Website proofreading checklist: 12 pre-launch checks
What is website proofreading?
Website proofreading is the final check of your website's written content before it goes live. It involves checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency and accuracy, as well as reviewing headings, links, buttons and other on-page text.
An incorrect price, confusing sentence or broken contact form can undermine visitors' confidence in your business. My Website Proofreading Checklist covers 12 important checks, from copy and links to forms, images, accessibility, SEO settings and launch details.
Work through the checklist once your website copy and design are largely finished, reviewing the pages as visitors will see them on both desktop and mobile.
Key takeaways
Proofread everything, including navigation, buttons, footers, forms, messages and downloadable documents.
Check your facts, particularly prices, contact details, opening hours and service information.
Test the website as a visitor would, including links, forms, downloads and calls to action.
Review mobile and accessibility considerations, including keyboard navigation, readable text and clear controls.
Proofread the finished pages, not just the copy in your CMS, and carry out a final check once the website is live.
Website proofreading checklist: 12 things to check before you publish
Think of this as your final quality control pass. Ideally, finish your copy and design before you start.
Don't just proofread the text inside your content management system (CMS). Review the finished, rendered pages, because formatting, images, links and other elements can introduce problems that aren't obvious when you're looking at the raw copy.
1/ Check spelling, grammar and punctuation on every page
Start with the basics, but don't underestimate them. Read your website slowly and check spelling, punctuation and grammar. Look out for:
missing words
repeated words or phrases
duplicated sentences
incorrect apostrophes
inconsistent capitalisation
misplaced commas
incorrect quotation marks
awkward or unclear sentences
words that have been used incorrectly
inconsistent spelling, such as organisation and organization
Don't forget the smaller pieces of website copy. Check your:
headings and subheadings
navigation menus
buttons
captions
image text
footers
cookie banners
error messages
form instructions
confirmation messages
automated emails
downloadable documents
A spell checker is useful, but it can't replace a human proofreader. It won't necessarily spot a correctly spelt word used in the wrong context, an awkward sentence, or a missing word.
Tip: Reading your copy aloud can make errors much easier to hear, particularly repeated words, missing words and clumsy sentences.
2/ Check that facts, names and offers are accurate
A beautifully written website can still damage your credibility if the information on it is wrong. Check important details against an approved source rather than relying on memory or copying information from another page that could itself be out of date.
Pay particular attention to:
prices
dates
opening hours
telephone numbers
email addresses
physical addresses
product and service names
staff names and job titles
qualifications and memberships
delivery information
availability
guarantees
special offers
statistics and claims
Check that your service descriptions and promises accurately reflect what you provide. If you're working with a client, ask them to confirm information that you can't verify yourself.
Also, look for information that may have become outdated. An old special offer, a former team member, or an obsolete delivery time can make a website look neglected.
3/ Keep your terminology and writing style consistent
Consistency makes a website easier to read and gives it a more professional feel. Check your:
spelling
capitalisation
hyphenation
dates
numbers
headings
terminology
product and service names
If you have a style guide, use it throughout your website. If you don't have one, make a note of the decisions you make during your proofreading so you can apply them consistently. For example, if you call something a website audit on one page, don't suddenly call it a website review elsewhere unless there's a genuine difference between the two services.
The same applies to your tone of voice. Your website should sound as though one business wrote it, not several different people.
Remember, though, that consistency isn't the same as copyediting. A stylistic edit can make broader changes to wording, sentence structure, clarity and flow. Proofreading normally happens after those decisions are made and aims to correct errors without unnecessarily changing the writer's voice.
Check the wording and layout your visitors will interact with
Some of the most important website copy consists of only a few words.
4/ Proofread headings, buttons and other small pieces of copy
Read your headings, buttons and interface text carefully.
Start with your headings and ask yourself: Does this heading accurately tell visitors what they'll find underneath it?
Then look at your buttons and calls to action. They should make the next step clear.
For example:
Send your enquiry is more informative than Submit
Download the service brochure tells visitors what they're downloading
Book your initial consultation gives a clearer expectation than Click here
Review your:
navigation labels
buttons
calls to action
form instructions
validation messages
cookie controls
image captions
pop-ups
automated emails
Make sure each piece of copy makes sense in context and clearly tells visitors what they need to do next.
And remember, small pieces of text still deserve a proper proofread!
5/ Test every link, menu and call-to-action
Don't assume that a link works simply because it looks like a link. To make sure it works and takes you to the correct page, make sure you click every link on your website, including:
internal page links
external links
logo links
email addresses
telephone numbers
social media links
downloadable files
calls to action
links within blog posts
Check your navigation menus, too, particularly on mobile.
A link may also technically work but still be wrong. Look for:
outdated pages
old PDF downloads
incorrect URLs
staging addresses
links pointing to the wrong service
information that no longer matches the destination page
Use descriptive link text wherever possible. Download the service brochure tells a visitor much more than Click here.
And don't forget to check your CTAs. If a page tells visitors to contact you, make sure the button actually takes them where you expect.
6/ Check your website on mobile and at higher zoom
Your website may look perfect on your desktop monitor but be difficult to use on a phone. Make sure you review important pages on a mobile device, including your:
home page
service pages
about page
contact page
blog posts
landing pages
Look for:
headings that wrap awkwardly
text that's difficult to read
overlapping elements
buttons that are difficult to tap
unexpected horizontal scrolling
images that don't display properly
content hidden behind sticky navigation
cookie banners covering important information
Try increasing the browser zoom on desktop, too. This can reveal layout problems and make accessibility issues easier to spot.
If possible, test your menus, forms and buttons on an actual phone rather than relying entirely on your website builder's preview.
Review accessibility, SEO and images
Proofreading isn't an accessibility or SEO audit, but you can still check several things as part of your final website review.
7/ Check that your website can be used with a keyboard
Try navigating your website without using a mouse. Use the Tab and Shift + Tab keys to move between links, buttons and form fields.
Check that:
you can reach all interactive elements
the order makes sense
there's a visible focus indicator
you don't get trapped in one part of the page
form fields can be completed using the keyboard
Look at your wording, too. Form labels and instructions should be clear and understandable rather than relying on technical language.
Don't use colour alone to communicate important information. For example, don't identify an error only by turning a field red.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide an internationally recognised framework for website accessibility. WCAG 2.2 Level AA is commonly used as a target, although the accessibility requirements that apply to a particular organisation will depend on its circumstances.
A checklist can't establish that a website is fully accessible. For more complex websites or organisations with specific accessibility obligations, specialist testing may be appropriate.
8/ Check page titles, meta descriptions and indexing settings
Your website copy and SEO settings need to agree with each other, so check that important pages have:
a clear and relevant page title
an appropriate meta description
a clear main heading
content that matches the page's purpose
the correct preferred URL where a canonical URL is being used
Your page title and meta description should accurately represent what visitors will find on the page. Avoid stuffing them with keywords simply for the sake of SEO.
Before launching, make sure your public pages aren't accidentally being blocked from search engines because a staging or development setting was left switched on.
Check for accidental noindex settings, too. At the same time, make sure you haven't removed intentional restrictions on private or administrative pages.
It's worth checking these settings again after launch.
9/ Check images, captions and alt text
Images are part of your website's content, so they need proofreading too. Check that:
images load correctly
images are the right versions
captions are accurate
text within graphics is correct
images aren't distorted
important information isn't hidden within an image
alternative text is appropriate
Alt text should describe the useful information an image conveys, rather than being an opportunity to add extra keywords. For example, if an image shows a person using a particular product that's discussed in the surrounding text, the alt text might need to explain what's happening.
Decorative images can generally have empty alt text rather than unnecessary descriptions.
If an image contains important information or wording that isn't available elsewhere, provide it in accessible text as well.
Test forms, privacy choices and website performance
10/ Submit every form and follow the complete user journey
A contact form isn't fully tested until you've actually submitted it. Make sure you test every form on your website, including:
contact forms
enquiry forms
newsletter sign-up forms
booking forms
quote forms
application forms
Try both valid and invalid information.
Check that:
required fields work correctly
error messages are clear
errors identify what needs correcting
information isn't unnecessarily lost when a mistake is made
successful submissions produce the expected confirmation
automated emails are sent correctly
submissions reach the correct inbox or customer management system
Don't stop when you see a ‘Thank you for your enquiry’ message. A successful form submission doesn't necessarily mean the enquiry reached the right person. Check the receiving inbox or customer system before signing it off.
Repeat your tests on mobile and using a keyboard.
If your form includes marketing consent, make sure the wording is clear, and that consent isn't unnecessarily bundled with the basic enquiry.
11/ Check cookie choices, privacy information and legal details
Your privacy and cookie information should reflect what your website actually does. Check your:
privacy notice
cookie notice or policy
cookie consent mechanism
marketing consent wording
terms and conditions, where applicable
business details and contact information
Compare these with the technologies and third-party services the website actually uses. For example, check whether your website uses analytics, advertising tools, embedded videos, maps, social media content or other third-party services.
For UK websites, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) provides guidance on cookies and similar technologies under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
Don't simply copy a generic cookie policy and assume it covers your website. The information should accurately reflect the cookies and technologies you use.
Also test your cookie controls. Check what happens when a visitor:
accepts non-essential cookies
rejects them
changes their preferences later
Where consent is required, withdrawing it should be straightforward.
Privacy and cookie requirements can be complicated, so seek appropriate legal or privacy advice if you're unsure what applies to your business.
12/ Check website speed and layout before launch
Website performance affects the user experience, particularly for visitors using mobile devices or slower connections.
Check key templates and important landing pages, not just your home page. Look for:
oversized images
slow-loading videos
unnecessary third-party scripts
delayed fonts
large embedded content
banners or pop-ups that cause the page to move while loading
Google's Core Web Vitals provide useful performance measures. Its current 'good' thresholds include:
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 2.5 seconds or less
Interaction to Next Paint (INP): 200 milliseconds or less
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): 0.1 or less
Google's PageSpeed Insights can help identify potential performance problems.
Remember that website performance can change after launch. Your live hosting environment, traffic and third-party services can all affect results, so check important pages again once the website is live.
Good Core Web Vitals don't guarantee a particular search ranking, but they can contribute to a better user experience.
How to make your final website proofreading pass more effective
Don't try to proofread your website while you're still writing it.
If you're constantly rewriting paragraphs, moving sections and changing headings, it becomes difficult to know what you've already checked. Instead, finish the main copy and design first. Then take a break before starting your final proofread.
A few simple techniques can make the process more effective.
Change the way you read
When you've written your own website, familiarity is a problem. Your brain knows what you intended to write, so it can overlook what's actually on the screen. Try:
reading the copy aloud
reading one sentence at a time
changing the font or text size temporarily
reading backwards, sentence by sentence, when checking spelling
asking someone else to read important pages
printing particularly important pages
checking desktop and mobile versions separately
Check one type of information at a time
Rather than trying to spot everything simultaneously, do several focused passes. For example:
Pass 1: spelling, grammar and punctuation
Pass 2: names, prices and contact details
Pass 3: headings and calls to action
Pass 4: links and downloads
Pass 5: forms and automated messages
Pass 6: mobile layout and accessibility
Pass 7: SEO and launch settings
Keep a simple list of corrections and tick each one off when you've checked it.
Most importantly, recheck anything you've changed. One correction can sometimes create another problem elsewhere on the page.
Final thoughts
Your website is often the first point of contact someone has with your business. Small mistakes can therefore have a bigger impact than you might expect. An accurate, clear, easy-to-use website builds visitor confidence and makes it easier for them to take the next step.
My Website Proofreading Checklist gives you a structured way to carry out your final checks, but a fresh pair of eyes can still make a big difference.
When you've been looking at the same pages for weeks, it's surprisingly easy to read what you meant to write rather than what's actually there. A professional proofreader can spot errors you've become blind to, identify inconsistencies and flag wording that could confuse your readers, while respecting your existing voice and style.
Get in touch if you'd like to discuss proofreading or editing your website copy or other business documents. I'd be happy to talk through what you need.
Frequently asked questions about website proofreading
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Website proofreading typically checks spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency and obvious formatting errors. Depending on the agreed scope, it can also include checking links, headings, buttons and other website copy.
Broader copyediting, technical testing, accessibility auditing and legal or privacy reviews are separate services and may require specialist expertise.
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Ideally, proofread your website after the main copy and design are finished but before you publish it.
Allow time to make corrections and check them again in context. If you're using a professional proofreader, don't leave the job until the day before your planned launch. Giving your proofreader enough time to work carefully will produce a better result.
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Yes.
Formatting and technical changes can introduce problems that weren't visible in your original document. Review the rendered pages before launch, then carry out a final check once the website is live.
Pay particular attention to forms, links, images, mobile layouts and any pages that have been changed during the launch process.
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Yes, but be aware it can be difficult to spot mistakes in copy you've written yourself.
Take a break before proofreading and use a structured checklist rather than relying on a quick read-through. Reading important copy aloud can also help.
A second reader can provide a useful fresh perspective, particularly for important business or sales pages.
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That depends on the website platform, the access you're comfortable providing and the service you've agreed.
A proofreader may be able to make changes directly in your CMS. Alternatively, website copy can often be reviewed in Microsoft Word using Track Changes, with the website owner approving and applying the amendments.
Before work begins, agree how corrections will be supplied, approved, implemented and checked on the finished website.
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