Proofread vs. Proof Read
For the verb meaning to check text for errors before publication, “proofread” is the standard closed form. Dictionaries may also record the hyphenated variant “proof-read”; the open “proof read” is not the normal dictionary headword for this verb.
Use “proofread” for the verb. “Proof-read” is a documented variant, while the open “proof read” is not the usual verb form.
Key details
Further guidance
Core difference
For the editing verb, current dictionary treatment centers on “proofread,” with “proof-read” also recorded.
Usage Boundary
A sequence such as “proof read” can occur when “proof” and “read” belong to different grammatical structures; that does not make it the standard spelling of the verb “proofread.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Proofread definition and meaning — Collins English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Collins Dictionary · Dictionary evidence for proofread and proof-read forms