Essential Proofreading for Professional Results

However unfair it might seem, people’s judgements of the quality of our writing are sometimes affected by factors other than the content alone.  Sharp-eyed readers will spot mistakes and typos in your work that you might not even have noticed.  Eliminating these before you publish makes your work look more professional and saves you from having to go back and fix things later!

So, before you hit that submit button, follow these tips to make your proofreading skills that little bit more effective.

Concentration

You need to focus fully on the detail of the writing in front of you, so get rid of any distractions.  Turn off the TV and the music and make sure you can work undisturbed for a few moments.

Distance

It’s best to come at your writing with a fresh mind, so, however anxious you are to publish, try to leave some time between writing and proofreading.  I would recommend at least a day.

Speed

If you are a naturally speedy reader, try to slow yourself down.  A quick eye will overlook errors.

Detail

When we read we usually concentrate on the sense of the writing, focusing on the content.  When you proofread you must focus on the details.  Don’t become so absorbed in your enjoyment of reading that you overlook errors.

Editing

As you come back to your work with a fresh eye to proofread it, you may see other changes you want to make.  If you edit your work, you must proofread it again afterwards in case you made errors in the edited material.

Spelling

If you are in any doubt at all about the spelling of a word, take the time to check it in a dictionary.

Typos

Word processors take a lot of the hassle out of this for us, automatically correcting as we type.  However, don’t rely fully on your technology to deal with all errors.  Some of the most common errors are never picked up by the computer – than/that and then/than are prime examples.

Basic Grammar

Even if your English skills are very good and you know the rules of grammar, be prepared to admit that in the heat of typing you can still make errors.  Always be on the look out for incorrect uses of they’re/their/there, its/it’s, to/too/two, hear/here, of/off and so on.

Layout

After you have read your work for detail, glance over the whole page to check for layout details.  For instance, are all your headings formatted the same?  Are numbered and bulleted lists formatted correctly?  Do all your paragraphs have the correct justification?

Patience

When you have finished your beautifully-crafted writing and are anxious to get it published for others to appreciate, stopping to proofread seems to create an unbearable delay.  Have patience because, however boring, the few minutes you spend proofreading will pay dividends in making your writing that bit more professional.