Proofreading

The primary purpose for both grammatical and typographical proofreading is about searching your writing for errors. In this series of articles will help in the process before you submit your paper, or manuscript for an audience to view. Whether you submitting your work to a teacher, a publisher, etc,  the next couple of articled will serve as a resource to help you find and fix common errors.

Where to Begin

Every author, writer, or person will find a unique proofreading process that works for them. Here are some general strategies most writers find helpful. Begin to improve your proofreading skills by using the guidelines listed below.

General Strategies

• Time. Allow yourself sometime between writing and proofing. Take a break!  Some say just five minutes is productive because it will help you get some distance from what you've written. The goal is to return with a fresh eye and mind. That’s why I have two manuscripts open at the same time. Leaving your work sit for a few hours while you work on something else is a good way to pull you mind away from the story. When you go back to read, you’ll see mistakes you might have missed if you hadn't waited.

• Slow Down. Many errors are made or missed by speeding through writing and proofreading. Leave yourself plenty of time to look over your writing carefully. This will help you catch errors you might otherwise miss. Always read slowly. Reading at your normal speed, won't give your eyes sufficient time to spot errors. (You read what you think you wrote.)

•Read aloud. Reading your work aloud, slowly, encourages you to read every word on the page. All of them. Even the ones you forgot to remove while editing.

•Role play. Playing the role of you readers encourages you to see the book as your audience will. So while you read aloud, put yourself in your audience's shoes.

•Get others involved. A second, third, or even a fourth pairs of eyes is always good. (Not your mother, sister, brother, favorite aunt, or girl friend etc isn't going to help.) Asking a friend or a writers group  to read your paper, gets other perspectives on your writing. A fresh reader(s) will be able to help you catch mistakes you've overlooked, and YOU WILL overlook mistakes, extra words, and typos, etc.