Proofreading: practice, test and prove it

Find the planted errors in a passage; scored on detection rate and false flags.

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Start the proofreading test Read the first lesson

Proofreading tests plant errors that spell-check cannot see: wrong homophones, agreement mistakes, missing endings and punctuation. You tap each error you find; the result page explains every one you missed.

Benchmark: 90% detection with at most one or two false flags is the common benchmark. Requirements vary by employer.

Practice formats

Grammar Errors Find subject-verb disagreements, tense shifts, and structural grammar issues in professional text. Most Common

Spelling Errors Spot misspellings and transpositions — the most basic proofreading skill employers test. Entry Level

Punctuation Find missing commas, incorrect apostrophes, and semicolon misuse in formal documents. Editorial

Factual Errors Identify factual inconsistencies and logical errors — numbers, dates, and claims that don't add up. Advanced

Full Edit Mode Complete editorial review — grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style all at once. Expert

Lessons

The errors spell-check missesWrong-word errors, agreement and homophones: what a proofreading screening is really testing.Lesson 1

Punctuation that changes meaningCommas, apostrophes and hyphens: the small marks that proofreading tests weigh heavily.Lesson 2

Proofreading on screen without missing linesZoom, line length and the two-pass method that keeps your detection rate above 90 percent.Lesson 3

Numbers, names and consistency: the errors hidden in factsWhy wrong dates, mismatched totals and inconsistent names are planted in tests, and how to check them without false flags.Lesson 4

Interview prep

Proofreader and editor interview questionsQuestions for proofreading, QA and content-editing roles, with answers that show method rather than talent.6 questions

Content QA and grammar questionsGrammar questions interviewers ask directly, with short rule-based answers.6 questions

Certificate

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Common questions

What do proofreading tests look like?

A passage of 150 to 300 words with 6 to 12 planted errors and a few minutes to mark them. Some tests ask you to correct; most ask you to find.

What is a false flag?

A correct word you marked as an error. Tests penalise them, so mark only what you can name as a specific mistake.

Do I need to know a style guide?

For most screening tests, no. You need agreement, homophones, endings, apostrophes and capitals. Style guides matter later, on the job.

Proofreading test for interviewWhat the screening round looks like, with a 5-question sample.