Tips & Tricks To Proofreading An English Copy

To write a perfect copy, the devil is really in the details. While it is important to make a good first impression with impressive writing styles and visual aids, an embarrassing misspelling or an awkward sentence would certainly deter readers – and potential clients. Here are 8 tips and tricks for effective proofreading.

1. Don’t proofread until you’re finished writing and editing.

Writing and editing require your brain to be in a creative mode, but you need to be in a scientific mode to analyse the nitty-gritty details.

2. Give yourself a break.

It’s difficult to proofread a copy when it’s fresh in your mind, as you tend to skip over errors. Instead, allow yourself some distance from the text before jumping back into it.

3. Use a spellchecker.

While it’s not flawless, a sweep with your spellchecker will help spot many common errors.

4. Use the search function, too.

Run a quick search on the mistakes you’re likely to make. This is also a great way to pick out mistakes that would have slipped through a spellchecker.

5. Double-check facts, figures and proper names.

Make sure that all the information in your copy is accurate and up-to-date to boost the credibility of your work.

6. Work from a hard copy, especially with lengthy texts.

While the computer is equipped with useful functions, a printout would allow you to mark out errors with less restrictions.

7. Trust your dictionary.

If you’re ever in doubt of the spelling or meaning of a word, look it up. A thesaurus is another handy companion to have around.

8. Ask for help.

There’s no shame in reaching out. A new set of eyes may immediately spot errors that you have overlooked.