Proof-readers and Paris … I’m in love with them both January 21, 2023 – Posted in: Writer

I love Paris in the spring … but I love my keen-eyed, copy-reading husband more – because he spots the extra “the” at a glance.

As an author, throughout a year-long publishing experience (with the amazing team at SilverWood Books), my path crossed that of many professionals covering all areas of book production: from copy editors and cover designers, to specialists in publicity as well as copyright and legal experts. 

However, without doubt, right at the top of my award-winning “respect for” list come the remarkable proof readers. 

What a job ! What a skill ! 

This is one of the few occupations that is truly suited to working from home alone. However, to be a successful proof reader, you need much more than the ability to enjoy working on your own, curled up on a comfy sofa with only a cup of tea and the cat for company.

Obviously, you also need a sound knowledge of spelling, grammar and punctuation as well as the ability to concentrate for long periods of time – without any distractions. 

You must work neatly and accurately and have the time-management and organisational skills required to meet deadlines.

But, above all, (and bringing us back to Paris at any time of year), there is the indefinable yet crucial “je ne sais quoi” ; that extra sharp eye for detail that sees what is actually there – written on the page – and not what we expect to see – what should be there.

I appreciate that nowadays, it is an old-fashioned notion to set high standards or expect perfection. Nobody seems to have the time or inclination to read anything through before pressing “send”. Our emails and messages on social media are littered with typos and … so what? 

You understood – right?

Yes, maybe right, but only up to a point. 

There is still a part of me that feels that if the writer is too lazy, or simply can’t be bothered, to read through his text, then why should I? If it has been read through and the glaring mistakes have not been corrected, then surely this further devalues the overall message and its sender.

Does it matter?

Probably not to Millennials or Generation Z who take offence at a full stop (for being too aggressive) at the end of a text message.

Whether at school, university or in life in general, it is more important to write quickly, to get your message across and tell your truth, than to get bogged down in tiresome details – like apostrophes, grammar, spelling or even accuracy. There is no blame or shame when television news headlines flash across our screens with misspelt words; they no longer require a comment, correction or even an apology. 

Does no one else notice? Or do these mistakes only concern us Oldies who learned the correct use “I or me”,  “ principle and principal”, had “i before e” and “similar to and different from” drummed into our brains at a young age.

But surely, we all expect more from our books. Thanks to that tenacious band of eagle-eyed proof readers these should be – and usually are perfect. 

However, if an error – however tiny – slides through the net and makes it into print and onto our bookcase, it will be spotted by my husband, Robbie, who has that “je ne sais quoi” chip in his brain to see such errors instantly. 

Imagine the joy of opening a crisp hard back edition of Bob Mortimer’s autobiography “And Away …” and then reading, on the second line, the words “golden retreiver”. How could this silly mistake have been allowed to happen ? The magical reading experience is ruined and right at the start of Chapter 1. 

To Robbie such errors jump out of the page and scream at him to take notice. The proof reading gene can be cruel and destructive; but, fortunately, not in our relationship. With a confident smile I happily hand over all of my written work for him to check before pressing send…