8 Tips for Effective Proofreading
In our industry, proofreading and correcting typos are all extremely important. We rely on our customers to inspect and approve the products that they are ordering to make sure that everything looks correct, but it can still be easy for something to go unnoticed by a customer, and a whole line of print pieces have a spelling error. Because we hate to see this happen to our clients, we're celebrating Proofreading Day (March 8th) and teaching a few easy tips to keep your print pieces at the Lake of the Ozarks error free and ready to be distributed.
Go Backwards
It may seem drastic, but when you read something too many times, your eye becomes trained to what it says, and you become blind to your own words and your brain automatically corrects the errors without you even noticing it. Read the text backward to help you go word by word.
Concentrate
It can take a lot of focus to proofread. In fact, if you allow distractions while you are approving your print piece, you are taking the risk of approving a typo. Put the cell phone away, close your email, ask others not to bother you for a bit, and focus on what you're doing.Proofread Differently
When you look at something on a screen versus on paper, you will read it differently, and maybe even catch more mistakes! The same also goes for reading aloud. In many cases, your ear will catch something that your eye missed - so if you are afraid you're missing errors, try reading your text.Homonyms
These tricky typos can catch anyone by surprise but can affect the credibility of your piece. Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings. Some that will trip you up are accept and except or complement and compliment. Know the difference so you can fix them.Contractions
Their, they're, and there ... these can be extremely confusing to some, but it's important to get it correct. The same applies for your and you're. Learn the difference and be vigilant in correcting them.Punctuation
Paying close attention to the words is great, but you should also pay attention to the punctuation as well. Capitalization, commas, periods, quotations (and what goes inside and outside of them), and so are all important to direct your attention to.
Go Backwards
It may seem drastic, but when you read something too many times, your eye becomes trained to what it says, and you become blind to your own words and your brain automatically corrects the errors without you even noticing it. Read the text backward to help you go word by word.
Check Numbers
If you're in real estate, and you state that a home sold for $92,000 instead of $920,000, that can make a big difference in the message you're trying to convey. Pay attention to commas and decimals, and all of the zeros that you include in your totals.Enlist Help
Finally, there's no harm in asking someone else to take a look at your text before sending it off to print. In fact, you'll probably be glad that you did if they find a major error that you wouldn't have wanted to print.Your Local Printer at the Lake of the Ozarks
Your print piece can look amazing, but one little typo can throw it all off. We rely on our customers to view and proof their pieces before sending them to us because you know your content better than anyone. At Lake Printing, we will also send you a proof of your print piece so that you can do one final look over to make sure everything looks perfect. Take time to brush up on your proofreading skills today, and help make your print pieces look amazing!
You Can Trust Lake Printing for Your Large & Small Print Needs
You Can Trust Lake Printing for Your Large & Small Print Needs
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