
Most of the texts I proofread are in Word.
Here I use the ´Track Changes´function, which shows all my suggested changes and marks the text I delete, without removing it. I can also add notes and comments as necessary. When I have finished, I save the file again as a CLEAN version and accept all changes. Then I remove the comments.
I deliver both files to the client, who can either accept my CLEAN file as ready for use, or check through what I have done and reject any changes they disagree with, raise questions etc.
Occasionally I get PDF files. I then use the proofing function in Acrobat that makes it possible to mark text to be altered and add notes with the text to be inserted instead. The client can make the changes automatically to the original document.
Here I can only deliver a marked file to the client.
In Word it is often easier to check your corrections if you hide deleted text in Word while proofreading, so you can see the final version. Then change the settings afterwards so that the client can see the deleted text, crossed out.
[Edited at 2010-03-08 09:31 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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What version of word do you have Christine? I cannot find that function in mine.
| | | | | This book might help | Mar 8, 2010 |
An instructor in my translation course recommended this book:
"Revising and Editing for Translators" by Brian Mossop
Unfortunately it seems hard to find but if you are lucky enough to get your hands on it, that might have some proofreading tips. I tried the worldcat.org library catalog and the nearest copy to me was one state over, in IL...
The instructor also gave us a handout copied from "McGraw-Hill's Proofreading Handbook, 2nd Edition" by Laura Anders... See more An instructor in my translation course recommended this book:
"Revising and Editing for Translators" by Brian Mossop
Unfortunately it seems hard to find but if you are lucky enough to get your hands on it, that might have some proofreading tips. I tried the worldcat.org library catalog and the nearest copy to me was one state over, in IL...
The instructor also gave us a handout copied from "McGraw-Hill's Proofreading Handbook, 2nd Edition" by Laura Anderson. That is not specifically for translators but the handout we were given, pp. 53 - 67, explains all the standard symbols and how they should be used. This only applies to printed documents though. As Christine says, Word (I have 2007) and Acrobat both have very handy tools for editing & proofreading in electronic form.
[Edited at 2010-03-08 03:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Tools or Review | Mar 8, 2010 |
You have it in both versions of Word.
You'll find it in Tools in Word 2003 and under Review in Word 2007.
If you were only asking about the option to hide deleted text, in Word 2007, you go to the Review tab and somewhere in the middle of that ribbon you have an option called Show Markup. You'll get a drop down list of items you can choose to show or hide while reviewing.
[Editat la 2010-03-08 02:25 GMT]
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What version of word do you have Christine? I cannot find that function in mine.
You have it in both versions of Word.
You'll find it in Tools in Word 2003 and under Review in Word 2007.
ProZ, the parent ! Blessed.
| | | | Abba Storgen (X)
Amerika Birleşik Devletleri
Local time: 19:43
Yunanca > İngilizce
+ ...
The proper procedure would be to mark the change in track changes AND to include a comment (usually by brief back-translation of the error and a brief explanation). This takes (for me), an additional 5 minuts for 5 changes in 1000 words. That is, to perform Professional Editing (professional: documented and explained) you do not need much more time than the current kindergarten practice which is "unexplained editing"... and your clients will greatly appreciate your focus on detail.
... See more The proper procedure would be to mark the change in track changes AND to include a comment (usually by brief back-translation of the error and a brief explanation). This takes (for me), an additional 5 minuts for 5 changes in 1000 words. That is, to perform Professional Editing (professional: documented and explained) you do not need much more time than the current kindergarten practice which is "unexplained editing"... and your clients will greatly appreciate your focus on detail.
Avoid over-corrections. Project managers hate them in the long run and you won't get more jobs out of it.
[Edited at 2010-03-08 02:58 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I work in Word 2003 | Mar 8, 2010 |
In Word 2003, when the proofreading toolbar is visible, there is a button on the right called ´Show´, with a tiny arrow beside it.
Clicking on the arrow opens a drop-down menu, and at the bottom of this you will see ´Settings´.
Here you can select colours and ways of marking inserted text, deleted text, comments etc. etc. (Colour, bold, underlined, author and different proofreaders and more.)
It is well worth spending an hour with a file you can delete afterwa... See more In Word 2003, when the proofreading toolbar is visible, there is a button on the right called ´Show´, with a tiny arrow beside it.
Clicking on the arrow opens a drop-down menu, and at the bottom of this you will see ´Settings´.
Here you can select colours and ways of marking inserted text, deleted text, comments etc. etc. (Colour, bold, underlined, author and different proofreaders and more.)
It is well worth spending an hour with a file you can delete afterwards, simply trying out all the options. You may like some of them better than the defaults!
Among the many choices, you can hide deleted text instead of striking it through.
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There is of course an option to ´Accept all changes in the document´ which I use when I have saved the document with a new name (Normally File_name-CLEAN).
Alternatively you or the client can right click on each change one by one and a little menu will appear - accept deletion/insertion, reject ... and so on.
The best thing to do here is to leave all the changes you want to accept, reject the two or three you are not satisfied with, and then accept all the others together at the end.
I can use the colour options to change all markings to blue for a colleague who is colourblind and cannot see red easily.
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I am not so keen on PDFs, but sometimes they are necessary.
The Help feature in Acrobat explains how to use the various mark-up tools.
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I also recommend the Brian Mossop book.
You can see the ISBN number here, and ask your bookshop to order it for you.
http://www.proz.com/references/71
1-900650-96-7 ▲ Collapse
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Samuel Murray 
Hollanda
Local time: 02:43
Üye (2006)
İngilizce > Afrikaans
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| Proofreading marks | Mar 8, 2010 |
Ina Muntean Stacanova wrote:
It must be hard to use when not proofreading a printed copy. ... Are they still being used? If not, are there standardized proofreading marks that are used now?
I know of no computer program that allows you to use proofreading marks when proofreading text. Word processors often have a "Tracked Changes" feature which keeps track of what changes you make in a file, and you can write a comment to the client, but that's about it. And in some cases, the client might ask me to proofread a PDF file using annotations.
Very few of my clients want me to proofread hardcopy using proofreading marks.
One advantage of proofreading marks is that you can proofread a text much quicker than with Tracked Changes or with annotations. It is assumed that the person receiving your proofread files know these symbols and can interpret them, so as to make the changes to the document.
Clients who ask you to use Tracked Changes are basically asking you to do two jobs as the same time, namely proofreading and correction. In a workflow where a proofreader uses proofreading marks on hardcopy, the proofreader is not responsible for the correction job.
Our local translators' association's accreditation exams for editing (and proofreading) is done on hardcopy only. Their assumption seems to be that most editors work on hardcopy, with a pen or pencil in hand.
I never make that assumption -- I always assume that if the client sends me an editable file, he wants me to make the changes myself (either with changes tracked, or not, depending on the client's request). And if he sends me a non-editable file (e.g. PDF) then I assume he wants me to write annotations directly in the file.
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Thank you so much for all nice and detailed answers.
I will most definitely check the books. In fact I am doing it right now and then will leave to my library to see if the can borrow them for me.
I see. For some reason I thought there should be a program or function that allows proofreading marks, for brevity and save time, etc.
Oh, well Will be using Word.
Christine, thank you for th... See more Thank you so much for all nice and detailed answers.
I will most definitely check the books. In fact I am doing it right now and then will leave to my library to see if the can borrow them for me.
I see. For some reason I thought there should be a program or function that allows proofreading marks, for brevity and save time, etc.
Oh, well Will be using Word.
Christine, thank you for the Adobe function. I did not know it is possible to proofread the document in Adobe.
Thanks again ▲ Collapse
| | | | | The proofing function is in Adobe Acrobat, not the Reader | Mar 8, 2010 |
Just to make it quite clear, the proofreading function I use is in the Acrobat program, which costs money, and unfortunately not in the Reader that can be downloaded free.
However, it will pay for itself if you get a lot of proofreading jobs in PDF. You can then use the feature that enables the client with the original document (in the original format, not PDF) to accept changes automatically from the notes you put in.
[Edited at 2010-03-08 15:06 GMT]
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Thanks to all of you, mind boggling stuff. I will try them out. I did proofreading symbols as part of my translator's training but have forgotten them. Same for the phonetic alphabet,. I thought I knew it all until I did my TEFL training and was in for a shock.
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