Having an understanding of the following proofreaders’ marks is imperative in desktop publishing. The standard proofreaders’ marks were created so that there would be a consistent style – almost a language of sorts – for editors and proofreaders to communicate through, regardless of their background, location or trade. These easily understood graphical symbols are essentially the language we editors speak when marking a hard copy. Whether editing a proof that has been typeset or even proofreading a final copy just before it is set to go to the printer, the editor is often the last set of eyes on a document before it is released, and these proofreaders’ marks are what we use to communicate our changes. Here’s a list of the standard proofreaders’ marks for your reference.