Proofreading, Fair Copy Preparation and Formatting of Typed or Shorthand Output
What the domain tests
Proofreading and fair-copy work test character-level accuracy and format control. You must detect errors in a typed or shorthand-derived text and produce a clean copy that matches the approved draft without introducing new mistakes.
Core rules
- Two-pass proofreading: first read for sense and sentence completeness; then read character by character for matras, anusvara, conjuncts and punctuation.
- Marathi-specific checks: verify shwa deletion, जोडाक्षरे, the difference between anusvara (ं) and anunasika (ँ), and the correct halant in conjuncts.
- Fair copy: copy from the approved draft, not from memory. Preserve wording, numbering, dates and figures exactly; do not silently improve the language.
- Formatting: keep consistent margins, paragraph indents, line spacing, headings, numbered lists and tables. A fair copy is judged on both accuracy and layout.
- Mark corrections clearly on the working copy, then produce the final copy without correction marks.
Worked example
The draft reads काम पूर्ण झाले. The typed copy reads कम पूर्ण झाले. The first pass shows the sentence is grammatical but the sense is odd; the second pass finds the missing आ matra after क. The reasoning is: do not rewrite the sentence; restore the missing vowel sign and check the rest of the line for similar matra omissions.
Traps that cost marks
Correcting only obvious spelling and missing matra errors; ignoring spacing before punctuation; changing approved wording in the fair copy; inconsistent heading or numbering style; and leaving proofreading marks on the final copy.