Dunkelberg's Proofreading Marks

Here are some of the most common proofreader's marks I find myself using in papers. Since I try to save time
grading by using abbreviations and standard symbols, I have listed them by the abbreviation I use, then by the
meaning of the abbreviation or symbol. Finally, I have provided a brief explanation for each term. You should
consult a grammar handbook to find out how to correct these problems in your writing if you are unsure what
you need to do. The Little Brown Handbook is standard in MUW composition classes, so hopefully you still
have yours. Most of the symbols I use are based on the ones listed in TLBH, though I have added a few
abbreviations for common problems students have with their arguments, as opposed to purely grammatical
problems.

Using this system saves me time when grading your papers and gives me the opportunity to write substantive
comments on the content of your argument. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask me. If I have
used an abbreviation not found on this page, I will add it if I think it is common enough. Your other
professors may use similar proofreading marks when grading papers, though there are different systems for
naming and abbreviating, so don't be surprised if you see some variations.

Please note: I had to draw the first three symbols in a drawing program, so they appear significantly bigger
than the other symbols, and they won't look this big in your papers. I had to leave them this size so they
would be clearly visible in the table.

Symbol Meaning Explanation

delete Delete the word(s) or letter(s) indicated with a loop through them.

close up There is an extra space. Delete it. Sometimes I use this when you have spelled a
single word incorrectly as two words.
indent An arrow pointing to a line at the beginning of a paragraph means you should indent
the first line of your paragraph. In front of a long quoted passage, it means you
should indent the entire passage. The vertical line indicates approximately how far
you should indent.
# add space You need extra space, usually between two words that have been run together.
= capitalize Three lines under a letter or word means it should be capitalized
^ insert A caret mark between two words means you should add the word or phrase I've
suggested at that point
/ slash A slash with letters or punctuation marks indicates you should add the character or
characters indicated
// parallel Two slanted lines indicates that you have used an unparallel construction for a list or
in another situation where the meaning of your sentence would be clearer if the parts
were stated in the same manner.
paragraph This symbol indicates you should start a new paragraph. Often when this is marked,
the resulting paragraphs need to be developed. You have switched topics in mid-
paragraph and haven't fully explored them.
ag agency This is when the subject of your sentence isn't the real actor. For instance, you might
write: 'The story thought humans were created out of clay.' Since stories don't think,
this sentence doesn't make sense.
agree agreement Most commonly, this is marked when the subject and verb do not agree in
numberyou have a plural noun with a singular verb, for instance. Sometimes it is
the pronoun and its referent which do not agree in number or person.
awk awkward The underlined phrase is grammatically correct, but there is a clearer, more concise
way to phrase it.
cs comma Two independent sentences have been joined by a comma, with no conjunction or
splice other means to correctly join them.
dm dangling This is when the implied subject of the dependent clause is not the subject of the
modifier sentence that follows. Revise this by adding the correct subject to the clause.
exp expand Tell more about the topic you just raised. Usually there is evidence from the text that
you should use to back up an assertion you have made or the issue is more
complicated than you have indicated from your discussion of it.
expl explain As with 'expand,' you need to discuss this topic more in your paper, explaining why
you hold the view you do or where you see evidence of it in the text.
ev evidence You need to show where you found evidence in the text to support the point you are
trying to make.
font font size The size font appears bigger than 12 pt or you have chosen a font that sets
significantly bigger than Times or Helvetica. Please use 12 pt Times or an equivalent
legible font for your essays. 10 pt is acceptible, especially if you don't have Times or
Helvetica and need to use Courier or another font that looks big on the page.
frag fragment This is when a sentence lacks a subject and a verb or when it is a dependent clause
and therefore can not stand alone as a sentence. Often you can revise this error by
linking the fragment to the sentence before or after it, though sometimes it is better
to add the subject.
fused fused Two independent sentences have been run together as if they are one, with no
conjunction or other means to correctly join them.
inc incomplete Similar to a fragment, this is when a word is missing from your sentence. I often
mark an 'x' in the sentence where I think you need the word
iq introduce Whenever you quote from a text, you should integrate the quoted passage into your
the quote essay by providing a phrase or sentence that sets up the context of the quote,
introduces who is speaking, and begins an interpretation. After a quotation, you
should also explain the significance of the quoted passage.
mixed mixed This is when the grammar of your sentence switches in mid sentence.
construction
mm misplaced This is when word or phrase (usually underlined) is ambigous or unclear due to
modifier where it is placed in the sentence.
no it no italics The underlined text should not be in italics, but should be in plain text style.
no b no bold The underlined text (or a long passage in bold) should not be in bold type, but should
be in plain text style. Generally, you should not use bold in your papers.
red redundant The word or sentence you've used repeats an idea that doesn't need to be repeated.
ref referent The noun to which the pronoun refers is not clear. Often this happens when you use
the noun in the possessive. Then a pronoun can't refer to it. For example: In Lorca's
poem, "Somnambule Ballade," he writes...this is incorrect, since he can not refer to
 Lorca's only to Lorca. Revise this to read: In his poem... Lorca writes...
sp spelling This indicates a misspelled word. This may be a word that is correctly spelled but is
not the word you mean. For instance, there, their, and they're are often misused,
resulting in a misspelled word.
si split Generally, you don't put any word between the two parts of an infinitive verb form
infinitive (to + verb). 'To boldly go' is a common example of a split infinitive that is so familiar
from Star Trek as to become accepted. In an essay, it would be better to say, 'to go
boldly' or 'boldly to go' depending on the context.
tense tense shift Keep the tense of your essay consistent. If you talk about the action of the story in
either present or past tense it is fine as long as you don't switch back and forth
(except to indicate a change in the time frame of the story).
tr transpose Switch the parts of the sentence that I have marked with a line above and below.
trans transition Provide a clear transition between two points. When marked between two
paragraphs, you will likely need a sentence or two that shows the relationship
between the topic of the first paragraph and the topic of the second. When marked
between two sentences, you likely need a phrase or introductory word (yet, but,
however, similarly, etc.) that makes the connection between your ideas clearer.
uncl unclear The meaning of the underlined phrase is unclear.
v vague The meaning of the passage is not precise or specific enough.
wc word choice The word you have used does not fit the context you use it in. You may be confused
about its definition
word wording The underlined word or phrase is non-standard or unclear. Find a clearer way to
rephrase what you want to say.