Proofread the text below for publication or sending. The intended audience is [AUDIENCE], the desired tone is [INTENDED TONE], and the required style guide is [STYLE GUIDE OR NONE]. Preserve my meaning, point of view, facts, and level of formality. Text to proofread: [TEXT] Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, agreement, sentence fragments that appear accidental, repeated words, obvious typos, inconsistent tense, inconsistent terminology, number/date formats, quotation marks, and heading/list parallelism. Apply the named style guide only where it has a relevant rule. Retain deliberate fragments, dialect, technical terms, branded spellings, and quoted material unless they are clearly wrong. Do not rewrite for taste, add facts, alter legal or technical meaning, change quoted language, or replace my voice with generic polished prose.
Where a sentence is grammatically valid but could be read two ways, leave it unchanged in the clean copy and identify it as a query rather than silently changing it. If a factual claim, citation, name, number, link, or specialized term looks questionable, flag it for verification; do not guess a correction. Output in this order: 1) a clean final version, 2) a change log with original wording, revised wording, and reason for every substantive edit, and 3) a short “author queries” list for ambiguity or verification items. Do not explain routine comma or capitalization fixes unless they change meaning. Before answering, check that no factual content was added or removed. Then compare the clean copy with the original for unintended tone shifts. Ask up to three clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [AUDIENCE] | Describe who will read the text. | Customers receiving a service interruption update |
| [INTENDED TONE] | State the voice the text should retain, such as warm, formal, or candid. | Calm, accountable, and plainspoken |
| [STYLE GUIDE OR NONE] | Name the style guide to follow or write NONE. | AP Style |
| [TEXT] | Paste the complete text you want proofread. | We identified the issue at 9:20am and restored checkout by 10:07 a.m. Some customers may have seen duplicated confirmation emails. No orders where lost. |
How to use
- Paste the final draft, not rough notes, and name any mandatory style guide.
- Check the author queries before accepting changes to names, numbers, links, or technical wording.
- Compare the clean copy against your source when meaning is legally, medically, or financially important.
- Follow up with: “Show only edits that change meaning, clarity, or factual risk.”
Variations
Light-touch edit
Use this when you want only undeniable errors fixed.
Apply a light-touch proofread to [TEXT] for [AUDIENCE]. Preserve every stylistic choice unless it is a clear spelling, grammar, punctuation, or consistency error. Follow [STYLE GUIDE OR NONE]. Return a clean copy and a numbered list of edits. Do not rephrase sentences for elegance, alter quoted text, or change facts. Flag uncertain names, figures, dates, citations, and technical terms instead of guessing. Check that the edited version has the same meaning and approximate length as the original.
US to UK English
Use this when adapting finished text for a UK audience.
Proofread and localize [TEXT] for [UK AUDIENCE] using [STYLE GUIDE]. Convert spelling, punctuation, date formats, and idioms only when appropriate for British English. Preserve product names, direct quotations, legal wording, measurements, and factual claims unless I specifically instruct otherwise. Output a clean UK-English version and a table of meaningful localization changes. Flag terms that may have a different UK meaning. Check for mixed US and UK spellings before answering.
Academic proofread
Use this for a paper that needs language editing without changing scholarship.
Proofread this academic section [TEXT] for [DISCIPLINE] and follow [CITATION STYLE]. Correct language, punctuation, consistency, and formatting errors while preserving arguments, evidence, terminology, and citations. Do not add sources, revise interpretations, or alter quoted material. Output a clean version, then list author queries for unsupported claims, unclear referents, citation mismatches, or terms needing definition. Check that every citation present in the original remains present in the revision.
Tips
- Give the model the governing style guide and audience because punctuation and capitalization choices differ by context.
- Keep factual verification separate from proofreading; a clean sentence can still contain a wrong figure.
- For text with tracked obligations or regulated claims, preserve a copy of the original and approve every substantive edit yourself.
- If the draft intentionally uses fragments or voicey phrasing, say so explicitly to prevent unwanted normalization.
FAQ
Will Claude change my writing style?
This prompt instructs it to preserve your voice and limit changes to proofing unless it identifies an ambiguity for you to decide.
Can it fact-check the document too?
It can flag claims that look questionable, but it should not invent a correction. Verify against original sources.
What is the difference between proofreading and copyediting?
Proofreading fixes errors in a nearly final draft. Copyediting can also improve clarity, consistency, structure, and house style.