# Academic and STM Journal Proofreader

*/JobTypes/Academic_and_STM_Journal_Proofreader*

Departments: Journal Production, Content Production, Editorial Production, Manuscript Editing, Publications Department, Editorial Quality Assurance.

## Job Type Profile

**Produces**: Corrected page proofs annotated with standardized digital markup and query logs addressed to authors. They also output verified reference lists and finalized text layouts cleared for academic publication.
**Ai Surface**: Scanning text for spelling errors, formatting inconsistencies, and rigid citation matching involves highly structured digital pattern recognition. Interacting with authors to clarify ambiguous scientific concepts or resolving complex layout conflicts relies on human judgment and domain context.
**Core Tools**:
- [Adobe Acrobat Pro](/JobTypes/Academic_and_STM_Journal_Proofreader/Products/Adobe_Acrobat_Pro)
- [Aries Editorial Manager](/JobTypes/Academic_and_STM_Journal_Proofreader/Products/Aries_Editorial_Manager)
- [Microsoft Word](/JobTypes/Academic_and_STM_Journal_Proofreader/Products/Microsoft_Word)
- [Edifix](/JobTypes/Academic_and_STM_Journal_Proofreader/Products/Edifix)
- [ScholarOne Manuscripts](/JobTypes/Academic_and_STM_Journal_Proofreader/Products/ScholarOne_Manuscripts)
**Responsibilities**:
- Verify the accuracy of scientific notation, mathematical formulas, and Greek characters against original manuscripts.
- Cross-check in-text citations with reference lists using APA, AMA, or specific journal style guides.
- Review page layouts to ensure figures, tables, and captions align correctly with the surrounding text.
- Insert digital annotations to correct typographical, formatting, and grammatical errors in proof stages.
- Query authors or production editors regarding missing data, ambiguous phrasing, or inconsistent scientific terminology.

## Neighborhood

### Parent

- [Proofreaders and Copy Markers](/Occupations/Proofreaders_and_Copy_Markers) — parent · Occupations

### Siblings

- [Advertising Agency Proofreader](/JobTypes/Advertising_Agency_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Braille Proofreader](/JobTypes/Braille_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Financial and SEC Filings Proofreader](/JobTypes/Financial_and_SEC_Filings_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Legal Proofreader](/JobTypes/Legal_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Packaging and Labeling Proofreader](/JobTypes/Packaging_and_Labeling_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Pharma and Medical QA Proofreader](/JobTypes/Pharma_and_Medical_QA_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Prepress Proofreader](/JobTypes/Prepress_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes
- [Trade Publishing Proofreader](/JobTypes/Trade_Publishing_Proofreader) — siblings · JobTypes

### Required knowledge

- [English Grammar And Usage](/Knowledge/English_Grammar_And_Usage) — requires knowledge · Knowledge
- [Academic Citation Conventions](/Knowledge/Academic_Citation_Conventions) — requires knowledge · Knowledge
- [Scholarly Publishing Conventions](/Knowledge/Scholarly_Publishing_Conventions) — requires knowledge · Knowledge
- [Scientific and Technical Nomenclature](/Knowledge/Scientific_and_Technical_Nomenclature) — requires knowledge · Knowledge

### Perform

- [Validate citations and references](/Tasks/Validate_citations_and_references) — perform · Tasks
- [Verify Nomenclature and Unit Consistency](/Tasks/Verify_Nomenclature_and_Unit_Consistency) — perform · Tasks
- [Query Authors on Ambiguities](/Tasks/Query_Authors_on_Ambiguities) — perform · Tasks
- [Cross-Check Tables and Figure Captions](/Tasks/Cross-Check_Tables_and_Figure_Captions) — perform · Tasks
- [Mark Corrections on Page Proofs](/Tasks/Mark_Corrections_on_Page_Proofs) — perform · Tasks
- [Enforce House and Discipline Style](/Tasks/Enforce_House_and_Discipline_Style) — perform · Tasks
- [Check Equation and Symbol Rendering](/Tasks/Check_Equation_and_Symbol_Rendering) — perform · Tasks
- [Proofread Typeset Journal Proofs](/Tasks/Proofread_Typeset_Journal_Proofs) — perform · Tasks

### Problems this exposes

- [gene/protein and taxon nomenclature italicization and approved-symbol use inconsistent across the article](/Problems/gene%2Fprotein_and_taxon_nomenclature_italicization_and_approved-symbol_use_inconsistent_across_the_article) — exposes problem · Problems
- [chemical and drug names mixing trade vs generic and non-standard abbreviations on first use](/Problems/chemical_and_drug_names_mixing_trade_vs_generic_and_non-standard_abbreviations_on_first_use) — exposes problem · Problems
- [table cell values and column totals contradicting the numbers quoted in the running text](/Problems/table_cell_values_and_column_totals_contradicting_the_numbers_quoted_in_the_running_text) — exposes problem · Problems
- [caption units or sample sizes disagreeing with the table body or the methods section](/Problems/caption_units_or_sample_sizes_disagreeing_with_the_table_body_or_the_methods_section) — exposes problem · Problems
- [typeset glyphs silently substituted during composition (minus to hyphen, ∂ to italic d, missing Greek) vs the author source](/Problems/typeset_glyphs_silently_substituted_during_composition_(minus_to_hyphen,_∂_to_italic_d,_missing_Greek)_vs_the_author_source) — exposes problem · Problems
- [inline vs display equation breaks that change operator precedence as read, though each token is correct](/Problems/inline_vs_display_equation_breaks_that_change_operator_precedence_as_read,_though_each_token_is_correct) — exposes problem · Problems
- [checker flags discipline-correct usage (CSE gene case, SI prefixes) as errors, drowning real issues in noise](/Problems/checker_flags_discipline-correct_usage_(CSE_gene_case,_SI_prefixes)_as_errors,_drowning_real_issues_in_noise) — exposes problem · Problems
- [journal-specific house exceptions the automated style checker can't encode, forcing manual override of every false positive](/Problems/journal-specific_house_exceptions_the_automated_style_checker_can't_encode,_forcing_manual_override_of_every_false_positive) — exposes problem · Problems
- [author-query rounds tracked so unresolved queries don't slip through to the published version of record](/Problems/author-query_rounds_tracked_so_unresolved_queries_don't_slip_through_to_the_published_version_of_record) — exposes problem · Problems
- [proof corrections marked in PDF annotation that the typesetter must re-key, risking newly introduced errors](/Problems/proof_corrections_marked_in_PDF_annotation_that_the_typesetter_must_re-key,_risking_newly_introduced_errors) — exposes problem · Problems
- [enforcing house style (CSE/AMA) plus journal-specific exceptions consistently across an issue](/Problems/enforcing_house_style_(CSE%2FAMA)_plus_journal-specific_exceptions_consistently_across_an_issue) — exposes problem · Problems
- [checking figure callouts, numbering, and permission/credit lines against the proof](/Problems/checking_figure_callouts,_numbering,_and_permission%2Fcredit_lines_against_the_proof) — exposes problem · Problems
- [catching equation, unit, and SI-notation errors LaTeX renders cleanly but are scientifically wrong](/Problems/catching_equation,_unit,_and_SI-notation_errors_LaTeX_renders_cleanly_but_are_scientifically_wrong) — exposes problem · Problems
- [verifying in-text citations against the reference list and resolving broken DOIs before typeset](/Problems/verifying_in-text_citations_against_the_reference_list_and_resolving_broken_DOIs_before_typeset) — exposes problem · Problems
- [figure-callout vs figure-numbering mismatches hunted manually](/Problems/figure-callout_vs_figure-numbering_mismatches_hunted_manually) — exposes problem · Problems
- [math, equation, and SI-unit notation accuracy verified by hand](/Problems/math,_equation,_and_SI-unit_notation_accuracy_verified_by_hand) — exposes problem · Problems
- [reference/citation style (Vancouver/APA) consistency checked manually](/Problems/reference%2Fcitation_style_(Vancouver%2FAPA)_consistency_checked_manually) — exposes problem · Problems

### Uses software

- [Style Checking Software](/Software/Style_Checking_Software) — uses software · Software
- [Manuscript Tracking System](/Software/Manuscript_Tracking_System) — uses software · Software
- [Reference Management Software](/Software/Reference_Management_Software) — uses software · Software
- [Word Processing Software](/Software/Word_Processing_Software) — uses software · Software
- [PDF Annotation Software](/Software/PDF_Annotation_Software) — uses software · Software

### Requires ability

- [Perceptual Speed](/Ability/Perceptual_Speed) — requires ability · Ability
- [Selective Attention](/Ability/Selective_Attention) — requires ability · Ability
- [Near Vision](/Ability/Near_Vision) — requires ability · Ability
- [Written Comprehension](/Ability/Written_Comprehension) — requires ability · Ability

### Required skills

- [Markup Annotation](/Skills/Markup_Annotation) — requires skill · Skills
- [Attention to Detail Checking](/Skills/Attention_to_Detail_Checking) — requires skill · Skills
- [Style Guide Application](/Skills/Style_Guide_Application) — requires skill · Skills
- [Copyediting](/Skills/Copyediting) — requires skill · Skills
- [Proofreading](/Skills/Proofreading) — requires skill · Skills

### Engage in

- [Verify Nomenclature and Unit Consistency](/Activities/Verify_Nomenclature_and_Unit_Consistency) — engage in · Activities
- [Check Equation and Symbol Rendering](/Activities/Check_Equation_and_Symbol_Rendering) — engage in · Activities
- [Verify Reference Citation Formatting](/Activities/Verify_Reference_Citation_Formatting) — engage in · Activities

### What it uses

- [ScholarOne Manuscripts](/Products/ScholarOne_Manuscripts) — uses · Products
- [Microsoft Word](/Products/Microsoft_Word) — uses · Products
- [Edifix](/Products/Edifix) — uses · Products
- [Aries Editorial Manager](/Products/Aries_Editorial_Manager) — uses · Products
- [Adobe Acrobat Pro](/Products/Adobe_Acrobat_Pro) — uses · Products