Proofread Your Copy Using My 9 Top Tips

Having spent so much of your valuable time researching, planning and copy-writing, it is extremely important to ensure that it is of the best possible quality and standard. Distributing copy containing errors, however small, displays to your readers a lack of professionalism and attention to detail. It is surely your aim to gain trust and respect from your readers, so that know they can rely on your pieces of work being of top quality. Proofreading is therefore just as important as the actual copy-writing.
1. You need to have a sound command of Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation to ensure that you can proofread thoroughly. If this is not the case then you need to brush up on these skills. Too many people rely on the computer Grammar / Spell Checkers for help, but you need to have the knowledge to be able to do this for yourself.
2. Consider the environment you are working in. As accurate proofreading requires a high level of concentration, you need to be in a quiet, un-disturbed area with no distractions.
3. You will most likely have written your copy on the computer but I advise that you print it out for proofreading as sometimes mistakes can be more visible when you actually see your work on paper. Although you may feel this is costly, I think it will prove to be a very worthwhile exercise.
4. Ensure that you are in the right frame of mind to begin proofreading. If perhaps you have been working all day word processing at the computer, you might be too tired to fully concentrate. Don’t be disheartened if you find errors you hadn’t noticed before, as this is the intention of this valuable exercise. There are always ways of improving your work.
5. Most copywriters, when reading, read at quite a fast pace. However when proofreading it is important to slow down your pace of reading. It helps a great deal if you actually read your copy out loud. This helps you to judge the style of your writing and how well it flows. Some people find that reading it backwards is more beneficial as your brain doesn’t correct mistakes automatically – I think perhaps you should be the judge of that suggestion!
6. As well as checking the content of your copy, you must take time to consider its appearance. Look at margins and spacing and think about the fonts you have used. How does it look as a whole? If you have used uppercase, double-check it, as it is more difficult to spot errors in this format.
7. Consistency in your writing is essential. Readers like uniformity so that their reading can flow easily. Be clear and consistent with names / synonyms as well as the tense used in your pieces of writing. Have you perhaps confused the reader by changing from writing about “I” to writing about “He” or “They”?
8. Do not only proofread your piece of writing on one occasion. Have a break and re-check, or even better leave it until the next day and approach it again with a fresh mind. You cannot check it enough!
9. It can be really beneficial to work with another copy-writer and proofread each other’s work. This means they have the necessary knowledge and background to know what they are looking for. They are new to the piece of writing and will also be unbiased. Again, don’t be disappointed if they find lots of mistakes. That is the whole point of the exercise – it is intended to be constructive and positive.
I hope that my article has been useful and that my 9 top tips will guide you through the necessary proofreading process.