From Hear To Their – The Importance Of Hiring A Proofreader

Anyone who writes with the intent to publish should get to know and employ the skills of a good proofreader. A proofreader is a critical member of your publication team and the last line of defense against errors that can threaten your image and credibility. Read on to learn the importance of why you should hire a skilled proofreader before you publish any document and what you should expect from the person to whom you entrust your credibility.
Why should you hire a proofreader?
You rely on the unreliable-your electronic spell checker is smart and can detect many common errors in a document. Unfortunately, it is not intelligent enough to pick up on everything and is notoriously unreliable when it comes to catching certain types of mistakes.
For instance, it cannot tell the difference between form and from or between to and too when they are used incorrectly in a sentence. Why? Because if the incorrectly used word is spelled properly, your computer is not able to decipher its meaning in the context of the sentence in which it is used. Therefore, if you unintentionally type, “It took you to long to complete that task. You need to hire a virtual assistant too do that” rather than “It took you too long to complete that task. You need to hire a virtual assistant to do that,” the error will more than likely go undetected if you rely on your spell checker alone. It is imperative to have a second set of eyes review your content and ensure your writing is as clean and correct as possible before it is released for public consumption.
You’re too close for comfort-as author, you are too close to your content to proofread your own work. Since you are so familiar with your message, your eyes tend to overlook the most blatant of errors because your brain knows what your words are supposed to say. It automatically fills in the blanks causing you to read it as it should be rather than as it is. A proofreader offers a second set of unbiased eyes and a fresh perspective on your words and will catch many errors that you and your spell checker are likely to miss.
The credibility factor-ensuring that everything you write is clear, succinct, and free of errors goes a long way toward establishing your credibility as a professional and reliable source of information. For that reason, it is imperative that you make sure that anything you produce (whether it be marketing materials, blog articles, or even a simple email to a colleague) works to project the professional image you want to convey and protect your credibility.
What should you expect from your proofreader?
There are various levels of proofreading that can occur for any document. You should discuss with your proofreader the services he or she offers, but at a minimum you should expect your proofreader to do a thorough read-through for spelling mistakes, errors in grammar, and proper punctuation. However, to ensure the cleanest document possible, you should have your proofreader also read for:
errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation (of body text, headings, document headers and footers, tables, captions, etc.)
parallel structure of lists
accurate cross references
precise table of contents and index entries
correct table and image captions
proper formatting of bibliographical references and in-text citations based on the style of your document (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
correct pagination
consistent format throughout
If you take care while writing and if your proofreader pays particular attention to these areas of your document you should be confident that your content is as close to perfect as possible. But, if you have any doubt at all or want to be absolutely certain all errors are identified and corrected you can always have a second proofreader perform the same review.
Every serious professional works diligently to demonstrate their skill and expertise and strives to forge a favorable image. However, it will be difficult for your audience to believe in you or your message if documents you publish are riddled with typos, poor grammar, improperly punctuated sentences, and spelling mistakes. Errors such as these will make you appear sloppy, careless, and inattentive to detail.
Don’t allow easily avoidable mistakes to derail your hard work and threaten your reputation. Hire a proofreader to help take your documents from great to phenomenal works that educate and inspire. By doing so, you will make an invaluable investment in your image, your credibility, and ultimately, your business success.