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The NCRW Corner: How to Proofread Your NCRW Submissions

January 04, 2022 3:00 AM | Administrative Manager

By Sally McIntosh, NCRW, NCOPE

These examples of proofreading errors were found on the internet, primarily in news articles. Back when there were only newspapers, it was unusual to find a writing error. Now, one wonders if anyone proofreads articles before publication online. Some errors will jump out at you, and others are a little harder to find. I did not make up any of these.

  1. Are you a finance leader looking to take an international company to the next level while making an impact on patience lives?
  2. Biden says hell "work like hell" to pass infrastructure, social spending bills.
  3. Who was the first professional are & B band?
  4. To advertise here, call f presentative in Classified for more information.
  5. Britney Spears thanks fans for freeing her from dads control.
  6. Bennett is flattered by visibly doesn't know what Cooper is talking about.
  7. Whos really behind those Costco Kirkland items?
  8. Investigators also seized other prop guns and ammunition that were being for the film starring Baldwin.

How do we become better proofreaders? Following are some modified tips from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Writing Center:

  • Try reading backwards, a sentence at a time. This will help you focus on the sentences, rather than getting caught up in the content of your paper.
  • Place a ruler under each line as you read it. This will give your eyes a manageable amount of text to read.
  • Know your own typical mistakes. Before you proofread, look over documents you have written in the past. Make a list of the errors you make repeatedly.
  • Try to take a break between writing and proofreading. Set the paper aside for the night—or even for 20 minutes.
  • Proofread once aloud. This will slow you down and you will hear the difference between what you meant to write and what you actually wrote.
  • Ask someone else to read over your document and help you find sentences that aren't clear, places where you're being wordy, and grammatical errors.
  • Use the spell-checker on your computer, but use it carefully, and also do your own spell-checking. Computer spell-checkers often make errors – they might suggest a word that isn't what you want at all, and they don't know the difference between there, their, and they're, for example. (Note: Even Grammarly is not always correct.)
  • Get help. If you're not sure if you need that comma or whether to use "affect" or "effect," look it up in a writing handbook or ask for help.

Remember that editing isn't just about errors. You want to polish your sentences at this point, making them smooth, interesting, and clear. Watch for very long sentences, since they may be less clear than shorter, more direct sentences. Pay attention to the rhythm of your writing; try to use sentences of varying lengths and patterns. Look for unnecessary phrases, repetition, and awkward spots.

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Sally McIntoshSally McIntosh was an original member of NRWA and volunteered as a Certification Commission grader before serving as Chair for 16 years. For more than 30 years, she has operated Advantage Resumes in St. Louis, MO. Find her online at LinkedIn.com/in/reswritersally.

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