10

Develop a working process“ “We suggest that a writer try a number of ways to proof his or her own work, eventually finding the one that works best. Once settled on a process concentrate on proofreading speed.1.

Look at your weaknesses“ “

Often authors find themselves consistently misspelling the same words or repeating the same consecutively making a sentence seem boring and bland.2.

on a little

““

Some writers fall into the trap of trying to grasp too much material at one time. Authors should pace themselves by evaluating each sentence alone, consciously going through the spelling, grammar and structure.3.

Highlight all punctuation“ “

Another little proofreading trick is to print out the manuscript and highlight every comma, period, semicolon, colon, etc., allowing each to be evaluated for accuracy. Focusing on punctuation often brings out errors in sentence structure that can then be easily amended.4.

Use the experts“ “

There are many Style and Usage Handbooks available that will help. If a phrase or punctuation doesn’t seem right, do not be afraid to look it up. At first this may take time, but over the long haul it will improve the speed and accuracy of writing and proofreading.5.

Have someone else read your work“ “This is probably the most important tip and, unfortunately, the one most likely to be skipped by writers or bloggers rushing to post. Well, don’t skip it. There’s nothing like a second set of eyes checking your work, and not just for spelling or punctuation errors. Remember, you wrote the piece, so naturally you understand what you were trying to say. A second reader may find that the meaning isn’t so clear and point out inconsistencies that you didn’t realize existed.

6.

Read it Loud“ “This will reveal mistakes you missed when you simply scanned the page silently. If the piece isn’t too lengthy, consider having it read aloud to you. One additional note: if you’re writing a screenplay, it’s VITAL that you have the script read aloud, and not by you! If your reader has difficulty with a line, whether due to sentence construction, word choice, or sentence length, it’s likely that an actor will have trouble too.

7.

Read it““

This technique, obviously, won’t help you with sentence construction errors, but it’s useful for finding spelling errors. When you read forward, you tend to get into the “flow” of a sentence and are more likely to miss spelling mistakes. Starting at the last line and working backwards breaks up that flow, and allows you to focus on each word individually.

8.

Proofread a printed copy of your work“ “There are several reasons for this. Most writers find that they are simply more successful at finding errors when they take a break from their monitors and use paper instead. Perhaps there’s just something about changing the format that allows you to read with a fresh eye. There’s another reason, though. When you proofread, you should only proofread; this is not the time for stylistic changes or reworking dialogue. If you’re proofreading on your computer, it’s too easy to slip back into “creative mode,” which will make you a less effective proofreader.

9.

Use your word processor’s spell checker“ “but don’t trust it completely. While not a replacement for a second set of eyes, a spell checker is still effective at calling attention to things you may have missed. They aren’t perfect though, so treat their advice as if it’s coming from your mom: listen to it, but don’t necessarily follow it.10.

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Freelance Writing - http://freelance-writing.lovetoknow.com/Main_Page15 Misspelled Signs - http://www.oddee.com/item_96509.aspxConsulting - http://leladavidson.com/seo-consulting/The Funny Grammar Guide to Colons and Semicolons - http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/the-funny-grammar-guide-to-colons-and-semicolons-668/Free Online Writing Courses and Books for Authors - http://gigaverse.com/guides/free-online-writing-courses/ Weekend Read: Get Your Arse Together….Again. - http://www.alphanista.com/weekend-read-get-your-arse-togetheragain.htmlThe Art Of Reading Aloud - http://www.fridayschildmontessori.com/blog/the-art-of-reading-aloud/Reading Backwards Alpha by Stolen Moments - http://shop.scrapmatters.com/reading-backwards-alpha-by-stolen-moments.htmlWhat Self-Publishers Can Expect During the Proofreading Process - http://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com/2011/02/04/working-with-a-proofreader-to-finalize-a-book.aspxStudent Loan Deal Headed to Obama for Signature - http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/student-loan-deal-headed-obamas-desk/story?id=19829149

Xlibris Book Publishing presents Top Tips to Improve Your Proofreading – Part One http://www.xlibrisselfpublishing.com/editing-guidelines/xlibris-improve-your-proofreading-p1/Xlibris Book Publishing presents Top Tips to Improve Your Proofreading – Part Two - http://www.xlibrisselfpublishing.com/editing-guidelines/xlibris-writers-workshop-presents-top-proofreading-tips-part-two/Xlibris Book Publishing presents Top Tips to Improve Your Proofreading – Part Three - http://www.xlibrisselfpublishing.com/editing-guidelines/xlibris-presents-top-tips-to-improve-your-proofreading-part-three/