10 Essential Proofreading Checklist For Author Must Complete Before Publishing | Book Writing Venture

Publishing a book is more than uploading a manuscript and hitting “publish.” Every major platform—Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Kobo, and IngramSpark—has strict guidelines for content quality. Books that fail these standards are often rejected, flagged, or even removed after launch due to poor editing, formatting errors, or readability issues.

At Book Writing Venture, we’ve worked with countless authors who faced delays or takedowns because essential proofreading steps were skipped. To protect your book and maintain your credibility as an author, here are ten proofreading checklist for author for critical elements you must check before your manuscript goes live.

1. Grammar Accuracy and Sentence Flow

Even a single grammar error can damage reader trust. Manuscripts with recurring grammar mistakes—misused tenses, missing articles, fragment sentences—are often flagged by Amazon’s automated systems or receive negative early reviews that affect ratings.

Poor grammar is also one of the top reasons books are withdrawn. A notable case occurred in 2020 when an indie author’s fantasy novel was removed entirely due to excessive grammar errors reported by readers. It wasn’t the story that failed—it was the lack of proofreading.

2. Consistency in Tone and Voice

Your book must sound like one writer, not several different versions of yourself. Proofreading ensures your tone stays consistent—professional, emotional, humorous, or narrative—without sudden shifts that confuse readers.

Bestsellers like “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens maintain a consistent narrative voice throughout the story, contributing heavily to their success.

3. Accuracy of Facts, Dates, and References

Factual errors create credibility issues. Non-fiction authors especially must double-check:

• Names
• Dates
• Statistics
• Locations
• Historical events

Books containing factual inaccuracies have been removed for “misleading content” under Amazon’s quality policy and especially in self-help and health categories.

4. Proper Punctuation Usage

Misplaced commas and inconsistent punctuation weaken both clarity and professionalism. Platforms like Amazon KDP use automated systems to scan for punctuation anomalies.

Bestselling titles like “Atomic Habits” by James Clear are known for clean and precise punctuation that makes reading smooth and enjoyable. Clear’s editorial team spent months in order to polishing the manuscript to eliminate rhythm-breaking errors.

5. Spelling Uniformity (US/UK English)

Nothing frustrates readers more than switching between “color” and “colour” or “organise” and “organize” mid-book. Proofreading ensures your manuscript follows a single spelling convention.

Many authors have had their books flagged for being “inconsistent with expected language style,” especially those writing for US audiences while mixing British spellings.

6. Layout and Formatting Compliance

Formatting errors can lead to immediate rejection by:

• KDP
• IngramSpark
• Barnes & Noble Press

Common issues include:

• Incorrect font sizes
• Irregular paragraph spacing
• Badly formatted headings
• Missing page breaks
• Inconsistent chapter starts

Amazon has delisted books for broken formatting that causes text overlaps or unreadable eBook pages.

Contrast this with a bestseller like “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson, which is celebrated for clean layout and professional chapter spacing—something his publisher perfected during proofreading and formatting.

7. Incorrect Word Usage

Words like “their,” “there,” “they’re” or “effect” vs “affect” often slip into manuscripts. While small, these mistakes create major credibility problems.

Amazon’s quality notices frequently cite “incorrect word usage” as the reason books require fixes post-publishing.

8. Repetition and Redundancy

Authors often repeat information unknowingly. Proofreading helps identify areas where:

• The same idea is stated multiple times
• Sentences repeat structure
• Descriptions reuse identical phrases

Top editors reduce repetitive text by up to 30% in bestsellers. For example, “Becoming” by Michelle Obama underwent heavy editorial refinement to remove redundancy and enhance flow.

9. Chapter Structure and Flow

Each chapter should open strong, build properly, and close smoothly. Chapter gaps, abrupt endings, or missing transitions damage readability and result in low ratings.

Bestsellers are the ones who are known for their structure:

• “Harry Potter”
• “The Hunger Games”
• “The Girl on the Train”

These books follow a disciplined narrative flow that enhances reader engagement—achieved through meticulous editing and pre-publishing proofreading.

10. Final Read-Through in Print Format

Many authors skip this crucial step. What looks perfect on a screen may fall apart in print:

• Text alignment issues
• Heading inconsistencies
• Hyphenation errors
• Widow/orphan lines
• Page numbering mistakes

A significant number of books delisted from Amazon experienced printing failures because authors did not perform a print-proof check.

This final proofreading step separates poorly prepared books from high-quality, bestseller-ready manuscripts.

Examples of Books Removed From Amazon Due to Poor Editing

While Amazon rarely releases official statements, several authors publicly shared their experiences:

❌ Case 1: “The Summoner’s Chronicles” (Indie Fantasy)

Removed in 2020 due to:

• Grammar errors in every chapter
• Incorrect formatting for KDP
• Excessive passive voice

After multiple reader complaints, the book was taken down until professional editing was completed.

❌ Case 2: “Healthy in 30 Days” (Self-Help/Nutrition)

Delisted in 2021 because:

• Factual inconsistencies
• Misleading claims
• Numerous spelling mistakes

Examples of Amazon Bestsellers Known for Flawless Editing

“Atomic Habits” – James Clear

• Extremely clean grammar
• Zero redundancy
• Clear, consistent formatting

“Becoming” – Michelle Obama

• Deep structural editing
• Fact-checked heavily
• Polished sentence flow

“The Alchemist” – Paulo Coelho

• Minimal errors
• Smooth pacing
• Consistent narrative voice

These books succeed not only because of great storytelling but because their editing teams followed strict proofreading protocols—every chapter, every sentence, every word refined with precision.

Conclusion: Proofreading Can Make or Break Your Book Launch

Skipping proofreading is one of the fastest ways to damage your reputation, and as an author, it is also important not to risk your book being removed from distribution platforms.

At Book Writing Venture, the best publishing firm in Florida, help authors avoid these pitfalls by offering expert proofreading, editing, formatting, and pre-launch checks to ensure your manuscript meets the highest publishing standards.

Proofreading checklist for author Before hitting “publish,” make sure your book meets the same level of quality as today’s bestselling titles.