How to Proofread Your Work Well

Whenever people rush to meet their deadlines, one of the first writing activities that they tend to abandon to save time is the proofreading process. For this reason, proofreading services are becoming increasingly popular today, especially with the rise of companies that offer a turnaround time of 24 hours or less.

Ordering a proofreading service is not an option for everyone, though, especially if the budget isn’t available. Therefore, if you can’t use a proofreading service – even in situations when you are rushing to meet your deadline – it is worth knowing some tips and tricks to ensure you don’t have to abandon the process entirely.

 

1. Use a proofreading tool

Irrespective of how careful you are when you write your work, there is always the possibility that spelling or grammatical errors may enter your document. In many cases, only the proofreading process will lead to the identification of these errors; a casual glance over your manuscript before you submit it simply won’t cut it. However, if you really can’t use proofreading services and, instead, you opt to make use of a proofreading tool, this is definitely recommended.

 

2. Avoid repetition

As you check over your work, even if you are in a rush, it is important to pay special attention to repeated words and sentence structures. If you continuously repeat parts of the same sentence or use the same words over and over again, you will quickly bore your reader. Therefore, as you proofread, aim for a flowing style by avoiding repetition and redundant expressions.

 

3. Check the less obvious things

Most proofreaders, even inexperienced ones, will know about all the obvious things to check before considering their job done. These issues include spelling, punctuation, capitalization, consistency, numbering, clarity, and concision. However, many proofreaders – and especially writers who are in a rush to meet their deadlines – overlook the less obvious things, including unclear writing, missing information, and missing references. Therefore, to ensure you proofread your work while if you are not working with a professional proofreader, be sure to check the less obvious things.

 

4. Double-check your numbers

Even in high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles, we often see inconsistent and incorrect use of numbers. One of the reasons for this is that many writers, when they see numbers in a document, tune out and assume that the information is correct. When you’re checking over your paper as an amateur proofreader, be sure to perform a double-check to ensure these values are correct.

 

5. Get someone else’s help

Even if you are not interested in working with a professional proofreader, it is essential to have a fresh pair of eyes to look over your document. Therefore, when you are done proofreading, ask a friend or family member to have a quick scan through your document. It is, of course, routine for a professional proofreader or editor to spot errors in your work even after you’ve checked it. However, at the same time, even a novice proofreader – such as a friend on your academic course or a colleague in your field of study or business – is likely to spot errors that you have overlooked.