How to avoid mistakes that undermine your credibility
You're probably already familiar with the spell checker built into your software. Some work automatically as you type, others only run when you activate them.
Spell checking is just the start of your proofreading tasks. Don't let simple grammatical errors, or text omissions, sabotage your message. Here are some things to check for that go beyond the capabilities of your software program's spell checker.
But, spell checkers are not infallible! Know what yours checks-and what it doesn't check. Does it check text imported from other programs? Does it flag words containing numbers?
Spell check limitations
Monitor your spell checker's recommendations. Make sure each suggested replacement is a correctly spelled version of the original word, and not an inappropriate substitution. Double-check the spelling of proper nouns and industry-specific terms. Use care adding them to your custom spell check dictionary, or they will be misspelled forever!
Grammatical errors
Watch for homonyms-correctly spelled, but misused words-such as to, two, and too, or affect and effect. Most spell checkers are not context sensitive. Watch for singular nouns paired with plural verbs, and vice versa. Make sure you have used correct punctuation, like Em dashes (-) to indicate duration, instead of two hyphens (- -).
Check all dates, times, prices
Have someone else verify dates, times, and prices. It's both costly and embarrassing to send out information that you have to immediately correct. Pay particular attention to numbers. Transposed numbers, i.e., 1,324 instead of 1,234, etc., are very difficult to notice. Before submitting a proposal, posting web content or distributing a newsletter, call telephone numbers, visit web sites and send e-mails and faxes requesting return confirmation.
Make sure you have included all ordering information necessary for recipients to respond. Order your own product, to check autoresponder performance.
Widows and orphans
Check for subheads and the first lines of new paragraphs, isolated at the bottom of a column or page. Ideally, at least two lines of a new paragraph should appear together at the bottom of a column.
Likewise, edit or rewrite to eliminate word or sentence fragments isolated at the top of a new column or page.
Hyphenation
Check that you have not hyphenated headlines and subheads. These look awkward and are hard to read. Make sure body copy has been hyphenated. In justified text, i.e., lines of equal length, hyphenation eliminates awkward word spacing. In flush-left/ragged-right text, (i.e., lines of unequal length), hyphenation eliminates alternating long and short lines.
Double-check hyphenation to make sure that words like "therapist" have not been split into "the rapist." Use non-breaking hyphens to keep proper nouns from hyphenating.
Word breaks
Check that you have used non-breaking spaces to keep first names and last names, or dates, together on one line.
Working links
When creating Adobe Acrobat PDF files, check that all links perform properly. Just because URLs and e-mail addresses appear in blue and are underlined doesn't mean that the links are working properly! Recheck links when you edit your original publication file and create a new PDF.
Updating information
When publishing a newsletter, check that issue date and/or issue number information are correct. Double-check headers, footers, captions, and pull quotes.
Formatting and spacing
Check for correct headline, subhead and body copy text styles. Watch out for short paragraphs that should be formatted as subheads. It's very easy to inadvertently change styles during editing. Watch for extra spaces between words and sentences. It is also easy to inadvertently add unwanted space when copying and pasting text. Use Find and Replace to replace two spaces with one.
Duplicate or missing text
Read text out loud to locate awkward or redundant words and phrases as well as omitted words that your mind inserts because it "knows what you meant." Watch for overflow text in text frames at the ends of articles. Often, hidden text is only indicated by a relatively small icon.
Roger C. Parker knows the secrets to promoting your business one page at a time. Find out the simple way to keep in constant touch with your customers, while saving you time and money. Visit http://www.onepagenewsletters.com for your three free reports.
detailed home cleaning Park Ridge ..Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More
Characters in a good novel really carry the story along... Read More
If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
Any article, report or book which is bought or sold... Read More
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More
1. Become an EavesdropperListen carefully to the way people REALLY... Read More
Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More
Whenever you sit down to plot a story (or even... Read More
Ah, the age-old writer's debate--to outline or not to outline?Outlines... Read More
Many of us have always wanted to write. We have... Read More
Lately I've been noticing an odd trend amongst the freelance... Read More
Every writer knows that the urge to write is not... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel and bookpleasures is honored... Read More
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More
Productivity begins by recognizing and valuing your brilliance, time, and... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?For a theme to work and the... Read More
So you've got your plot outlined, a title lined up... Read More
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More
express cleaning service Des Plaines ..Proofreading worksheets are a great tool to help individuals open... Read More
Why should you consider creating a memoir of your personal... Read More
A book coaching client recently emailed me that she was... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More
Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
Do you have trouble getting your thoughts and ideas down... Read More
Mixing and mingling with industry professionals is an opportunity that... Read More
In the beginning of your story you have to grab... Read More
Not long ago, I went to an Internet Marketing Seminar.... Read More
You are the only one who knows what being a... Read More
I've been in the communications business a long time?over 25... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
What does one do as a writer who loves writing... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
I've noticed a big shift away from traditional horror recently,... Read More
Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying... Read More
What is a freelance grant writer? These individuals have a... Read More
You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More
(Skip directly to ten for the fastest shortcut!)Like any field,... Read More
Sometimes I can be dense when it comes to realizing... Read More
Dave, I just got a contract for a book... Read More
Writing |