Proof reading marks

Okay, so you got a paper back from your tutor or lecturer (hopefully after giving it to him/her well in advance of your due date so you can make improvements before handing it in), and it's covered with little marks for suggested corrections. What are these marks, and what do they mean?

Over many years of proofreading and editing, a system of proof-reading marks have come to be. These marks indicate, for example, whether a word is misspelt, a sentence should start a new paragraph or more information should be inserted at a particular point.

Now, most editors stick with the symbols fairly closely, but many teachers and markers develop their own little quirks, so you might find that some symbols vary slightly depending on who is scribbling on your paper. Generally speaking, though, the following pages will give you an idea about what they want you to change:

http://www.cheltenham.org/chs_english/cwp/view.asp?A=853&Q=433450
http://webster.commnet.edu/writing/symbols.htm
http://www.bucknell.edu/x4763.xml

And remember, when in doubt, you can always ask them.