- Do not rely on software to check your grammar or spelling
because the word may be spelt correctly, but it is the wrong word (e.g. manger
and manager).
-
Print your document and use a red pen to circle your errors.
- Pay attention to spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
-
Proofread for only one kind of error at a time.
-
Use a dictionary like Longman or the Oxford
English Dictionary.
You
are ultimately responsible for the final document, so correct errors before submitting
or hitting send because:
-
Errors
can reduce your credibility and professionalism. Errors on a professional
document stick out. Imagine you pick up a book about writing
professionally, and the back cover has several typos. Would you consider
that credible or professional?
- Errors
could cost you and your company money. For example, you email a client asking for
feedback on your proposal. You did not proofread your document, so you
forgot to change the price of the product you are selling from your local
currency to US dollars, costing your company money.
- Errors
might confuse.
Something as simple as the wrong preposition in a sentence could change
its meaning. For example, your professor sends an email asking that "All
assignments are due on Friday" but meant to write "by Friday".
This might confuse students.
To learn more, check out our course,
Proofreading and Proofreading Strategies.
In this module, you will:
- Understand
why it is important to proofread;
- Identify
the six rules of proofreading; and
- Use
the basic proofreading strategies to improve your writing.
Get access today for 20% off by using the code:
ABYDBLOG.