Month: August 2018

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Proofreading in 5 Easy Steps

Proofreading is critical to a polished finished product. Here are five steps you can take to create an error-free document.

1. Run your text through Grammarly, Pro Writing Aid, or a similar online checker

These programs are terrific for finding duplicate words, mixed up words (they’re or their), and misspellings. Both programs have paid versions, but the free versions can do the trick just fine. Check for:

  • Spelling and grammar errors
  • Readability
  • Plagiarism (requires the paid versions)

Don’t forget to run your subject lines, headers, and titles through the checker. People often forget to proofread the less obvious parts of the document.

2. Print it

Before printing, double-space the document to give yourself room for edits. And, change the font to Courier as the consistent spacing can make it easier to spot mistakes. Marking errors as you go using a blue or red pen can help you later when you’re making updates to the document. Also, if you have numbered pages, do they match your Table of Contents?

3. Read it out loud

Put a ruler or a piece of paper below each line so that you can focus on one line at a time. Reading aloud helps keep your eyes from jumping ahead and missing errors. If it sounds awkward, rewrite that piece of text.

4. Check for jargon and acronyms

You are familiar with the acronyms and jargon in your industry, but your intended audience may not. And some acronyms mean different things across different industries. For example, AP can mean Advanced Placement, access point, Asia-Pacific, and accounts payable.

5. Read it backward

No, not in JK Rowling’s way with the Mirror of Erised, with the letters in backward order. Start with the last sentence of your document and work your way back to the beginning. It is difficult to edit your work as you know what’s coming. Reading in reverse helps solve that issue. Stop at punctuation and double check that it is correct.

Bonus Tip: Ask a trusted friend to read through your document. Someone with fresh eyes who is unfamiliar with the text can often spot missed errors.

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5 Things My Mom Taught Me

I’m the age my mom was when we lost her to cancer, and I know that experience is impacting how I approach my 50s. I didn’t get to have my mom as part of my life for very long.  And while I can’t send call her or send flowers, I take this time to remember a few of the things she taught me:

Attain independence 
Learning to rely on yourself is freeing. I love my family and friends and much prefer their company to my own. But knowing that I can change a tire, travel to new places, or rewire a plug gives me a sense of confidence and independence that allows me to be confident in my abilities in a new situation.

It is possible to learn more from your mistakes than from your successes, but you have to work at it.  We all make mistakes, it’s what you do after that can make a difference.

There’s always more than one way to solve a problem. I grew up mostly overseas, in places we loved living but which did not have most of the “things” available in the US.  I remember my mom learning to make ketchup as it wasn’t available in the store. Other people trucked back bottles of it returning from travels. That worked too.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. And it’s cousin, just because you think it, doesn’t mean you have to say it. 

There’s always room for one more – invite people in. They may decline, but more likely they’ll accept and there’s always room for one more.

Plan for the future but enjoy the present – Balance saving for the future with living in the present. In the time of YOLO, be intentional about where you are spending your time and your money.