Proofreading Skills
Introduction
To be an effective proofreader, it’s important to play a few tricks on your heart and your brain. When we say heart, what we simply mean is that after you pour your effort into producing a product, you automatically become attached to it and that makes it HARD to change it. You need to be open to changing your words or ideas to produce a better end result. Our brain can work against us when we read through our work because it will actually “see” what we expect or want to see, rather than what is really there.
To overcome these issues, take a step away from your paper for at least a few minutes, preferably a day, and then print it out. Read your paper aloud in reverse, starting at the end and reading one sentence at a time backwards. This will fight your brain’s tendency to “see what it wants.” Then read aloud forwards, checking for clarity and content. As you do this, mark any mistakes. After correcting, reprint and have someone you trust read it aloud back to you to be sure it sounds like you intended it to through someone else’s eyes and voice. Repeat until you feel it’s right!
Watch
https://bit.ly/311jlrX Links to an external site. – FCC Tutors “Proofreading” (YT 6:19 - watch 1:00-5:00)
Visit
- https://bit.ly/37GSqTg Links to an external site. – Grammarly, Shundalyn Allen “The Basics of Good Proofreading”
Key Ideas
- Be open to change: Don’t let your attachment get in the way of improvement!
- Take time: Plan ahead and give yourself time before you revise and proofread.
- Print your paper out and use a ruler to focus your vision.
- Be prepared: Know your most common errors and look for them specifically.
- Battle your brain: Read aloud backwards, one sentence at a time, before you read forwards.
- Get a second opinion: Have someone else read it to you and look for errors.
Apply
- Visit the Grammarly link above and read the third paragraph to see how good your brain can be at seeing what it wants to see.
- Revisit an assignment from earlier this year, even if it’s just a few days ago. With fresh eyes and these new strategies, do you see errors you missed previously?
- Find a friend with whom you feel comfortable sharing your work, and plan to be proof-reading partners. Having someone to hold you accountable and to return the favor will help a lot!