(DP) Proofreading Tools Lesson

Proofreading Tools

Failing to proof your work is like showing up for an interview with stains on your clothes...you are not going to look very good. Proofing your document means checking for errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, tone and tense, as well as, double checking facts, links, names and figures.

Word processing software usually has proofreading tools built in that can warn you about the mistakes in your document. Online proofreading tools are also available. However, there are some things that the tools cannot do and that is checking facts, links, and whether a name is spelled correctly. In truth, the best proofreader is you. Here are some tips for proofing your own documents:

PROOFREADING TIPS - Leave your document for a while. then go back and re-read it. - Print the document out and go through it word by word with a colored pen. Go through it again in the same manner, but backwards this time Read the document aloud to see that it makes sense. Pay particular attention to words that are homonyms: there and their, tail and tale, two, too and to. - Check apostrophe use: plural (never) or possessive (usually) or a contraction (always). Check your facts and any links. Check for consistency in tone and tense, capitalization, and hyphenation.

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