‘校稿’ literally combines ‘校’ (jiào), meaning ‘to check, verify, or proofread’, and ‘稿’ (gǎo), meaning ‘draft’ or ‘manuscript’. Together, it means the act of carefully reviewing a written draft to catch and correct errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and factual accuracy before final publication. It’s a key step in publishing, editing, journalism, academic writing, and professional document preparation.

This verb emphasizes meticulous attention to detail and is often performed by editors, authors, or typesetters. While ‘校稿’ can be used as a noun (e.g., ‘这是我的校稿任务’), its primary and most frequent usage is verbal — describing the active process of proofreading. It implies responsibility and precision, distinguishing it from casual reading or light editing.