There’s a lot of needless confusion about proofreading, so we’re here to clear things up. In this context, a proof is the trial impression of your work—i.e., a text that’s theoretically ready to hit the printing presses or online retailers. By this juncture, your formatted manuscript should (at very least) have been copyedited already. Unless you’re some kind of self-editing prodigy (in which case we implore you to send us a resume), we’ll know if the document hasn’t been worked over. After all, the proof’s in the pudding. When there’s puding in the proof, it can be dealt with, but this isn’t the phase for major alterations, or even minor ones. We’re talking more like minute.

Let’s say you’ve written a murder mystery. The plotting and prose are on point. Previous edits have scrubbed out every (purple) stain, and you’re already practicing your book-signing signature. You killed it. (The perfect crime . . .) But how sure are you really? When the forensic experts roll in, they’ll pick apart each scene with tools you’ve never even heard of. Absent hyphens, extra spaces, misplaced commas, botched ellipses? No mistake is truly small unless corrected in advance. One follicle of misspelled “hare” could close the case, so do beware. Who knows what damning evidence may still be floating ’round in there? Allow our team to step in first and minimize the risk.

A Specter Services proofread will ensure that each character, space, and factoid in your manuscript is met with practiced patience. We know what it takes to root out subtle slips. (It’s more than coffee . . . but also coffee.) Don’t be spooked by going public. Safeguard your authority or later on be haunted.