8 Tips for proofreading success

So, things are crazy in the office. You rarely get to your to-do list, let alone through it. There are constant fires that need putting out. Everyone is demanding your time.

You’ve finally struggled to get something written. You just want to send it out and get on to the next thing.

Wait right there. Did you proofread it?

Does a mistake in an email or presentation really matter?

Think of how you react when you find a mistake in the paper. Is your reaction, “Oops, they must have just been rushing to hit a deadline”? Or are your thoughts a little more critical?

When it comes to what we read, we look for clues for what to trust and what to dismiss. A simple typo can hurt your credibility and put you in the “dismiss” column.

Proofreading is not a natural skill

If you hate to proof your work, you’re not alone. Proofreading is not a natural skill and it takes time and effort. Most people hate re-reading their work.

The cost of not proofreading is just too high. Aside from the hit to your credibility, if material needs to be reprinted, your project costs just instantly increased by half. What if your phone number or email is wrong in an ad? You’ve lost the cost of the ad and you’ve lost the business.

It’s not always pretty, but proofreading your work can save you headaches and your credibility.

Tips for successful proofreading

There are lots of different ways to proofread and lots of different types of mistakes to look for. Here are eight simple ways to check your work and do away with those pesky typos and errors.

1. Have someone else proof your work. You’ve looked at it too many times. A fresh set of eyes will pick up mistakes that you’ll miss.
2. Print it out. The glare of the computer screen strains the eyes and makes it easy to miss mistakes.
3. Read the piece out loud. This forces you to slow down and notice awkward sentences and missing words.
4. Pay close attention to subject lines, titles, headings and captions. These are places where mistakes like to hide.
5. Read it again from the end to the beginning. When reading normally from beginning to end, our brains skip ahead or insert words we think should be there. By reading from end to beginning, we are forced to see each and every word in isolation.
6. Always double check phone numbers and email addresses. There’s a reason why most websites make you confirm your email address by entering it twice.
7. Know your own personal weaknesses. Are there words you consistently confuse or spell wrong? Make a list and check it twice.
8. Watch those little words. “And” can easily change to “an” with the slip of a finger. Spell check won’t pick it up, and because they’re so little, you can easily skip over them with a quick proof.

Can you eliminate mistakes all together? Probably not.

Ask any writer and we’ll share sad tales of mistakes missed by multiple reviewers until it was published. Following these few simple steps can eliminate most and help keep your credibility from being torpedoed by a tiny mistake.

If there are any mistakes in this post, it’s just to help you practice your proofreading skills.

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