4 Proofreading Tips for Super Slick Writing: Typos are annoying. Spelling isn’t exactly easy, and our computers have made it easier than ever to type the wrong letter in a document.
When to comes to the world of business, however, typos can be costly. Just check out this list of the most expensive typos in the world.
You don’t need to go through one of these horror stories for your typos to cost you. You could be the smartest person in the world, but a typo can signal laziness. That’s why you need to learn some proofreading tips.
This article will walk you through a few tips so you can learn to proofread fast.
1. You Don’t Need To Get It Right the First Time
One of the most important dictums you’ll ever learn about writing is “writing is rewriting.” This is important for editing as well.
Being hypervigilant about your spelling and grammar on a first pass isn’t going to solve your problems. You’ll be too close to any mistakes you made to truly be able to correct them.
Instead, give yourself a little distance, and go over any spelling errors on a second pass.
2. Make Use of Spell Checking Programs
There are plenty of programs out there on the internet that are available for free that can help you with your spelling. Don’t trust the spelling and grammar checks that come with MS word and Google docs — they’re often faulty.
Grammarly is a great example of a spell-checking program. It even detects tone.
3. Use a File Comparison Program
When making multiple copies of a document, you need to make sure that none of your spelling errors accidentally get copied over. If you’re working with many documents and many versions of documents, it can be hard to tell which one is proofread and which isn’t.
This is where file comparison programs come in. They’re designed to check the similarities and differences to help you compare two files. This way, you can use a master document to make sure every copy is working correctly.
4. Know Thyself
One of the most important things you can do as a writer is to learn what your strengths and weaknesses are. In the world of proofreading, this often comes down to understanding which grammatical errors you make the most.
Maybe you’re someone who’s not sure when words should get Capitalize. Maybe, you just don’t know how to use commas. Maybe you don’t know which words should get apostrophe’s.
Identify your individual problems, and you’re far more likely to shine.
(While you’re at it, you might as well become familiar with the most prominent spelling and grammar errors as well!)
Understand These Proofreading Tips
Proofreading is one of the most important parts of writing. Once you learn to do a proofreading run, make use of spell-checking programs, find a file comparison, and learn what your common spelling problems are, you’re well on your way to achieving clear writing.
Use these proofreading tips, and you’re sure to go far.
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