Reading List: September

In an effort to hold my present self and my future self accountable, here is a list of proofreading-related items I plan on using as guides, reviewing them whenever possible throughout my journey. The below texts provide me with a chance to revisit the past and a chance to help potential clients perfect their pieces!

Reading list as of September 10, 2025:

• MLA Handbook

• The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition

• Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition

• The Associated Press Stylebook

• The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

• McGraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook by Laura Anderson

• Proofreading Basics by Jennifer Regner

  • A brief review: I found this text to be very helpful, providing me with new information on proofreading nonfiction books. An easy read. Worth visiting and re-visiting.

As always, one of the best things proofreaders can do is simply read whatever literature, blog post, poem, or even reddit post they choose for themselves. Take something you normally read and practice with your critical eye. Think about how you might edit what was written. Sometimes I find the language of online chat to be charming—other times, I sit and think about how to perfect the text if it was written with a different intent. However, I do think the variation of style in online posts gives an interesting look into the mindset of an individual, and is not necessarily in need of correction! I love the personality a little “u” instead of “you” gives a post. I could delve deeply into our unwritten social rules for writing on the Internet, but I’ll leave you here, since I’m sure it’s already been covered elsewhere.

Happy reading!

—Clara J.