Proof Reading Tips by Fingertips Typing Services
There’s no foolproof formula for perfect proofreading every time. But these six proofreading tips should help you spot errors before anybody else does.
What do proofreaders do?
A proofreader is a person who spots the details and checks for any errors (typos, spellings, punctuation) before the document goes to print or online.
What skills do you need to be a proofreader?
- Concentration – Get rid of distractions and potential interruptions. Switch off your phone, turn off the television or radio and stay away from the email.
- Put It On Paper – You read differently on screen and on paper, so print out a copy.
- Read Aloud – If you read aloud, your ear might catch grammatical errors that your eye may have missed.
- Watch Out for Homonyms – These are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation, but have different meanings. For example; accept and except or complement and compliment.
- Watch Out for Apostrophes and Contractions – People often mix their and they’re, its and it’s, your and you’re and so on. Also, remember that the apostrophe is never used to form plurals.
- Read it Backwards – People often become word blind, especially if you have been working on something for a while as the brain automatically “corrects” wrong words inside sentences. In order to break this pattern you can read the text backwards, word by word.
Here at Fingertips Typing we offer a proofreading service. For more information please contact us!
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