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 properly well worth the effort.
Typos usually are not solely embarrassing, they will additionally price you cash.
In a broadly reported examine, British entrepreneur Charles Duncombe discovered a single spelling mistake can minimize your on-line gross sales in half! For those who don’t have a product, then you 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 is best to be capable of completely proofread a median size weblog publish in 5-10 minutes.
What you’ll want:
- A printer
- A crimson pen
- A highlighter pen
Step 1: Set it apart
Time allowing, set your weblog publish apart for some time earlier than you proofread it. An hour is sweet, a day is healthier. 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 just isn’t as efficient as proofreading a printout. So do your self a favour and print your publish 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 publish marking up typos and tough spots together with your crimson pen as you go. Drive 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 so forth.) are notably straightforward 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 publish as soon as, learn it aloud. Studying aloud helps in two methods. Firstly, your ears will usually catch errors that your eyes miss. Studying aloud forces the next stage of focus than silent studying.
And secondly, studying out loud lets you write conversationally. In case your publish sounds clunky whenever you converse it, that you must revise it till it sounds confidently conversational.
Step 5: Double-check particulars
There are some particulars which are notably embarrassing or troublesome to get fallacious. So it is 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. For those who’ve rewritten a good portion of your publish it’s finest to print it out and proof it once more.
A standard 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. While you’ve completed making adjustments, go over your printout to ensure you haven’t missed something.
Step 7: Closing examine
As a last examine, run the spell checker over your corrected publish. Learn it on-screen to verify it seems to be OK. Break up any paragraphs which are longer than 5 traces. Now you’re good to hit the publish button!
Charles Cuninghame is a web site copywriter. For essential paperwork he often hires a proofreader.