by: Niall Cinneide
Proofreading is a career which many people are looking to get into, but often the knowledge of what to do, when to do it, and especially how to do it is hard to come by. For that reason, there are many things that are important to know in order to succeed, as the career path is not simple at all. It is important to have as much information as possible to put you ahead of others in the game! Here are some tips of proofreading here that will help anyone.
Proofreading may seem simple, but the you must be able to read well and also be able to spot spelling mistakes. Simple mistakes can ruin the copy. There are certain words that are often misspelled. Others are typing errors. Some individuals can flip flop word order or even make really grammatical errors. Here are some other common problems to look for.
Sentence structure is often a problem. Make sure that the proper wording is used to convey the point being made.
Punctuation errors, especially the use of commas, colons, and semi colons, are often made.
Look for grammatical errors such as writing the word in the wrong tense or confusing words such as then and than.
The freelance proof reader needs to ensure that the work they present is of the best quality. One of the most important tips we can suggest is to make sure the proof reader is trained. Certifications are often necessary to make sure the freelancer has the information, training, and common sense that is needed to effectively do proof reading. They also must stay up to date on new terminology that is relevant online.
Through using proof reading worksheets, practice can be obtained.
Through knowledge of primary resources, they can double check their work before presenting it.
All of these aspects are important to know and use when learning to be a proof reader.