Why proofread work

See the UNC Libraries citation tutorial for more information. As you edit at all of these levels, you will usually make significant revisions to the content and wording of your paper.

Keep an eye out for patterns of error; knowing what kinds of problems you tend to have will be helpful, especially if you are editing a large document like a thesis or dissertation. Once you have identified a pattern, you can develop techniques for spotting and correcting future instances of that pattern.

For example, if you notice that you often discuss several distinct topics in each paragraph, you can go through your paper and underline the key words in each paragraph, then break the paragraphs up so that each one focuses on just one main idea. Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation.

You should proofread only after you have finished all of your other editing revisions. Content is important. But like it or not, the way a paper looks affects the way others judge it.

Most people devote only a few minutes to proofreading, hoping to catch any glaring errors that jump out from the page. Sure, this takes a little extra time, but it pays off in the end. If you know that you have an effective way to catch errors when the paper is almost finished, you can worry less about editing while you are writing your first drafts.

This makes the entire writing proccess more efficient. Try to keep the editing and proofreading processes separate. You probably already use some of the strategies discussed below. Experiment with different tactics until you find a system that works well for you. The important thing is to make the process systematic and focused so that you catch as many errors as possible in the least amount of time.

This handout contains seven errors our proofreader should have caught: three spelling errors, two punctuation errors, and two grammatical errors. We consulted these works while writing this handout. Do they have the same meaning? Not so much. Mistakes can range from mildly uncomfortable to downright embarrassing! Do we want the general pubic to witness us making those missteps? Oh, wait. Do you see what just happened there? If our writing is polished and refined, people are more likely to view us as polished and refined as well.

Our written word is often the first way we make an impression on an audience—it represents us in our absence. And we know what they say about first impressions. And people will notice! I wrote an article about how to find a good proofreader in case you need to hire one.

One job seeker went into detail about their entire arrest history, and another changed the font type each time they started a new sentence. They note that one of the principal reasons for rejection is poor language. Reputable scholarly journals receive far more submissions than they can publish, so editors are often looking for reasons to narrow down the pool of papers awaiting publication.

These errors are preventable, and proofreading is the antidote. Business owners produce content for internal and external use. The word proofreading has taken on a definition separate from the role it plays in the publication of manuscripts.

What most people are referring to when they use the word proofreading is the process of checking a document for any kind of grammatical, typographical, or formatting errors. Proofreading should always be the last step taken before a document is published online, handed in to a professor, submitted for a job application, or otherwise shared with its intended audience. By the time a document is ready to be proofread, it should have been edited already. This means its content should already be well organized, well written, and easy to understand.

Editing also involves removing errors, but it focuses more on making sure the document makes sense as a whole. Proofreading, on the other hand, is about finding errors both small and large that were either missed or introduced during editing.

Proofreaders ensure that the document's final draft is completely free of grammatical errors e. They also make sure the document adheres to the chosen style guide.

Unlike traditional proofreaders in the publishing industry, document proofreaders are not limited in the number of revisions they can make to a document, as there is generally no elevated proofreading cost associated with making more changes. However, if proofreaders find that most of the document still requires extensive changes, they may recommend that it undergo another round of editing.

Though a proofread is less extensive than an edit, it is an important step when preparing a piece of writing to be read by other people, as errors can cause confusion or be seen as unprofessional. Scribendi's proofreading services will help you polish your writing and ensure it is ready for your readers.

English is not my first language. Related Categories. Companies for Flexible Jobs. Jobs by Career. Jobs by Location. Top Remote Companies. Nov Manager, Biostatistics. United Kingdom. Client Care Specialist. Digital Project Manager. Product Manager - Partner Implementation. Wellesley, MA. FlexJobs in the News. Interested in a Flexible Work Schedule? Currently Hiring on FlexJobs. Success Stories Just In!

Finding a job can be difficult, and I've tried many other sites! I had more responses when I applied on FlexJobs! Nov 10, As soon as I signed up for FlexJobs, I saw a lot of jobs in my field with great companies! I landed a great job!