Paired proof correction mark convention

One mark in the text, one in the margin.

Also known as: Two part proof mark, Proof mark pairing

Engineering & technicalEveryday & digitalStandard profile

Meanings

The convention that a proof correction is written twice, a mark in the text locating it and a mark in the margin stating the instruction.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Requires a correction to be written twice, once in the text to locate it and once in the margin to state it.
Contexts: Technical drawing
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Exists because text is set solid and leaves no room to write in, so the instruction has to go where there is space and the location has to stay where the error is.
Contexts: Technical drawing

Visual description

A small stroke or caret placed within the line of text, answered by a second mark written in the margin on the same line.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

BS 5261 — Copy preparation and proof correction
British Standards Institution · retrieved 2026-08-21
The British Standard defining proof-correction marks and their marginal counterparts. Paywalled, so records describe the marks as documented in secondary summaries of the standard rather than quoting its text. Authoritative for British practice; American convention differs in several marks.
Proofreading
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-21
Tertiary reference. Cited for the conventional form of a mark and for comparative detail between British and American practice. The published standards are authoritative where they differ.

Last reviewed 2026-08-24

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Meanings

The convention that a proof correction is written twice, a mark in the text locating it and a mark in the margin stating the instruction.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Requires a correction to be written twice, once in the text to locate it and once in the margin to state it.

Contexts: Technical drawing

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Exists because text is set solid and leaves no room to write in, so the instruction has to go where there is space and the location has to stay where the error is.

Contexts: Technical drawing

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

BS 5261 — Copy preparation and proof correction
British Standards Institution · retrieved 2026-08-21
The British Standard defining proof-correction marks and their marginal counterparts. Paywalled, so records describe the marks as documented in secondary summaries of the standard rather than quoting its text. Authoritative for British practice; American convention differs in several marks.
Proofreading
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-21
Tertiary reference. Cited for the conventional form of a mark and for comparative detail between British and American practice. The published standards are authoritative where they differ.

Last reviewed 2026-08-24