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.
Bedford Park travel from Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareEditingExpect, allow, and accept that every first draft will represent... Read More
Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More
(This excerpt is taken from my new writing workshop Writing... Read More
Sometimes a freelance writing career can feel very much like... Read More
Every writer expends a great deal of creative energy developing... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
Authors need to write their book according to their target... Read More
If you haven't realized the success you wanted last year,... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
Technology vendors often contribute bylined articles to trade journals. The... Read More
In the beginning of your story you have to grab... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
There's nothing that kills a scene like hackneyed dialogue. Just... Read More
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
A frequent conversation I have with my writing clients is... Read More
Freelance editing opportunities are out there, you just need to... Read More
Recently, I was hunting for a book that would simply... Read More
The Hottest Word on the WebDid you know marketing people... Read More
Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just want... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Clustering, also called Mind Mapping, is a great way to... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
Language Training - A key to Global CommunicationLanguage Training is... Read More
Everone knows that comedy is mostly about timing. If you... Read More
Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More
Cadillac Escalade SUV rentals Basco ..Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
If you haven't realized the success you wanted last year,... Read More
Balance your life ... Read More
Nike's ad has taken on new meaning for me of... Read More
My Dad has this old joke that goes, "What's the... Read More
1) Can you summarize the story in about a sentence... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
Do you love someone very deeply? A spouse, son, daughter,... Read More
In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to... Read More
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More
Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle... Read More
Peter Mayle was born in England in 1939.His fascination with... Read More
You sink back into your favourite chair with a new... Read More
'Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always... Read More
Every writer expends a great deal of creative energy developing... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
What do you mean, you don't have a website yet?... Read More
Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing.... Read More
I've been in the communications business a long time?over 25... Read More
1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art.... Read More
Your struggling to sell just a few copies of your... Read More
Writing |