What is Proofreading?
Proofreading is the act of checking the written word for mistakes such as spelling, punctuation and grammar including typos generated as errors or through a lack of knowledge. Proofreading can be aimed at the printed word on paper or equally words written on screen.
Wikipedia article about proofreading.
But why does proofreading matter?
Imagine reading a novel which had not been proofread. Even if the writer has a perfect knowledge of the language, there will almost certainly be errors which would detract from the enjoyment. These can be removed by the proofreader who is trained to spot them instinctively. If you are reading a factual work, poor grammar and bad spelling can render it unappealing. A proofreader can not only get rid of errors but can also suggest areas to change in order to make it more readable. Not legible, readable. A proofreader knows the difference between the two words! A badly written commercial website will give the impression that the company is sloppy and unprofessional.
Wikipedia article about proofreading.
But why does proofreading matter?
Imagine reading a novel which had not been proofread. Even if the writer has a perfect knowledge of the language, there will almost certainly be errors which would detract from the enjoyment. These can be removed by the proofreader who is trained to spot them instinctively. If you are reading a factual work, poor grammar and bad spelling can render it unappealing. A proofreader can not only get rid of errors but can also suggest areas to change in order to make it more readable. Not legible, readable. A proofreader knows the difference between the two words! A badly written commercial website will give the impression that the company is sloppy and unprofessional.
Can I Proofread my own Work?
The simple answer is yes, of course. But bear in mind it isn't easy. You are the author and as such, you will often see what you expect to see rather than what is actually there. Also, you are unlikely to pick up errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar that are not simply typographical unless you have a perfect knowledge of English. Using a professional proofreading company is the best way forward if your work is a commercial venture.
Hints for self-proofreading.
1 - read out your work aloud and not too fast.
2 - read it backwards, that feels very strange but is very useful since it overcomes the already mentioned issue of reading what you expect to see.
3 - proofread it at least 3 times. Boring I know, but the more times you revise a piece of work, the more error-free it becomes.
Hints for self-proofreading.
1 - read out your work aloud and not too fast.
2 - read it backwards, that feels very strange but is very useful since it overcomes the already mentioned issue of reading what you expect to see.
3 - proofread it at least 3 times. Boring I know, but the more times you revise a piece of work, the more error-free it becomes.
Working as a proof reader
Proofreading is a job you can do from home enabling you to perhaps continue to do other things like take the kids to school. Not many tools are required for the job apart from a computer and the internet!
The most basic requirement of a proof reader is to check documents and books looking at spelling and grammar. A good proof reader should also look at how words and sentences flow and join together ensuring that the piece of work is easy to read and can be understood. For people who are writing in English but where English is not their first language, sentence construction is extremely important. It is interesting that even with the advent of very advanced computer technology; proof readers are still required because although computers may have the ability to detect spelling and some grammar mistakes, they cannot interpret the flow or meaning of a document. There will always be a need for humans to proof read!
There are many ways to gain skills in proof reading either through formal training or through experience. There are courses available online, via distance learning or through formal attendance. If you are an avid reader (books, not magazines) then you will probably have picked up a lot of good English and know the difference between 'their' and 'there' and know how to use apostrophes correctly.
Freelance proof reading offers you the opportunity to earn money from the comfort of your own home and there are many companies out there looking for hard-working, committed individuals. By undertaking this type of work, you have can help others to ensure their work is error free before it is submitted. When looking for employment as a proofreader, you may need to attend an interview with your potential employer. Make sure you know how to make a good impression for interview success. When applying for a job as a proofreader, some companies demand that you include a cover letter as part of the application process. Make sure that you research the company before writing it and show that you know a little about their work. Also in the cover letter, make sure that you indicate specifically why you are the person for the job and of course make sure that it is easy to get in contact with you! For more cover letter tips, we suggest using YouTube and this useful article with tips on writing a cover letter that we found on Squidoo.
It is also an advantage to be able to proof read your own work successfully and this is a good skill to have as you will no doubt find in later life that there are documents that you have to proof read; either for work or as part of a further educational course / qualification. You don't need a qualification to be a proofreader but it will help your credibility. As would joining one of the several proofreading professional bodies such as the society for proofreaders and editors.
It is however notoriously difficult to proof read your own work. Why? Because you know the content intimately and so when you read through your paper you'll actually end up reading what you think you have written as opposed to what you really have put down on paper. So the best thing to do is to ask another person to read your work for you, as they will spot grammar, punctuation, spelling and general sentence construction errors much easier than you would.
If however this isn't possible, then there are a few tips and tricks that you can apply to improve the process of proof reading your own work:
Try reading it out loud. This will help alert you to jarring punctuation or sentence constructions. If your essay is large, then this may not be plausible and so it would be advisable to read alternate chapters or sections out loud and read the rest 'in your head'.
Read it backwards! Start at the end of the document and read each sentence, starting with the last sentence and taking it as the first. This removes the notion of 'sense' to the piece, and will mean that you really take in the words and grammar on the page, as oppose to skim reading the document. It's also funny to read it this way aloud too!
But if you decide to leave it to the professionals … contact Words Worth Reading Ltd as they have a variety of competitively priced student proofreading services.
The most basic requirement of a proof reader is to check documents and books looking at spelling and grammar. A good proof reader should also look at how words and sentences flow and join together ensuring that the piece of work is easy to read and can be understood. For people who are writing in English but where English is not their first language, sentence construction is extremely important. It is interesting that even with the advent of very advanced computer technology; proof readers are still required because although computers may have the ability to detect spelling and some grammar mistakes, they cannot interpret the flow or meaning of a document. There will always be a need for humans to proof read!
There are many ways to gain skills in proof reading either through formal training or through experience. There are courses available online, via distance learning or through formal attendance. If you are an avid reader (books, not magazines) then you will probably have picked up a lot of good English and know the difference between 'their' and 'there' and know how to use apostrophes correctly.
Freelance proof reading offers you the opportunity to earn money from the comfort of your own home and there are many companies out there looking for hard-working, committed individuals. By undertaking this type of work, you have can help others to ensure their work is error free before it is submitted. When looking for employment as a proofreader, you may need to attend an interview with your potential employer. Make sure you know how to make a good impression for interview success. When applying for a job as a proofreader, some companies demand that you include a cover letter as part of the application process. Make sure that you research the company before writing it and show that you know a little about their work. Also in the cover letter, make sure that you indicate specifically why you are the person for the job and of course make sure that it is easy to get in contact with you! For more cover letter tips, we suggest using YouTube and this useful article with tips on writing a cover letter that we found on Squidoo.
It is also an advantage to be able to proof read your own work successfully and this is a good skill to have as you will no doubt find in later life that there are documents that you have to proof read; either for work or as part of a further educational course / qualification. You don't need a qualification to be a proofreader but it will help your credibility. As would joining one of the several proofreading professional bodies such as the society for proofreaders and editors.
It is however notoriously difficult to proof read your own work. Why? Because you know the content intimately and so when you read through your paper you'll actually end up reading what you think you have written as opposed to what you really have put down on paper. So the best thing to do is to ask another person to read your work for you, as they will spot grammar, punctuation, spelling and general sentence construction errors much easier than you would.
If however this isn't possible, then there are a few tips and tricks that you can apply to improve the process of proof reading your own work:
Try reading it out loud. This will help alert you to jarring punctuation or sentence constructions. If your essay is large, then this may not be plausible and so it would be advisable to read alternate chapters or sections out loud and read the rest 'in your head'.
Read it backwards! Start at the end of the document and read each sentence, starting with the last sentence and taking it as the first. This removes the notion of 'sense' to the piece, and will mean that you really take in the words and grammar on the page, as oppose to skim reading the document. It's also funny to read it this way aloud too!
But if you decide to leave it to the professionals … contact Words Worth Reading Ltd as they have a variety of competitively priced student proofreading services.