After several rounds of revision, authors and editors stop seeing the text: the brain reads what it expects to see. A proofreader comes to the book fresh and reads it slowly, looking for misspellings, repeated or missing words, punctuation errors, inconsistent names and terms, and formatting problems such as widows, orphans, broken hyphenation and incorrect headers.
Proofreading is not a substitute for editing. If a proofreader finds that a manuscript still needs heavier work, we will tell you rather than quietly charging for a job that will not give you a finished book.
Read the full overview on our Book Proofreading services page.
Nothing moves to the next stage without your approval, and the work remains yours.
Corrected manuscript with tracked changes, or a marked-up formatted proof
A list of queries where the author's intent is unclear
Consistency checks on names, spellings, numbers and terms
Layout checks on headers, page numbers and spacing (formatted proofs)
Send the draft, your genre and your goals.
An editor reviews a sample and we send a written quote.
Your editor works through the manuscript with tracked changes and comments.
You review the changes and raise questions with your editor.
Here is what you gain when your book is handled by a specialist editing team at Potter Publishers, working alongside editors, designers and publishing specialists under one roof.
LIVE CHATClear structure, consistent characters or arguments and clean sentences keep readers turning pages instead of putting the book down.
Errors and confusing passages are among the most common complaints in reader reviews. Editing removes them before publication.
We recommend the editing stage your manuscript needs now, so you never pay to polish text that will later be cut.
Every change is tracked and explained. You accept, reject or discuss each suggestion, and the final decisions are always yours.
We edit and proofread in US English by default for American authors (color, organize, traveled), following common US style conventions, and can switch to Australian or UK spelling when needed.
In the United States, ISBNs are issued by Bowker. We help you buy and register them in your own name or your imprint's, so you are the publisher of record.
US authors can register copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, and publishers can apply for a Library of Congress Control Number before publication. We explain both and add them to your checklist where they apply.
Quotes for US authors are confirmed in writing, including the currency, before any work begins. The main price factors are:
We are a full-service publishing team for independent authors in Australia and the United States. Writers, editors, designers and marketers work together on your book, so every stage connects and nothing is lost between suppliers.
Tell us about your manuscript and we will send a written plan and quote within 48 hours.
Ready to talk about your book? Contact us or request a quote above.
A full read for typos, punctuation, repeated or missing words and consistency, plus layout checks if we proof a formatted file. You receive tracked corrections and a list of queries.
Ideally after formatting, because layout can introduce new errors such as broken hyphenation or misplaced headers. A proofread of the formatted file catches those.
Yes. We work with New York authors remotely by video call, phone and email, scheduled in Eastern Time (EST/EDT).
We edit and proofread in US English by default for American authors (color, organize, traveled), following common US style conventions, and can switch to Australian or UK spelling when needed.
