Proofreading is the process of reviewing a final draft of a piece of writing to ensure consistency and accuracy in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. It is the last stage of the writing process, where minor spelling and punctuation mistakes, typos, formatting issues, and inconsistencies are fixed. Proofreading is essential for any text that will be shared with an audience, whether its an academic paper, a job application, an online article, or a print flyer. The scope of proofreading is limited as the proofreader focuses only on reading the text to ensure the document is error-free and ready for publication. Proofreading can be done by the writer or by a professional proofreader. In the publishing industry, proofreaders usually check a printed "proof copy" of the text and mark corrections using specialized proofreading marks. In other fields, professional proofreaders often work with digital texts and make corrections directly using the track changes feature in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Basic proofreading skills are important for anyone who writes, and there are some techniques one can use to proofread efficiently and effectively before sharing their work.