Galley proof correction The last look, before it goes to print.
Four ISO certificationsTranslation partner for companies with high standards
- What it is: The final check of the typeset document (the proof) before printing, carried out by a native-speaker specialist.
- Who it's for: Anyone putting translated or multilingual content into layout and publishing it in print or as a PDF.
- What we check: Hyphenation, special characters, line and page breaks, text overflow, page numbers, and whether every correction has actually been applied.
- The difference: Editing & proofreading checks the text before layout. Galley proof correction checks the finished, typeset page afterwards.
The text was right. Typesetting can still get it wrong.
Layout introduces errors that were never in the manuscript
A checked translation flows into the layout, and suddenly something's off: the software hyphenates using the rules of the wrong language, an accent goes missing, the longer text no longer fits its box. Anyone who doesn't speak the language won't spot it. That's exactly where galley proof correction comes in, one of tolingo's text services, where we work with language without changing it.
What goes wrong in typesetting
The layout designer doesn't speak the language, so the software guesses.
- Hyphenation follows the wrong language's rules
- Accents and special characters go missing
- Text overflows or gets cut off
- A round of corrections never makes it in
What the check catches
A native-speaker specialist reads the page exactly as it will be printed.
- Hyphenation follows the real rules of the language
- Every character intact, from à to ß to 字
- Line breaks, paragraphs and text boxes sit cleanly
- Earlier corrections are verifiably in place
What native-speaker specialists look for in the proof
Six places where typesetting typically goes wrong
A galley proof correction isn't a second round of editing the text. It checks what typesetting did to the finished text:
Is the software hyphenating by the rules of the target language, or someone else's? Incorrect hyphenation is the most common typesetting error in foreign-language text.
Are all accents, diacritics and non-Latin characters present and displaying correctly? If the font is missing a glyph, you get a gap or a question mark.
Do line and page breaks fall in sensible places? No single words stranded at the end of a page, no breaks in the middle of a term.
Does the text fit its box? Translations are often longer than the original. We flag anywhere text overflows, gets cut off, or looks cramped.
Headings, page numbers, captions, spacing: we check that the layout stays consistent across every page and language version.
Have all the changes from the last round actually been applied? In our experience, something usually gets lost, or slips back in, during implementation.
From proof to print approval
Three steps, the last stop before the printer
The typeset proof
Your layout as a PDF, ideally with the approved source text for reference. Tell us the languages, and whether there's already been a round of corrections.
Native-speaker review, at layout stage
A native-speaker specialist reads the proof exactly as it will be printed, and marks every issue: hyphenation, characters, breaks, overflow, consistency. Multiple languages run in parallel.
Marked-up proof
The corrected proof, marked up in proofreading symbols to DIN 16511 (the German correction-marks standard) or as comments directly in the PDF. That lets your layout team apply the changes quickly, without back-and-forth.
Ready for print You can approve the layout with confidence. On request, we'll review a second proof after the corrections are applied, to make sure nothing new has slipped in.
Which check do you need: editing or proof correction?
Which check applies when
The fastest way to tell: is your content still a plain text, or already in layout? That's what decides which check applies. Often, both follow one after the other.
Your text is still a manuscript or Word file and needs a language check before it goes into layout. The step before the proof.
Machine-translated text that needs checking before layout? Post-editing to ISO 18587 is the way to go.
Content headed for the web instead of print? Then we check the language in the context of the page, not a print proof.
The overview of all our text services, from editing to post-editing, copywriting and transcription.
Frequently asked questions about galley proof correction
Scope, formats, languages, process
What's the difference from editing & proofreading?
Editing & proofreading checks the text itself, usually as a Word file, before it goes into layout: spelling, grammar, style. Galley proof correction checks the finished, typeset page afterwards, in other words what typesetting did to the text: hyphenation, special characters, breaks, overflow. In short: the text first, then the proof. Often both steps follow one after the other.
What format do you deliver corrections in?
However your layout team can work with them fastest: proofreading marks to DIN 16511 on a printout or PDF, or as comments and markup directly in the PDF file. We agree this with you in advance.
Do you apply the corrections directly in the layout?
Galley proof correction is a review, not typesetting. We mark every issue clearly and traceably; applying the changes stays with your layout or DTP team, who own the source file. That keeps responsibility for the print file exactly where it belongs.
Which languages and scripts do you check?
Over 220 languages, including ones with their own writing systems and particular hyphenation rules, such as Arabic, Thai or Chinese. Each language version is checked by a native-speaker specialist who knows the typographic quirks of their language. See our languages overview for which combinations are possible.
Do I need this if the translation was already checked?
Yes, because the checked translation doesn't contain the error, typesetting creates it. Incorrect hyphenation, a missing accent or text overflow only appear once the text flows into the layout, often at the hands of someone who doesn't speak the language. That's exactly what proof correction is for.
Is this a print approval?
No. We deliver a linguistic and typographic review of the proof as the basis for your decision. Formal print approval and the technical sign-off of the print file remain the responsibility of you and your printer. Our markup helps you approve with confidence.
Text services
Looking for the right text service?
Galley proof correction, editing & proofreading, post-editing and copywriting all sit side by side. The overview shows which service fits which task.
Catch the error in the proof. Not in print.
Send us your typeset proof as a PDF, along with the languages. We'll confirm scope, format and timing, and check the page before it goes to the printer.
Native-speaker reviewers per language · DIN 16511 or PDF · 220+ languages