What Proofread Mode Does
Proofread Mode is Bookshaper's dedicated prose-polishing engine. It zooms in on the sentence and paragraph level, analyzing your writing for grammar issues and stylistic patterns that weaken prose.
The system operates in two distinct layers. The grammar layer runs locally and delivers instant feedback on mechanical issues. The style layer uses AI-powered analysis to detect deeper craft patterns that require understanding context and intent. Together they cover the full spectrum from misplaced commas to overwritten passages.
Proofread Mode is designed for later-stage revision work. You would typically engage it after your story structure, character arcs, and scene sequencing are in good shape, and you are ready to refine the prose itself. Using it too early in the process can pull your attention toward sentence-level polish when you should still be solving structural problems.
The Grammar Layer
The grammar layer runs entirely on your local machine, which means results appear instantly as you write. There is no network delay and no usage cost. It scans for seven specific categories of mechanical issues that are both common and reliably detectable.
Because the grammar layer runs locally, it works even when you are offline. You can use it on a plane, in a coffee shop without Wi-Fi, or anywhere else you write. The results are identical regardless of connectivity.
The Style Layer
The style layer uses AI-powered analysis to detect patterns that require understanding prose at a deeper level than grammar rules can reach. These eleven categories address craft-level concerns that developmental editors and experienced beta readers typically flag.
Working Through Issues
Proofread groups flagged issues by severity — Errors, Warnings, and Suggestions — and the most efficient approach is to work through them in that order. Address errors first, where the prose is most likely confusing or incorrect. Then review warnings, where the pattern is likely weakening your prose but might be intentional. Finally scan suggestions, which highlight tendencies worth being aware of.
To look at part of a scene, select the text first and Proofread checks only the selection. This is useful during dedicated polish passes, when you want to stay with one passage rather than the whole scene.
For each flagged issue, you can apply the suggested fix, dismiss it if the current text is working as you intend, or ignore the rule for everything like it. This lets you clear the noise of intentional choices and focus on genuine problems.
If you find that certain categories are not useful for your writing style or genre, you can toggle individual proofread categories on or off from App Settings under Proofread Categories. The setting is saved with the project, so you can permanently silence categories that do not apply to your work without needing to dismiss individual flags each time.
Style issues are not errors. They are patterns that tend to weaken prose in most contexts, but every one of them can be the right choice in the right moment. A deliberate cliche in dialogue can reveal character. A filter word can create useful hesitation. Trust your judgment and use the flags as prompts for reconsideration, not commands for correction.