Every idea, script or article starts the same way: with a blank page. But too often, the page is filled with work that, in part, reinforces racial, gender and societal stereotypes. This is often due to our unconscious bias. But just because we do it unconsciously, doesn't mean we shouldn't consciously try to stop these biases from getting out into the world. This proofreaders’ mark empowers copy editors to flag issues of bias at the earliest possible stage.
THE MARK
We designed the mark to fit within the existing proofreaders’ marks, drawing on the eq# mark, which means “make spacing equal”. By dropping the #, it means “make equal”. By simply working with well-established marks, we can open up new conversations.
ADOPTION
To encourage adoption, we created a guide for copy editors on how to use the mark, including a guide for writers on how to avoid it in the first place.
DIGITAL
In addition to our guidebook, we digitally implemented eq suggestions across Outlook, Gmail, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Squarespace, and Figma, to allow writers to edit their own bias.
From publishing and PR to academia and advertising, with this simple mark, any writer or proofreader can begin to address issues of bias before they reach the public eye.
