Job Aids

Where should the comma go? Does the period go inside or outside the quotation marks? Is it which or that? To help you answer these questions, and many others, Creative Solutions offers a set of easy-to-use job aids that give you quick, clear guidance as you prepare anything from a memo to a training manual. Most of our aids can be customized to your industry, and translated into nearly any language.

Whether you're a professional wordsmith, or simply professional, these aids will help you keep whatever you write clear, correct, and consistent—the essential 3 Cs of good communication.

Aids for Anyone, in Any Business, Who Works with Words

Proofreading

Process Guides
These how-to guides complement any of our proofreading checklists. Pick the one with the level of detail that's right for you.

• Go Ahead…Proof It! A Quick Guide to Proofreading (3 pages)
  A short primer that outlines the hows and whys of proofreading.
  
  
• Go Ahead…Proof It! A Concise Proofreading Clinic (7 pages)
  Expands on the concepts in the Quick Guide, and condenses the information in K.D. Sullivan's detailed book, Go Ahead…Proof It! This aid is a great introduction for newcomers, and a terrific refresher for professionals.
  
  
• Go Ahead…Proof It! by K.D. Sullivan (90 pages)
  An in-depth, practical guide to proofreading, for everyone. With a special focus on hard-copy proofreading, it explains all the basics in a friendly, accessible way. Includes insider tips from professional proofreaders, exercises, and much more. (For a comprehensive guide to proofreading in the electronic age, watch for the updated and expanded edition of Go Ahead…Proof It!, coming soon.)
  
  
• Go Ahead…Proof It! Updated and Expanded for the Electronic Age (130 pages) by K.D. Sullivan
  The complete book on proofreading, for the way we work now. Shows anyone how to ensure error-free writing, time after time, on paper or onscreen. Includes tips on the latest technology from proofreading professionals, shortcuts and timesavers, exercises, and more.
  
  
• Proofreading for Professionals (6 pages)
  A detailed process guide for the professional proofreader, including how to determine type and level of proofread. Explains how to mark hard and electronic copy, make queries, keep a style sheet, and review a document in stages.

Proofreading Checklists
Once you know how to proofread, these checklists will show you exactly what to look for. Each comes with a starter style sheet to fill in as you go. Again, choose the level of detail that suits you best.

• Checking the 3 Cs: A Quick Reference Proofreading Checklist (1 page)
  Reminds you, at a glance, of what's most important to watch for as you scout out errors in any text.
  
  
• Checking the 3 Cs: A Basic Proofreading Checklist (3 pages)
  With examples and more detail, expands on the Quick Reference Proofreading Checklist. This list is perfect to help you polish shorter or simpler documents.
  
  
• Checking the 3Cs: An Expanded Proofreading Checklist (4 pages)
  Covers a bit more ground than the Basic Proofreading Checklist. Includes sections on headers and footers, tables of contents, graphs and artwork, sequence, and more. Use it for longer or more complex documents.
  
  
• Professional 8-Stage Proofreading Checklist (4 pages)
  A comprehensive checklist for professionals, or anyone looking for the last word in accuracy. Outlines, step by step, what to look for at each stage of the Creative Solutions 8 Stages of Proofreading process.
  
  
• Proofreading Checklist for Computer-Related Text (4 pages)
  In addition to the detail you need to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency in general text, includes what to look for in text that references programming code, GUI features, and other computer specifics.
  
  
• Proofreading Checklist for the Web (4 pages)
  A thorough set of proofreading reminders for general text, drawn from our Basic Proofreading Checklist, plus sections that focus on the function and appearance of web pages.

Proofreading Tests
These ready-made tests let you quickly assess the skill of any prospective proofreader—or your own skill. Each includes an answer key, and can be customized to include items unique to your own industry or workplace.

• Proofreading Test—Hard Copy (3 pages)
  
  
• Proofreading Test—MS Word (2 pages)
  
  
• Proofreading Test—PDFs (1 page)

Additional Help
These aids help you fine-tune your proofreading skills.

• Tips from the Proofreading Pros (8 pages)
  Priceless pointers from the people who catch errors for a living. In the time it takes to read it, this aid will make you a far better proofreader.
  
  
• A Guide to Proofreaders' Marks Plus Examples (2 pages)
  A handy guide to the industry-standard marks proofreaders use when working with hard copy.

Copyediting

• Professional Copyediting Process Guidelines (7 pages)
  A detailed guide for the professional copyeditor. Explains the essential tasks of copyediting, and the difference between proofreading, copyediting, and substantive editing. Outlines the most useful procedures to follow while copyediting.
  
  
• Copyediting Checklist (5 pages)
  An in-depth list that covers what to address while copyediting. Includes specifics to check that ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, appropriate word choice, and effective presentation.
  
  
• Copyediting Test—MS Word (2 pages)
  This ready-made test helps you assess the skill of any prospective copyeditor. It includes an answer key, and can be customized to include items unique to your own industry or workplace.

Style Sheets

• Starter Style Sheet (3 pages)
  Contains simple, ready-to-use sections for noting anything you'd like to keep consistent as you proofread or edit a document. Provides sample entries for each section. Designed for general business use, and available in either hard copy or electronic format.
  
  
• Style Sheet Template—General (4 pages)
  A detailed template, suitable for editorial professionals, designed for use with any document. Lets you note spelling choices and usage conventions for everything from capitalization and numbers to spacing and symbols.
  
  
• Style Sheet Template—Computer-Related Text (5 pages)
  Includes everything in our general template, plus reminders and space for the special elements in high-tech text.

Editorial Extras

• Words Most Often Confused (2 pages)
  Affect or effect? Further or farther? For 25 pairs of pesky words, this aid clears up the confusion at a glance.
  
  
• Words Most Often Misspelled (2 pages)
  A list that lets you get it right, faster. Here's how to spell the words everyone spends the most time looking up.
  
  
• Tips for Working with Microsoft Word Documents (6 pages)
  Tips to help you save time and do more with MS Word, whether you're writing, editing, or proofreading. Covers the basics, such as inserting tables and lists, and using Track Changes mode and Comments. Includes nice-to-know extras, such as how (and why) to record a macro and how to change a style setting.
  
  
• Tips for Working with PDF Documents (2 pages)
  Explains how to use Adobe's tools to mark and edit PDF documents.
  
  
• Tips for Working with PowerPoint Documents (4 pages)
  A basic guide, designed to help you create and edit PowerPoint documents quickly and efficiently.
  
  
• 15 Tips for Better Writing (2 pages)
  Goes beyond grammar and punctuation to zero in on style, wording, and presentation. This handful of pointers will make your message hit home.
  
  
• 15 Shortcuts to Chicago—Writing Rules You Should Know (4 pages)
  Handpicked highlights from The Chicago Manual of Style, the writing rule book used by everyone from editors to English teachers. This aid boils down the dictums to the few you'll need the most. As a plus, includes notes on where the Associated Press does things differently.
  
  
• 11 Online Editorial Resources (1 page)
  Where to go for the best online help when you're working with words.

For Those Who Want More

• On Your Own: A Process Guide for In-House Proofreading (6 pages)
  A how-to aid that shows you how to set up a proofreading system of your own. Whether you want to hire a full-time proofreader, or tap existing talent, you'll find everything here you need to help you do it successfully, along with hints to help your proofreader excel.
  
  
• Proofreading Workshop (60 pages)
  An in-depth, workbook-format guide that can stand alone or serve as the basis for an instructor-led proofreading training session.
  
  
• Business Writing Workshop (50 pages)
  An in-depth, workbook-format guide that can stand alone or serve as the basis for an instructor-led training session on business writing.
  
  
• Professional Indexing Process Guidelines (5 pages)
  Details how to go about preparing an index.
  
  
• A Guide to Project Management (5 pages)
  Shows how to plan, track, and manage any project-—editorial or otherwise—to ensure timely, on-budget completion.