Words matter. People judge you by how you convey your message. If you've spent hours poring over your text, you can lose sense of what you're trying to achieve and be completely unable to see any errors. Your readers will.
Welcome to proofcopy.co.uk, the website for Adam Hickford Editorial Services. If you are having trouble getting your message across and think an expert opinion might help, follow the links to find out more.
Read your copy twice. Once for the sense of it and again slowly to catch the errors. If you find yourself reading too fast, try reading it backwards.
Concentrate. Don't be distracted by the message of the text – you are looking for the errors.
Don't edit at this stage. Only if there is something obviously wrong should it be queried.
Check details and statistics. Are dates consistent? Do references tally?
Use standard proofreading marks – that way your message to the typesetter is not ambiguous.
Don't proof your own work – you know what you meant to say and your brain will correct the errors.
If in doubt, employ a professional.
