Why You Should Never Stop Learning How to Proofread

Let’s go back to middle school for a second. Your big essay is due tomorrow, and you’re staying up late to make sure your sentence structure flows correctly, there are no misspellings, and your thesis statement is up to par.

Somewhere between college and adult life, we all seem to lose some of that tenacity for proofreading, and it can show.

In the modern world, where speed of information is ever-increasing and deadlines are constantly shortening, dropping the ball on proofreading every detail of your email or blog post can happen. Here are some ways to minimize your errors and to learn how to proofread again:

Start Big, Get Small

As you start to revise your content, you want to look at the big picture. Are you saying everything you want to say, the way you want to say it? You want to make sure your tone and points come across before you start getting nitty-gritty with your sentence structure and spelling.

Once you’re happy with the overview of your content piece, you want to start running spell check and looking deeper at your grammar. Going from big picture to small detail will ensure that your edits will strengthen your main point.

Read the Text Aloud

Reading your writing aloud is the ultimate test in proofreading. You’ll be able to identify every awkward sounding phrase and or faulty verb ending in your post.

It might seem strange or uncomfortable to read your writing out loud, but you will find plenty of ways to improve the quality of your post, as well as correct any grammatical mistakes.
How to Proofread

Use Peer Revisions

Let a fresh pair of eyes read your blog or your email draft before you decide you’re finished. You’d be surprised what mistakes another person can find in your work after you spend a considerable amount of time writing.

Having a colleague help you figure out how to proofread your own writing better, as your peer will offer different perspectives you may not have thought about at this point, but you could apply to your next blog post or memo.

Check Sources

If you are going to state anything as fact or draw from someone else’s conclusions, you need to be able to back yourself up. This may not sound like relevant information about how to proofread, but checking sources helps you make sure your content is factual, supported, and not plagiarized.

False information isn’t as easy to catch as a run-on sentence or a misspelled word, and being incorrect or careless can ruin you and your company’s credibility if not checked thoroughly.

Format Correctly

Presentation is important. You can’t expect people to read your blog post if the text forms a giant wall down the page. There are a few easy ways to make your content look a little more presentable:

  • Make a list
  • Include pictures
  • Break up the text
  • Vary font sizes
  • Use colors

Editing your content’s formatting is an important aspect of how to proofread because it changes the way your viewer reads the content.

Everyone has made mistakes by not proofreading. A lot of the times, they are harmless miscommunications, but in the business world, making errors in grammar, formatting, or sourcing can cost you your job and reputation.

As you read, write, and proofread, you will naturally become better at catching mistakes before they happen in your writing, but there is always room to grow. If you have questions about how to proofread, contact one of HubRunner’s expert copywriters today.

Like what you’ve read? Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to keep up with our latest posts!