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Finishing an article is satisfying. After all, you may have spent hours perfecting it. You think you’re ready to turn it into your client. But hold on, you may be missing an essential step that could make or break the article.
It’s time to polish your article with a heavy dose of proofreading. Sound proofreading will establish you as a serious writer or editor.
Let’s face it, if you have multiple grammatical errors and misspelled words, that can disengage the reader, and they’ll ignore the content (which can have negative impacts like increasing bounce rates).
The key takeaway? You need to know and implement proofreading.
Ensure proofreading goes smoothly by using editorial tools like the Originality.ai Grammar Checker and Readability Checker.
With the rise of digital writing and content writing, proofreading has expanded beyond print media.
In content marketing, it has become the act of reviewing and fixing errors like grammar and misspelled words that may appear in the final draft of blog posts, landing pages, and even social media posts.
Proofreading is the final review and ultimately polishes your draft.
Proofreading is part of the editing process, but it is different from editing.
An editor reviews the draft (and editing takes place) before the proofreader begins proofreading.
Editors first focus on aspects which are essential to preparing the draft (such as substance and style) before the final proofreading stage of the editorial process.
Let’s take a closer look at the tasks of an editor vs. a proofreader:
Keep in mind that sometimes editors may also proofread content (after editing) and tackle both aspects of the editorial process as separate steps before publication.
Although fixing errors is the main proofreader’s job, the final review goes much deeper.
Of course, you want to correct the basic grammar and spelling mistakes, but other problems need to be caught before you can submit.
Proofreaders look for and correct:
Proofreaders are the last step to ensure the final product is professional and easy to read. So, they are highly focused on looking at and addressing the details of the content.
There are several reasons why proofreading is essential. It goes beyond making sure your content is error-free. It ensures the clarity of your brand message and can clear up misunderstandings within the content — before it’s published.
Proofreading ensures accuracy, eliminates errors, and enhances readability. If the message is not clear or consistent, it could cause confusion for the reader.
Proofreading maintains both the writer’s and the client’s professionalism by catching mistakes that may have slipped through the cracks before the content is published.
Correct grammar, spelling, and verb tenses all contribute to a positive image for the client or business and reassure the reader or audience.
It’s important to know various ways to improve your proofreading skills.
Here are some tips to make proofreading easier:
You can try one of these or all of these to make the process easier.
Whatever you can do to keep fresh eyes and gain perspective on a draft will help you become a more effective proofreader.
Proofreaders must possess specific skills and qualities to do their job effectively. From sentences to specific words and commas, a good proofreader must be able to analyze every detail on the page. As a proofreader, you must be a perfectionist.
It’s imperative that proofreaders have a perfect understanding of the language. They must not only know grammar rules but also have a crystal clear understanding of the flow.
They should also know common style guides and their specific brand’s style guidelines to ensure that the content is in line with the brand voice.
Not to mention that proofreaders must have excellent communication skills. They should be able to explain clearly why something is or isn’t working.
Proofreading is one of the cornerstones of good writing. A proofreader is the last set of eyes to review a draft.
Proofreaders ensure that grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation are correct to ultimately ensure a great experience for the reader.
Get a suite of best-in-class editorial tools to streamline your editing process with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker, Readability Checker, and Content Optimizer.
Then, learn more about the editorial process in our top guides:
