I’ve heard many people say that proofreading is their least favorite part of the writing process. When you write, you get to be creative and expressive; proofreading is boring and tedious.

Like most circumstances, however, your attitude and approach to proofreading is important. An activity is only as boring and tedious as you make it. It’s easy to turn proofreading into an engaging game that also improves the quality and clarity of your writing.

Follow these 10 tips to catch mistakes that you don’t want in your text.


1. Change your font.

You’ve spent many hours looking at your writing a certain way. Since you’re familiar with the particular font, mistakes are camouflaged. Copy your text into a separate document, and change the font to one that you use more rarely.

2. Imprint each word.

You may say that you’re “proofreading,” but often times you’re just skimming over words and hearing the phrases that you intended to write. This is a waste of time. Slowly say each word out loud as your proofread. You want to imagine that you’ve never read those words before, so you have to be extra careful.

3. Circle each punctuation mark.

If you don’t feel confident about your punctuation usage, circle all your commas, periods, semicolons, and dashes. Examine the reason for using each mark as you do. Each placement should complement the meaning that you intend to convey.

4. Highlight terms.

“Proofreader” is the perfect example of a word that can be spelled different ways. Some prefer it as two words: “proof reader.” Others hyphenate it: “proof-reader.” Avoid having multiple spellings of a word within your text. I write the word “proofreader” as one word, with no hyphen. I’d want that to be the only way I spell the word within my content.

5. Second-guess definitions.

As you scrutinize each word, use a dictionary to look up any meanings that don’t feel quite right. Sometimes we think a word means something that it doesn’t, and there is a better alternative.

6. Add variety.

It’s not a terrible blunder if you use the same adjective more than once, but challenge yourself to use a variety of words that more appropriately capture your point. Proofreading can be creative. It’s your second chance to translate the vibrant image in your imagination.

7. Alter your tone.

Consider your audience. Harmless phrases may mistakenly sound arrogant or condescending if you’re not thorough. Sloppy proofreading ignores the consequences of an inappropriate tone. Be aware of how you say what you say.

8. Eliminate excess.

Can you say a long phrase in just a few words? Successful writers can hold the attention of even the most impatient readers. Every word should support the next. You can get rid of anything superficial.

9. Focus on verbs.

If your verb tense changes from past to present, your text becomes convoluted. Make a note of the verbs that you use, and edit your text accordingly if a sentence contains inconsistent tenses.

10. Gain confidence.

When you’re proud of a polished piece of writing that clearly communicates your point, you’re inspired to produce more excellent work in the future. Every writer needs confidence to move forward.

Author Bio:
Stefanie Flaxman is a freelance copy editor and author of a new book about heartbreak.