Proofreading Tips that Actually Work!

It doesn't matter if you are only writing an email, a college essay, a letter or an article, getting your writing free from mistakes is paramount.

If you use MS Word or other spell checkers this can help, but it isn't foolproof and can sometimes miss glaring errors. This is where proofreading comes into play.

Read on to find tips for proofreading that will make finding errors and mistakes much easier.

Make sure you concentrate

If you are going to spot any errors that you have made in your writing, then you have to be able to concentrate. Free yourself from any distractions and watch out for potential interruptions. Wait until the kids have gone to bed, turn off your phone, turn off the TV and start to concentrate.

Print out your writing

It is easier to read and check for mistakes on paper than it is on screen. The computer screen can be distracting and it can affect the way your eyes see the writing. Read aloud what you have printed off and you will be amazed at how many mistakes you spot. (If you have made any that is!)

Keep an eye out for Homonyms

Words that have the same spelling or the same pronunciation, but have different meanings are known as homonyms. Words such as weather and whether may not be picked up by spell checkers. It can be disastrous for your letter or text if you mistakenly leave the wrong word in, so always proofread to make sure you have the correct word.

Be on the lookout for Contractions and also Apostrophes

Common mistakes in writing are confusing words such as it's and its, your and you're and their and they're. Make sure you are using the right word for your text, it again can be disastrous to use the wrong one. Remember that an apostrophe is never used to form a plural of a singular word.

Watch your punctuation

Make sure you use commas, periods, and capitalization of words properly. Never neglect the punctuation in your writing. The spell checkers do not pick up grammar mistakes so read aloud what you have written to be sure.

Read your text backwards

If you read your text from the last word to the first word you will find it is easier to spot mistakes. This may seem time consuming, but I guarantee you will spot mistakes that you couldn't spot reading it normally. This is because the brain corrects words automatically and makes you see the correct word when it is mixed with other text. If you read words in the wrong order, it forces your brain to actually see the word in front of you.

Read your work aloud

Reading aloud can help with your grammar and your punctuation. You will notice more mistakes by taking the time out to actually read your work. Reading it out to another person can help as well.

See your work through fresh eyes

If you have the luxury to be able to, leave what you have written for a couple of days and go back to it later. It is staggering how easy it is to see mistakes after you have distanced yourself from the work for a while.

Enlarge your writing

If you can, change the settings on your software. You should have the option to enlarge the writing and this will help you spot mistakes. So if you can, always proofread your work on a higher setting, such as 150 or 200 per cent.

Make sure your numbers are correct

If you mean to put numbers into your text, make sure you get them right. Putting $20,000 when you mean to put $200,000 is definitely not the same thing! Always check your facts and your typing!

Finally, get another person to proofread your work

After going through all of the other points, see if you can find a friend or a colleague to proofread what you have written. Even after going through these points, you may have still missed a few mistakes. A person who is not affiliated to the writing will be able to see things you may not be able to.