Grammar Mistakes you Should Never Make Again

Grammar mistakes happen; this is a fact of life, even for the most seasoned writers.

One of the easiest ways to avoid making grammar mistakes – of all kinds – is to leverage the availability of proofreading services, where a proofreading service involves asking a trained specialist to correct any spelling, grammar, and typographical errors in your writing before publication.

However, even if you’re sending your next piece of writing to your favorite proofreader, there is no reason why it should be written badly and contain needless grammatical errors – not, at least, if you can avoid doing so?

In fact, the outcomes of a proofreading service are much more likely to be positive if you submit a better-quality piece of writing to the proofreader (i.e., the final draft of your document), rather than if you submit a haphazard piece of work. If your written text still requires a lot of development, revision, and restructuring, you should always contact an editor rather than a proofreader!

With the above in mind, this article sets out several grammar mistakes that, after seeing once, should stick with you for a very long time, if not forever.

 

1. Too many Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs. They typically end in -ly (e.g., really, beautifully, quickly, and so on). In most cases, the use of adverbs is acceptable. However, overuse of adverbs can strip the dynamism from your writing.

For example, consider the following two sentences:

1.    The cat jumped really fast up the tree.

2.    The cat bounded up the tree.

In the first sentence, the use of the adverbial phrase really fast is weak. It doesn’t sound descriptive or impactful, and – most importantly – if a proofreader spotted this, they would not make a correction because there is nothing grammatically “wrong”; only an editor would change this.

By contrast, the use of the verb bounded in the second sentence adds substantial dynamism – as well as descriptive power – to the writing.

 

2. Confusing who and that

Consider the following two sentences:

1.    James is the one that asked for a seat.

2.    Here is the milk carton who Jack was referring to!

Both sentences are grammatically incorrect. The reason – according to the APA Style Guide – is because the word who should be used to refer to people and animals with names, whereas that should be used for inanimate objects and animals without names.

Corrections for the two above sentences are:

1.    James is the one who asked for a seat.

2.    Here is the milk carton that Jack was referring to!

 

3. Confusing fewer and less

Can you count the object? If so, use fewer; if not, use less. For example:

1.    There are fewer grains of sand on this beach than that beach

2.    There is less coffee in this cup than that cup

3.    I would like less water and fewer ice cubes

Essential Resources for Students in 2022

Once you’ve received a place in higher education, whether at college or university, it can feel like a non-stop ride until your degree is achieved.

Students should use all available resources to increase their chances of success. Paid and non-paid resources exist that can ease your life as a student, ranging from high-quality professional proofreading services (to polish your writing for presentation) to reference management software (to help make the creation of bibliographies significantly easier).

For the upcoming year of 2022, an important trend is digitalisation and the growing inclusion of technology in higher education. Therefore, many of the essential resources for students in 2022 are digital tools, but not all of them; in fact, some key resources – such as professional proofreading – are human-driven tasks that, currently, computers perform quite badly at!

Read on to find out more about the three most essential resources for students in 2022.

 

1. Google Scholar

Released initially in November 2004, Google Scholar has emerged as one of the most valuable resources for academic research, literature reviews, and student assignments.

The purpose of Google Scholar is to offer an easilyaccessible – and freely available – web search engine that contains a vast database of full-text scholarly literature (or associated metadata), valuably covering a range of disciplines and publishing formats (e.g., journal articles and grey literature).

If you combine the use of Google Scholar (in your web browser, such as Chrome or Safari) with the use of a browser plug-in reference manager (discussed in Point 2 below), students can rapidly increase their ability to retrieve and cite the information they need.

 

2. Reference Managers

The purpose of a reference manager is to keep a record of all your journal articles, papers, and studies that you want to cite in your writing.

Using a reference manager, you can easily auto-generate reference lists conforming to a specific style guide (e.g., APA). Importantly, as a student or academic, this can save a lot of time and effort when creating bibliographies.

Reference managers are not a new development in 2021 and 2022; indeed, they’ve been around for a long time. Notably, with every year that has passed, they have been improving in leaps and bounds.

For example, Zotero, which is a long-running, free reference manager, is currently on version 5.0, and it offers many high-powered features compared to earlier versions.

 

3. Professional Proofreading Services

The final essential resource for students in 2022 that is worthy of mention in this article is professional proofreading.

As discussed in the introduction to this article, proofreading is not a task that computers can complete effectively and reliably today, which is unlike Google Scholar and reference managers; in both of these cases, computers outperform humans by a long stretch.

Dissimilarly, for professional proofreading, it is important to hire an experienced proofreader who can improve your work. Although this takes some effort, you can still use digital resources – such as the Internet, search engines, and review aggregation websites – to find a worthwhile service that suits your needs! 

How to Paraphrase a Text Quickly

Paraphrasing involves expressing another author’s ideas in your own original words. The quickest way to paraphrase the text is to use a paraphrasing service, but if you don’t have the budget for paraphrasing services, this article shows how you can paraphrase a text efficiently and effectively by yourself.

It is worth noting a few preliminaries to begin with:

·         Whenever you paraphrase, you must cite the source

·         If your paraphrasing is overly similar to the original, you may be committing plagiarism

·         Paraphrasing is best used as an alternative to direct quotation

With these preliminaries in mind, the rest of this article is concerned with explaining a quick and foolproof method of paraphrasing, along with important paraphrasing tips to speed up the quality and efficiency of your work.

 

Five-step paraphrasing process

To paraphrase the text quickly, you can follow these steps:

1.      Read through the source text until you have fully grasped its meaning

2.      Make a note of the key concepts and points covered in the source text

3.      Write a new version of the text without looking back at the source text

4.      Compare your paraphrasing to the source text and make any changes needed to reduce the level of similarity

5.      Add a reference to the source that you paraphrased

 

Tips for easy and quick paraphrasing

The five-step paraphrasing process described above is not straightforward to apply in practice. Many students find that paraphrasing, despite seeming easy, is a time-consuming and complex task.

Some tips for easy and quick paraphrasing are presented as follows:

1.      Use as many synonyms as possible

2.      Alter the structure of the sentences in the source text

3.      Separate the information into different sentences

4.      Begin your opening sentence at a different place compared to the source text

To illustrate, consider the following paraphrased passage in which all four of the above-mentioned tips have been applied. The original quotation is:

In The Sopranos, the mob is besieged as much by inner infidelity as it is by the federal government. Early in the series, the greatest threat to Tony's Family is his own biological family. 

The paraphrased version of this quote, which was created by applying the four tips described above, is the following:

In the first season of The Sopranos, Tony Soprano’s mobster activities are more threatened by members of his biological family than by agents of the federal government.

 

Avoiding plagiarism

Many writers believe that paraphrasing is a form of plagiarism.

However, when you paraphrase another author, you can always avoid the risk of plagiarism by ensuring the following:

·         Do not forget to cite the source

·         Use a plagiarism scanner (e.g., Turnitin)

·         Avoid excessive similarity with the source

In short, if you paraphrase a text effectively, you can always avoid plagiarism. As you always, if you don’t have the time to paraphrase your work, consider using a rewriting service or a paraphrasing service.

How to Deliver Your Manuscript to a Publisher

Once you’ve edited your book, you can be sure that it is fit for publication – whether that’s self-publishing or through a traditional publisher.

That’s not to say that your work will be an instant success, but editing and proofreading services, as well as other editorial services such as book proofreading services UK, play a vital role in polishing and preparing a final published work.

After your book is finished and edited, first-time authors may still be unsure about how to deliver their manuscripts to publishers. Also, if you’ve only ever self-published, it can be difficult to know what steps to take before sending your manuscript to a traditional publisher.

This article describes the main steps to follow to ensure that you deliver your manuscript to your publisher in the best possible way.

 

Step 1: Ensure your work is free from error or omission

The first thing to do before even considering sending your manuscript to a publisher is to ensure it is as free from error or omission as you can possibly make it.

Making additions and changes after the publication stage (e.g., after physical books have been printed) can be costly. In many cases, publishers will pass these costs onto the author.

 

Step 2: Follow your publisher’s house style

Most traditional publishers have house styles that you are required to follow in order to publish with them. Other publishers may ask you to use popular style guides to format and layout your manuscript, such as the Chicago Manual of Style.

For this reason, before sending your manuscript to your publisher, it is important to dedicate time to formatting and laying out the file and its pages according to the publisher’s specifications.

 

Step 3: Follow publisher-specific guidance

The last important step to take before delivering your manuscript is to check for any publisher-specific guidance.

All publishers have different approaches to working with book authors, and what you’ll need to do is strongly dependent on the publisher.

For example, to publish with Bloomsbury, authors need to apply the following checklist:

·         Include a table of contents

·         Use double line spacing

·         Separate chapters into different files

·         Include notes about any special fonts and the referencing style used

·         Complete an author questionnaire

·         Explain how the book’s index will be completed

 

Step 4: Manuscript review

After delivering your manuscript to the publisher, it’s important to remember that the process is not over.

Post-delivery, the publisher’s commissioning editor will review your manuscript, and after this, your book will likely be sent for external peer review. The process typically takes 6-10 weeks, but it can be significantly longer than this, especially for complex or technical material.

Any revisions that are needed for the book will need to be discussed with the publisher’s commissioning editor, and you will be expected to adjust and re-deliver the book.

How Do Proofreading and Editing Services Differ?

The terms “editing” and “proofreading” are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct tasks. Knowing about how these tasks differ is essential before using a proofreading service or an editing service.

Therefore, if you are interested in purchasing editing or proofreading services, this article will help you to decide between each service. A description of editing and proofreading is given, and the main tasks associated with each service are explained.

 

Definition of editing

Editing is an umbrella term that can encompass rewriting a text, restructuring a text, or refining the phrasing and syntax of specific sentences. As such, there are many different types of editing.

Depending on the level and nature of the editing service you require, both the total price and time needed to complete the service will be greater.

An overview of the four major types is given below:

• Developmental editing: In this type of editing, the editor works directly with the author to plan, organise, and draft the document.
  
  
• Line editing: In line editing, the editor proceeds systematically through the text (i.e., line by line), where their aim is to enhance the overall quality and flow of the writing.
  
  
• Copy editing: The job of a copy editor is to apply a specific style consistently throughout the manuscript (e.g., copy edit the document to APA requirements).
  
  
• Comprehensive editing: A comprehensive editor makes substantial alterations to the document, covering structure, content, style, and tone.

 

Definition of proofreading

In contrast to editing, proofreading happens when the document has been prepared to an almost-finished state.

By the time a proofreader steps in, the author may already have worked with a develop amental editor, copy editor, or line editor. 

This means that the task of the proofreader is usually quite simple: namely, to correct typographical errors, punctuation mistakes, and incorrect grammar.

 

Main tasks in editing and proofreading

The main tasks that an editor is expected to complete are:

·         Ensure the document’s structural integrity

·         Ensure that all paragraphs flow effectively

·         Alter sentence structures and wording to enhance clarity

·         Collaborate with the author closely to introduce substantive changes

By contrast, a proofreader generally completes the following tasks:

·         Correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation

·         Ensure consistency throughout the document (e.g., in terms of capitalisation, spelling, and typeface)

·         Ensure the document conforms to the required style guide

 

Ensuring you receive the right service

Users of editing and proofreading services do not always know the difference between editing (including its various types) and proofreading. However, it’s crucial not to forget that these terms are not interchangeable.

If you are considering using either one of these services, it is important to communicate clearly with your chosen service provider, ensuring that you receive the service that your manuscript needs.

For an accurate quote, it is always worth discussing this with your editor. You can also safeguard against paying an excessively high price by conducting some Internet research, or asking for recommendations, about which editor to work with.

Can You “Hack” The Proofreading Process?

In a professional proofreading service, the expert you work with will typically be able to adequately check up to 2,500 of your words per hour.

This means that for a 10,000-word dissertation, it would take a professional proofreader around 4 hours to complete a high-quality proofreading service. Likewise, for a smaller document of, for example, 2,500 words, this would only take a proofreader 1 hour.

Interestingly, while this may sound very fast to some writers, it is unusual for the experts who provide proofreading services to work any faster than this.

This is despite the fact that you – if you are a non-trained proofreader (e.g., a student or academic) – may believe you can proofread at quicker pace. If you think you can, remember that most professionals work much more methodically than you are likely to.

Why is this the case? Why can’t proofreaders work any faster?

Another interesting question that arises is: Can we “hack” the proofreading process,making it shorter without compromising on quality?

 

How to “hack” the proofreading process

The simple and short answer is that there is no known way to “hack” the proofreading process.

In other words, no matter how great you may become as a professional proofreader, the limit of being able to adequately proofread 2,500 words per hour will not increase much. For example, some of the best and most efficient proofreaders may achieve up to 3,000 words an hour, but after that, their quality is likely to decline.

You might think that computers could be used to speed up the proofreading process. This is true, but even with the use of helpful proofreading software (e.g., spellcheckers), evidence strongly suggests that 2,500 words per hour is a hard upper limit.

While it may be upsetting to hear this, it shouldn’t be surprising. After all, considering the complexity of the task that a proofreader needs to complete, being able to make a full pass at 2,500 words per hour is very impressive.

If you try to time yourself, for example, the evidence suggests that – especially if you are an inexperienced or non-expert proofreader – you will only be able to proofread around 800 words adequately per hour.

 

How to accelerate the proofreading process

Having established that there is no way to “hack” the proofreading process, given the complexity of the task, it is essential to point out that the process can definitely be accelerated.

There are various ways to make the proofreading process much quicker. To save time during proofreading and complete the process quicker (and more effectively), you can put into practice the following pro tips:

·         Properly edit your document first, and only then begin proofreading

·         Take breaks to energise yourself and keep your eyes fresh

·         Use digital shortcuts (e.g., “Find and Replace”)

·         Use digital tools (e.g., spellcheckers such as Grammarly)

·         Maintain a checklist of commonly overlooked errors

How to Improve Your Proofreading Quickly

Proofreading is an important and in-demand task today. The growing importance of high-quality text, articles, and business or technical documentation for mission-critical activities is reflected in the rise of proofreading services as an affordable option for consumers, as well as a rich source of employment for proofreaders.

It is well-known that using a proofreading service can transform the workflow that a student, academic, or researcher adopts. At the same time, professional proofreaders know about the value of a career in this field, along with the opportunities to specialize further and enter world-leading companies.

While many companies today are outsourcing the proofreading function, some firms still operate in-house writing, editing, and proofreading teams. This is still common in companies that deal with technical, design, or administrative tasks that require extensive documentation.

With all these considerations in mind, it is worth knowing about some of the tips you can use to get better at proofreading quickly. If you know how to perfect and improve your proofreading skills absolutely, as well as in a short space of time, you will be able to apply for the best jobs and begin improving the work of your clients as soon as possible.

This article offers a brief introduction to the ways you can get better at proofreading quickly.

 

1. Read the text aloud

Before publishing any document, a great author knows about the importance of ensuring the manuscript sounds reasonable – and ideally even good – when it is read aloud.

If you need to stop and take a breath in the middle of a sentence, consider revising the length. Also, if there are places where you find it difficult to articulate certain words, those areas may confuse readers, too; it’s often a good idea to try writing these passages differently.

 

2. Know what errors you don’t need to correct

For style-related reasons, or reasons relating to context or convention, there are some errors that – as the professional who is providing the proofreading service – you don’t need to correct.

Examples of errors that usually shouldn’t be “corrected” in a client’s document include the use of:

·         Sentence fragments

·         Initial conjunctions

·         Run-on sentences

·         Split infinitives

·         Personal pronouns

·         Compound sentences ignoring commas

·         Polysyndeton

Just as you should be aware of the grammar rules that you need to follow when proofreading English text, you should also have a good working knowledge of the above “errors” that typically don’t need to be corrected.

 

3. Use a style guide

Style guides are lists of the standards that authors should follow when designing and writing their documents. To improve rapidly as a proofreader and enhance your ability to provide proofreading services, following a style guide closely is one of the most effective approaches.

If you follow a style guide from the start of your proofreading session, you can ensure that the suggestions, revisions, and comments you raise about your client’s document are tailored toward the high-impact issues such as:

·         Formatting consistency

·         Use of language, grammar, and spelling

·         Standard nomenclature in technical subject areas

·         Ensuring standardisation for section numbering and captions (e.g., for figures and tables)

·         Avoiding racism, sexism, and homophobia