Blacklining is used extensively in legal proofreading and financial proofreading. Blacklining is used to show where text or data in a document has been added, deleted or replaced. It helps to compare different versions of the same document. When blacklining is incorporated into EDGAR documents it is referred to as redlining.

Below are two examples of blacklining. The first example is a computer blackline (performed by special blacklining software). The second example is a manual blackline, which is done by legal proofreaders and financial proofreaders.

Our legal proofreading class covers everything that you will need to know about blacklining and redlining. In addition to the samples you see below, you will see how redlining in EDGAR ASCII and EDGAR HTML documents work. You will also complete a variety of blacklining and redlining exercises in class and as homework assignments. Several sample blacklining tests are also incorporated into our legal proofreading class and these reflect the way legal proofreading agencies test your knowledge of blacklining and redlining, as well as your ability to blackline.

Computer Blackline

Manual Blackline