Gains:
- Separating the surface, language-flow and consistency layers of the proofreading and having artificial intelligence apply each layer in a separate pass
- Ability to mark every change and preserve the author's style and conscious choices
- Being able to make the final decision as an editor while checking Turkish-specific rules (de/da, ki, mi, caret) and bibliography format
The work is not over when the writing of a text is finished; Preparation of the text for publication begins. This work is three-layered. Proofreading (reviewing and correcting a text for language, expression, consistency, and accuracy) corrects the flow and accuracy of the text. Proofreading (removing spelling, punctuation and spelling errors) removes surface errors. Typesetting (arrangement of how the text appears on the page — font, line, heading, space — typesetting in English) translates the text into a readable and aesthetic page. In this unit, we will learn to use AI as an assistant in these three layers.
This is one area where AI really shines: spelling-punctuation scanning, consistency checking, format standard enforcement, etc. are both repetitive and regimented. But with a caveat: AI suggests correction; You are the editor who decides which revision is accepted, whether the author's voice is preserved and the meaning of the text is not distorted.
Do not mix the three layers of proofreading
A common mistake is to say “fix everything” and let the AI release the text. This leads to the AI rewriting the text in its own stereotypical voice. Instead, separate the layers:
- Surface (proofreading): Only spelling, punctuation, obvious spelling errors. Don't touch the understanding and style.
- Language and flow (proofreading): Broken sentences, ambiguity, unnecessary repetition. But keep the author's voice.
- Consistency: Names, dates, terms, and format are the same throughout the text.
Ask for each layer in a separate pass. This way, you can see which changes were made and why and keep control.
Tip: Tell the AI to "mark everywhere you changed and write why." "Silent editing" (changing text without noticing) is the editor's worst enemy; because when AI corrects a mistake, it can also erase a deliberate choice of the author.
Preserving the author's voice
In a literary text, style (an author's unique expression, "voice") is everything. The default tendency of AI is to translate every text into fluent, plain and clichéd "good Turkish". This might be fine in a technical report; But "correcting" a storyteller's broken sentences, a poet's inverted line, or a character's dialect kills the text. Explicitly forbid this in the prompt: "Preserve the author's tone, inversions, and deliberate repetition; correct only obvious errors."
Attention: Dialect, slang or periodic language in the dialogue is often a conscious choice. AI may think these are "errors" and fix them. Be extra skeptical of the AI's language corrections in character speech and poetry.
Typesetting and formatting
AI in typesetting; It helps with regular tasks such as consistent title layout, bullet points, use of quotation marks and apostrophes, and bibliography format. For example, bringing the entire bibliography into the same format, checking footnote numbers, and checking the consistency of quotation marks are all tasks that AI does well. But the aesthetic decision of the page design and the final visual approval belong to the human.
three mini cases
Case 1 — Consistency check found an error. An editor suspected that a character's name was spelled twice in a 180-page novel. He had the AI scan the entire text; The name was spelled differently in 4 places. The editor brought them all into one format. An inconsistency that would have taken hours to find manually was revealed in minutes.
Case 2 — Silent correction caught. A teacher had the AI correct a student's story but did not say "mark". AI corrected the student's consciously inverted sentence and deleted the wording. The teacher noticed and reverted to a “spelling only” transition, preserving the student's voice.
Case 3 — Bibliography format merged. A journal editor used AI to standardize bibliographies of 14 articles in different formats. AI quickly implemented the format; The editor additionally checked the accuracy (year, page) of each byline, since format correction does not guarantee the content.
Case 4 — “de/da” trap caught. An editor noticed that in a text edited by YZ, the "de" in the sentence "Did you come too?", which should have been written separately, was written adjacently. AI had confused the conjunction with the suffix. When the editor went through the rules-based corrections one by one, he found and fixed three more similar errors.
Four copyable templates
1) Surface correction only:
Correct ONLY spelling, punctuation and obvious typos in the text below. TOUCH sentence structure, word choice and tone. List everything you changed in the format "old → new" and write why. Preserve inversion and deliberate repetition.Text: [paste text]
2) Language and flow (preserving voice):
Correct any broken sentences, ambiguities and unnecessary repetitions in the text below. MAINTAIN the author's style and voice; do not add clichés, do not embellish sentences. Show each suggestion separately and write "why"; The decision to accept is mine. Don't touch the mouth in the dialogue.Text: [paste text]
3) Consistency check:
Find inconsistencies in the following text: different spellings of the same name/term, date conflicts, quotation marks, and case inconsistencies. List your findings with suggestions for correction. Do not replace text automatically.Text: [paste text]
4) Bibliography formatting:
Convert the following bibliography to the following format: [format description]. Edit format ONLY; CHANGE or complete the information in the imprint (author, year, page). If there is missing information, write "[missing]", do not make it up. References: [paste bibliography]
Weak prompt / Strong prompt
Weak: "Correct and beautify this text."
Strong: "Correct only spelling and punctuation errors in this text. Do not touch the sentence structure, word choice and tone; keep the author's inverted sentences and deliberate repetitions. List each place you changed as 'old → new' and write why."
The powerful prompt limits the layer, preserves the audio and makes every change visible. The weak prompt says "beautify", allowing the AI to rewrite the text in its own stereotypical voice.
Layer and AI reliability table
layer
AI reliability
Attention
spelling/punctuation
high
Review anyway
Consistency (name/term)
high
Confirm change
Language and flow
medium
preserve sound
Stylistic/literary preference
low
take your hand off
Bibliography format
high
Also verify content
Page design
assistant
Aesthetic approval in humans
Turkish-specific traps
General spelling screening of AI is useful in proofreading; but some of the finer rules of Turkish are areas where the AI occasionally "corrects" mistakes and require special attention from the editor. A few examples:
- The conjunction "de/da" is written separately, and the suffix "-de/-da" is written adjacently. "I also came" (conjunction, separate) is different from "at home" (adjunct, adjacent). AI mostly knows this but can be wrong depending on the context; Review in critical text.
- The conjunction "ki" is separate, the suffix "-ki" is adjacent. The distinction between "I don't know that" (separate) and "evening" (adjacent) changes the meaning.
- The interrogative suffix "mi" is always written separately and fits the vowel of the word before it: "did it come", "is it beautiful".
- The caret (^) distinguishes meaning in some words: "snow" (precipitation) and "profit" (gain). AI may use this sign inconsistently.
These rules are both frequently encountered and have a direct impact on the meaning. Consider the AI's scan a start; But on points such as "de/da", "ki", "mi" and correction mark, you, as the editor who knows the rules, make the final decision. You can also turn these points into a teaching opportunity when correcting a student text.
Caution: AI may sometimes mistake a correctly written "de/da" as incorrect and "correct" it, or vice versa. Do not accept such rules-based corrections in bulk; see each separately and confirm according to the rule.
Common mistakes
- It means "beautify". The AI rewrites the text in its own stereotypical voice; limit layer.
- Not saying "mark". Silent editing erases style imperceptibly.
- Relying on language correction in dialogue and poetry. The mouth and inverted structure are often intentional.
- Mistaking format correction for content verification. Even if the bibliography format is improved, the year/page requires separate confirmation.
- Wanting everything in one pass. Separate the layers; maintain control.
In summary
Editing, proofreading, and typesetting are canonical tasks that AI really accelerates: spelling-punctuation, consistency, standard of style. But separate the layers, get every change marked, preserve the author's voice, and you, the editor, make the final decision. Don't say "beautify", say "fix this on this layer, keep the audio, show the change".
Application task
Take a short text (your own or a student text). First, have the spelling and punctuation corrected with the "Surface correction only" template and review the list of changes. Then apply the "Language and flow" template in a separate pass. Catch and reject a tone-breaking suggestion from the AI and note the experience.
checklist
- [ ] I applied the redaction layers in separate passes.
- [ ] I marked each change and saw why.
- [ ] I preserved the author's voice and conscious choices.
- [ ] I was skeptical of language corrections in dialogue and poetry.
- [ ] I also verified the content while correcting the bibliography format.