Proofreading in the news

It’s not often that proofreading – or lack of – becomes a front page news story, but that’s exactly what happened last week, thanks to a slip of the keyboard by Labour leader Ed Miliband. It seems everyone is on Twitter these days, even shadow PMs, and in a tweet about the death of . . . → Read More: Proofreading in the news

How using a proofreader can increase your sales

There was an interesting report on the BBC website a few weeks ago that backed up what I’ve been saying for ages – typos and spelling errors really can cost you money, and using a proofreader can increase your sales.

Online entrepreneur Charles Duncombe wanted see if spelling errors had any effect on website . . . → Read More: How using a proofreader can increase your sales

5 Tips to help you with proofreading

Almost all businesses use the written word to promote themselves and most people rely on their spellchecker … but that can be a big mistake!

See, spell checkers are okay, but they’re not infallible. Much of the language we use is based on context, so a spell checker will not know if you’ve used . . . → Read More: 5 Tips to help you with proofreading

Who needs a proofreader? This lot do, for a start!

Need a proofreader? No? Sure about that??

Typos are everywhere and everyone makes them. OK I’ll admit it, even I make typos – and plenty of them!! When you’ve come up with an idea and drafted an article and typed it up and edited it and checked it and checked it again you end . . . → Read More: Who needs a proofreader? This lot do, for a start!

Make proofreading part of the process, not an afterthought!

I know I probably bang on about the importance of proofreading a little too much but it really should be a vital part of the process whenever you create marketing materials – and not just an afterthought. Time and time again I find evidence that proofreading after the event can be an expensive exercise!

. . . → Read More: Make proofreading part of the process, not an afterthought!

A good proofreader is never off duty!

While you can learn to proofread, the vast majority of professional proofreaders would probably agree with me that the ability to spot typos and errors is actually a gift, something you’re born with, rather than a learned skill. In fact, it’s probably more like a curse – because when you are a natural proofreader you can’t just switch off the eagle eyes! . . . → Read More: A good proofreader is never off duty!

3 examples of why proofreading is so important

As a professional proofreader, most of the errors I pick up are fairly unexciting, but there have been a few high profile ones recently that bring home just how important proofreading really is. I hope the following will bring a smile to your face – and also make you double check your work from now on (or, better still, send it to me!) . . . → Read More: 3 examples of why proofreading is so important

Are you 100% sure you can proofread your own work?

Most of us are unable to proofread our own words. By the time we’ve thought them, written them, read them and checked them we know them so well we see what we expect to see, not what is actually on the page. I offer a Pay As You Go Proofreading Service, and will proofread all your documents, no matter how large or small. . . . → Read More: Are you 100% sure you can proofread your own work?

More proof that spell checkers aren’t perfect

This poem proves perfectly why you should never ever rely on a spell checker. A basic one will allow through all these words, even though over half of them are incorrectly used. A more sophisticated spell checker will pick up that words are wrong within the context … but would everyone know what to . . . → Read More: More proof that spell checkers aren’t perfect

The the impotence of proofreading

Yes, you did read the title right! This video, featuring American poet Taylor Mali, is a great example of why you should never trust the spellchecker!

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