Proofreading Tips that Actually Work!

It doesn't matter if you are only writing an email, a college essay, a letter or an article, getting your writing free from mistakes is paramount.

If you use MS Word or other spell checkers this can help, but it isn't foolproof and can sometimes miss glaring errors. This is where proofreading comes into play.

Read on to find tips for proofreading that will make finding errors and mistakes much easier.

Make sure you concentrate


If you are going to spot any errors that you have made in your writing, then you have to be able to concentrate. Free yourself from any distractions and watch out for potential interruptions. Wait until the kids have gone to bed, turn off your phone, turn off the TV and start to concentrate.

Print out your writing


It is easier to read and check for mistakes on paper than it is on screen. The computer screen can be distracting and it can affect the way your eyes see the writing. Read aloud what you have printed off and you will be amazed at how many mistakes you spot. (If you have made any that is!)

Keep an eye out for Homonyms


Words that have the same spelling or the same pronunciation, but have different meanings are known as homonyms. Words such as weather and whether may not be picked up by spell checkers. It can be disastrous for your letter or text if you mistakenly leave the wrong word in, so always proofread to make sure you have the correct word.

Be on the lookout for Contractions and also Apostrophes


Common mistakes in writing are confusing words such as it's and its, your and you're and their and they're. Make sure you are using the right word for your text, it again can be disastrous to use the wrong one. Remember that an apostrophe is never used to form a plural of a singular word.

Watch your punctuation


Make sure you use commas, periods, and capitalization of words properly. Never neglect the punctuation in your writing. The spell checkers do not pick up grammar mistakes so read aloud what you have written to be sure.

Read your text backwards