galley proof

printing

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June 29, 2026

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A galley proof is an early version of text from a printer, taken from a galley (a long tray holding a column of type) before it's arranged into pages. This stage is part of the broader process of proofreading, which occurs before publication. The goal of proofreading is to catch and correct errors in formatting, spacing, punctuation, grammar, and spelling. This practice dates back to the early days of printing.123

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proofreading
Traditional proofreading
…type, and hence are called galley proofs; the term is sometimes also used for the first copy produced in photocomposition (a process of setting text by projecting characters onto photographic film or paper, replacing traditional metal type) and other forms of typesetting (the arrangement of text for printing, whether by…
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…type, and hence are called galley proofs; the term is sometimes also used for the first copy produced in photocomposition (a process of setting text by projecting characters onto photographic film or paper, replacing traditional metal type) and other forms of typesetting (the arrangement of text for printing, whether by…
Read More