26 posts. 26 days. 26 letters of the alphabet, one blog post beginning with each letter.

P is for Proofreading

Charles Dickens described proofreaders as having “… much natural intelligence, much-superadded cultivation, considerable readiness of reference, quickness of resource, an excellent memory, and a clear understanding.”

Presenting your readers with clear and compelling copy enhances your online credibility. To enhance your proofreading skills, I’ve put together this list of 8 tips and techniques which I rely on when I write online copy.

1. Proofreading Requires Concentration And Focus

One of the biggest proofreading mistakes you can make is to leave the task to the last minute and then do it too quickly. Nothing is ever done to perfection when something is rushed Always proofread your work in a quiet place that is free of distractions. Turn off your phone, TV, and radio to fully concentrate on the task at hand. This is especially important for longer work.

2. Don’t Proofread When You’re Tired

Do you know those signs on the motorway that remind you of the dangers of driving while tired? It’s the same for proofreading. Trying to proofread late at night when you are tired and your concentration is poor increases the chance you will miss essential errors. Come back with fresh eyes the next morning if you can.

3. Read It Out Loud

This is a really useful tip. If you read aloud, your ear might catch errors that your eye may have missed. It’s especially helpful for identifying run-on sentences and spotting any that don’t flow well or make sense.

4. Print Out Your Work

You’ll always notice more errors on a printed copy of your work. Using a blank sheet of paper to cover up the lines below the one you’re reading keeps you from skipping ahead of possible mistakes.

5. Pay Attention To Punctuation

Poor punctuation really undermines your professionalism. Pay particular attention to misplaced (or missing) commas and apostrophes.

6. Keep Reference Sources On Hand

While a spell checker is useful, it can miss different meanings (for example, except vs accept). This is where a reference source such as Merriam-Webster, Roget’s Thesaurus, and The Elements of Style are so useful. Whether it’s the online or hard-copy version, keep one close to hand as an essential guide to using the right words in the right context.

7. Check Your Facts

If you are presenting facts in your content, be sure the sources are legitimate. Check and re-check the provenance of quotes and statistics.

8. Ask Someone Else to Proofread It

Final tip. Ask someone you trust to proofread the text for you. You will be amazed at the mistakes you’ve missed. A second person will also be in a better position to evaluate whether the sentences make sense or not.

I hope you found these tips helpful. It’s good to remind ourselves of the importance of mistake-free writing in presenting a positive and professional online impression.