How To Proofread Your Own Copy
Yes, it is possible to proofread your own copy. While the major journalism organizations such as the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and the top news outlets all have teams of editors and proofreaders, that doesn’t mean that you can’t clean up your own story. Here’s how:
Free write
To start, when you write, don’t worry about anything other than getting your idea down on paper or screen. This is sandbox/sketch-pad time.
Some people like to build a preplan writing frame first, but I tend to just free write. I’ll often have idea words or sentences scattered about the page. Much like a painter’s pallet, these thought fragments are mixes of color that I think would look good somewhere on my word crafting.
At this point, don’t worry about writing well. Just get your concept out of your head – a good, old fashion, brain-dump. In the words of the late Bob Ross (Joy of Painting), “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents!”
Let it cook
In the Barbeque world there is a saying, “If you’re looking, you’re not cooking.” This comes from the idea that if you open the cover of your barbecue grill too often, all of the heat escapes and the cooking process gets stonewalled.
Writing is like this. Once your idea is penned or keyed-in, walk away from it. This will give you a chance to take a breath and come back to proof your work with a clear mind.
Techno-check
Put technology to work for you. While many of the popular word-processers do offer a grammar/spell check, they generally are not very skilled at their job. For this reason, I prefer to one of the heavier-duty, professional tools.
My favorite is “Grammarly”. They claim that their cloud-based program will, “instantly check for 250 types of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.” I like it because it caters to a number of writing styles and offers correction suggestions that I can either endorse or ignore.
Proof via print or screen – it’s your choice
It’s your choice as to whether you print out your work or read it on the computer screen. Most in the word business suggest that reading a printed copy will help you spot more of your errors and challenges.
Read it out loud forward and backward
Read your content bedtime story style – out loud. First, read your content through in a slow and deliberate manner. Next, read it word-by-word backward. This, among other things, will help you catch spelling faults.
Hear it read to you
It is amazing how many snags you will pick up when your copy is read to you. One easy way to do this is to utilize a text-to-speech application. Both Windows and Macintosh offer a built-in text-to-speech option. Just highlight your text, kick back, and listen away.
Get help
At the top of the blog, we discussed the fact that the big journalism companies have full editing and proofing teams. You can too. If you have a friend, colleague, or partner who can give your end product a run through, let them have at it. Their fresh perspective could shine some light on challenges you missed.
Utilize an unbiased writer
Professional, freelance copywriters, create work based on unrefined content all of the time. They are uniquely qualified to hone your words into a form that is perfect for your needs. Their unbiased view lets them produce copy that is often superior to in-house designers.
Our focus at Ocean Crest Creative is about extraordinary content. We believe that without great content that is equally fresh, a company’s offering will become little more than another voice in a crowded room full of people. Once you have the right content, you’ll have the rocket ship to blast forward!