Writing and editing comments
When you click or drag on a page the form to record a comment pops
up alongside. There is lots more help about
comments in general; this section is specifically about the form you fill in.
Describe your comment in words and/or select a proof mark from the
array of buttons at the top of the form to indicate the nature of the
comment.
When you're done, click Save.
What are proof marks?
Traditionally proof readers have used various cryptic symbols to
write on draft manuscripts and printers' proofs to indicate faults and
changes required. Many of the marks we use here are derived from those
paper mark up conventions for proof reading,
though not all, by any means, and others have been added to reflect
the internet age. Most of us will be familiar with 
for 'insert
text'. 
for 'delete text' is probably less familiar. 
for 'I agree' is very
much an internet idiom.
for 'insert
text'.
for 'delete text' is probably less familiar. for 'I agree' is very
much an internet idiom.How do I know what each proofmark means?
Hover over the button and a description is displayed.
When you choose a proof mark, the description of the proof mark is
also noted in words at the top of the comment.
I'm still none the wiser
OK, there's a few technical terms in here.
- paragraph break: start of a new paragraph
- parenthesize: enclose in round brackets (parentheses)
- embolden: make bold, use a heavier version of the type face
- small caps: small capital letters (a variant of lower case when used In Combination With Upper Case)
- keyline: the border around a picture (or diagram or table)
- roman: straight-up characters, as opposed to italic
- url decoration: 'http://', often quoted unnecessarily in web addresses; also the blue colour and underlining that Microsoft Word puts in, which is often inappropriate in a printed document.
Do I have to use a proof mark?
No.
If I edit an existing comment how do I get rid of the proof mark?
Click on the last, blank button ('no proofmark').
The proofmark is obscuring text on the page
Click on the little eye button 