Proofreading Tips and Techniques for National Proofreading Day

Presenting your readers with clear and compelling copy enhances your online credibility.

Today, March 8th is set aside as National Proofreading Day.

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

Credibility on the web is enhanced by writing clear, persuasive copy. In order to help you improve your proofreading skills, I’ve compiled this list of 8 tips and techniques I use when writing 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

Are you familiar with those signs that warn you against driving while tired on the highways? The same goes for proofreading.

Proofreading late at night when you are tired and unable to concentrate increases the likelihood that you will miss important errors. Come back the next morning with a fresh perspective.

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 find more errors on a printed copy of your work. When you read, cover up the lines below the one you’re reading to avoid skipping ahead of mistakes.

5. Pay Attention To Punctuation

Poor punctuation really undermines your professionalism. Pay particular attention to misplaced (or missing) commas and apostrophes. One of the most common mistakes is confusing “its” and “it’s.” The graphic below will help you remember the difference between the two.

Cool Tool Alert Grammarly is a free writing app available as a Google Chrome Extension. Adding Grammarly to Chrome means that your spelling and grammar will be vetted on Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, and nearly everywhere else you write on the web. I use it all the time and find it super useful.

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. It is an essential tool for ensuring you use the right words in the right context, online or hardcopy.

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.

Further Reading

You might also like to read legendary Fleet Street editor Harold Evans’ glossary to common words you are probably getting wrong.

Nicole Bianchi has a comprehensive guide to editing your work which is well worth reading.