Two Tools For Proofreading: Software And Worksheet
I arm myself with two tools every time I sit down to edit and proofread a piece.
1. My trusted proofreading software.
While it can’t catch every single writing transgression known to man, a good proofreading software should help you fix a lot of mistakes in your copy. This is especially true for grammar, spelling and other mechanical errors. More advanced titles can even work on your writing style, brevity and other qualities that affect how your writing eventually comes across.
While I don’t mind relying strictly on software for reviewing a piece, you might want to add some personal touch when hoping to eke out the best writing possible. For these purposes, I usually employ a second tool – one that helps streamline the manual process of proofreading.
2. Proofreading worksheets.
My own worksheet is actually a printed Excel chart that shows common writing mistakes I want to check for. These include misspellings that spellcheckers normally miss (such as when I write “face” instead of “phase”), clarity problems, wordiness issues and other similar items.
Since the worksheet is in chart format, it’s very easy to see items in a glance, making the process of checking for errors a look-and-see affair. It’s not perfect – nothing is – but it has helped me cut down proofreading time by a considerable degree.