tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post4425583005970355876..comments2023-10-17T07:37:00.391-05:00Comments on Written Words: My 15 favourite proofreading tipsScott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-8979631708591768372015-03-10T20:45:44.712-05:002015-03-10T20:45:44.712-05:00Reading backwards works. It's just so painfull...Reading backwards works. It's just so painfully slow for a 100K+ word novel<br /><br />Reading out loud, on the the other hand, is a blast.Jamie Maltmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241519280808826998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-89848648943820190302014-04-28T22:01:03.533-05:002014-04-28T22:01:03.533-05:00I do most of the above, all good points, especiall...I do most of the above, all good points, especially #15. I also send a copy of my manuscript to my Kindle and wait a day or so before reading as I've found I can spot quite a few errors that way. Sadly, even with all that, I've still sometimes seen an error or typo crop up in something I've published. Grrr!P.B. Cannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17154457398634229970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-75790679451520607622014-04-28T15:13:54.269-05:002014-04-28T15:13:54.269-05:00All great suggestions, Scott. I'll second M.J...All great suggestions, Scott. I'll second M.J. Kelley's suggestion of a list of search items; I use it every time, and you can include wild card characters, spaces, etc. to look for misplaced punctuation marks, for example. Use of text to speech apps to listen as you proof is also a good way to avoid seeing what you expect instead of what's there.Charles Doughertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16888669370784744314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-1720531203763025012014-04-28T14:30:52.196-05:002014-04-28T14:30:52.196-05:00My favorite way to edit is using the "find&qu...My favorite way to edit is using the "find" feature in MS Word, and going down a list of editing items, searching for each one. It's fast and thorough. As you check off each item, you can be sure you didn't miss anything.<br /><br />Thanks for this post! These are great tips.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158440087872566135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-65127334262637465182014-04-28T14:27:15.728-05:002014-04-28T14:27:15.728-05:00I have an edits list that I go down every time I&#...I have an edits list that I go down every time I'm proofing my work. I use the "find" feature in MS word to search for qualifiers like "in fact" and much more. That's my favorite way to edit now.<br /><br />Your tips are great. Really appreciate the post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158440087872566135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-81851045861225955892014-04-28T11:06:42.125-05:002014-04-28T11:06:42.125-05:00I like the "reading backwards" idea. I w...I like the "reading backwards" idea. I will give that a try on my next project. Sometimes, I end up *adding* errors when proofreading, by hitting a stray key or cutting and pasting something without a space... Sheesh! That's when I know it's time to step away from the keyboard.<br /><br />~Tui Snider~ Dropping by from the A to Z challenge! :D<br />@TuiSnider on Twitter<br /><a href="http://www.mentalmosaic.com/blog" rel="nofollow">My blog: Tui Snider's Offbeat & Overlooked Travel</a><br />I am also part of the #StoryDam team, a friendly writing community!Tui Sniderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11863369273418993836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-88540087628047039052014-04-28T10:37:55.736-05:002014-04-28T10:37:55.736-05:00Try #3, Scott. I like your tips and have found #1...Try #3, Scott. I like your tips and have found #10 to be one I follow religiously. I read aloud to my wife who has gotten used to "blah blah blah, Hold it (click click click) blah blah blah" as I read. Plus #7 and #8 are regulars, too. I scratch out LARGE and in red so I can see the errors when I scan the page. Those itty-bitty little added commas or periods are a bitch to find, even IF they are red. And #15 is a guarantee to find errors. Thanks for sharing.Bob Nailorhttp://www.bobnailor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-78761733446749694582014-04-28T10:28:15.755-05:002014-04-28T10:28:15.755-05:00All good points. I have to remember to read my boo...All good points. I have to remember to read my books aloud - I'll be honest, by the time I'm at that point, I just want to pull my hair out as I've read it so many times and edited so many times - all valid tools to use above. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-46130373309134838872014-04-28T09:52:06.872-05:002014-04-28T09:52:06.872-05:00Great tips Scott! I'll try some of them! Than...Great tips Scott! I'll try some of them! Thanks! Lisa Jey Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418743455432887436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-39667010552475967402014-04-28T08:24:27.996-05:002014-04-28T08:24:27.996-05:00Header errors!! I tend to write the header last an...Header errors!! I tend to write the header last and since it is short, don't give it the attention it needs. Thanks for some great tips!<br /><br />Onisha EllisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com