7 Steps to Proofreading Like a Professional

It is a visitor contribution by Charles Cuninghame, web site copywriter.

I’m certain we will all agree that proofreading is the least enjoyable a part of running a blog. However whereas it could be tedious, it’s nicely well worth the effort.

Typos usually are not solely embarrassing, they will additionally value you cash.

In a broadly reported examine, British entrepreneur Charles Duncombe discovered a single spelling mistake can lower your on-line gross sales in half! If you happen to don’t have a product, then you possibly can be lacking out a weblog subscriber or repeat customer!

Right here’s a tried and examined proofreading course of that I’ve taught to many novice writers with nice success. When you get the cling of it, it’s best to have the ability to completely proofread a median size weblog submit in 5-10 minutes.

What you’ll want:

1. A printer
2. A crimson pen
3. A highlighter pen

Step 1: Set it apart

Time allowing, set your weblog submit apart for some time earlier than you proofread it. An hour is sweet, a day is best. The extra time you set between the writing and proofreading, the extra refreshed you’ll be and higher capable of spot any typos.

Step 2: Print it out

Analysis has proven that proofreading on-screen shouldn’t be as efficient as proofreading a printout. So do your self a favour and print your submit out. However run it by way of the spell checker first, to repair any apparent spelling errors.

Step 3: Mark up your adjustments

Prepare by minimising distractions. Proofreading requires your undivided consideration. So flip off your cellphone, shut your e-mail and swap off the music.

Learn by way of your submit marking up typos and tough spots together with your crimson pen as you go. Pressure your self to decelerate and focus. Give attention to every phrase and character as you learn.

Make your mark-ups apparent so that you don’t overlook them on the corrections stage. Punctuation marks (commas, apostrophes, full-stops/durations, and many others.) are notably simple to overlook. So it’s a good suggestion to circle the mark-up for additional emphasis.

It’s additionally a good suggestion to place a cross within the margin subsequent to a line that incorporates a correction.

Step 4: Learn out loud

When you’re been by way of your weblog submit as soon as, learn it aloud. Studying aloud helps in two methods. Firstly, your ears will typically catch errors that your eyes miss. Studying aloud forces a better stage of focus than silent studying.

And secondly, studying out loud lets you write conversationally. In case your submit sounds clunky if you converse it, you have to revise it till it sounds confidently conversational.

Step 5: Double-check particulars

There are some particulars which might be notably embarrassing or troublesome to get mistaken. So it’s best to double-check the next:

• The spelling of individuals’s names e.g. is it Janine or Jenean? Stuart or Stewart?
• Ditto model names e.g. is it Phrase press, WordPress or Phrase Press?
• Phone numbers and e-mail addresses
• Costs
• Click on hyperlinks to verify they go the place you need them to.

Step 6: Make corrections

Make all of your corrections in a single go, not as you discover them. Be very cautious as you make adjustments. You don’t wish to add in errors at this stage. Be particularly cautious with any sections you’ve rewritten. If you happen to’ve rewritten a good portion of your submit it’s greatest to print it out and proof it once more.

A typical mistake is lacking corrections you’ve marked up in your printout. In order you make every change mark it off your printout together with your highlighter. Whenever you’ve completed making adjustments, go over your printout to be sure you haven’t missed something.

Step 7: Remaining verify

As a remaining verify, run the spell checker over your corrected submit. Learn it on-screen to verify it appears OK. Break up any paragraphs which might be longer than 5 traces. Now you’re good to hit the publish button!

Charles Cuninghame is a web site copywriter. For essential paperwork he normally hires a proofreader.