eduify | write faster

Proofreading, like many things, has never been my strong suit. Over the years, however, I’ve picked up some tricks on how to proofread more effectively. By no means a professional editor, I still occasionally gloss over and miss errors in my writing from time to time. But the tricks I picked up really help me in my writing, whether in finding spelling errors that spellcheck doesn’t pick up (like quickly typing “by no means a professional dieter” instead of “by no means a professional editor”) or in correcting grammatical construction or in simply rephrasing sentences to make them sound better the second time around.

Hemingway once advised writers to write drunk and edit sober. While I don’t advise anyone to imbibe whilst writing (especially you underage students), I see some wisdom in that remark. Write with an open mind and a creative spirit, without too much thought to making things 100% perfect. Unplug yourself from doubt and fear and engage in some stream-of-consciousness freedom! That way, you stay as creative as possible. The real work comes afterwards, after you already have your thoughts on paper. Proofreading and editing is when you turn your thoughts in writing. Proofreading is that crucial step in transforming everything you’ve thought of and everything you’ve written down into something legible that makes it fun for readers to read.

Here are my 5 tips for proofreading most effectively.

5. Read your work aloud to yourself.

You use a different part of your brain when you read aloud, and it’s also a slower process that forces you to physically read one word at a time. Reading in your head is a patchy quick process, which often leads to skimming rather than true reading. If you have glossed over errors in your work while reading silently, reading aloud can be a sure way to catch those mistakes.

4. Try reading your document backwards.

This sounds strange, but many professional proofreaders swear by it, particularly to catch spelling mistakes. If you are writing a paper with many scientific or historical names, or if you are writing a paper for a foreign language class – situations where spellcheck is useless in catching errors – reading backwards is a good way to examine each word individually and out of context to make sure that basic structure is correct.

3. Track your changes.

Tracking changes is an intelligent way to edit while on a computer because it mimics what it’s like to edit in a hard copy where you can visibly see any cross-outs or notes you’ve written on the margins. This is a good way to compare documents while you are editing and making changes. By the way, Eduify lets you track changes, comments, versions.

2. Have someone else proofread for you.

This is a no brainer. If you’re truly serious about proofreading, getting help from peers is the best way to catch mistakes. Because they think differently than you do and because they aren’t as familiar with the topic are you are, a peer is a good way to gauge how your writing is interpreted by third party readers. (Hint: Eduify makes this part really easy – you can share with any of your contacts and facebook friends with ease).

1. Always double check.

Always double check one last time before you turn in. It’s better to be safe than sorry!