PROFESSIONAL PROOFREADING
I will spot that error, you have my word
What is proofreading?
Once written and edited, the final stage in the copywriting process is proofreading. This is the last chance to get it right.
The name comes from traditional typesetting, when the first versions of books, known as ‘galley proofs’, were checked for mistakes prior to publishing. The job of these proofreaders was to identify or query errors, which would then be addressed by the author or editor.
Using the services of a professional proofreader today is your one last chance to make sure your words are perfect. Their mission in life is to hunt down and eliminate mistakes. Miss this stage out and the message you want to give to the world could do you more harm than good if your copy is littered with errors.
With online copy, you at least have a chance to make changes later along the line, but if you’re committing something to print, you really need to be sure that there are no embarrassing spelling mistakes, punctuation slip-ups or factual inaccuracies.
You want to sign off a piece of writing that absolutely says exactly what you want it to say. And that is why you need to use the services of a professional proofreader.
What can proofreading do for your business?
You can call me picky, but I would think twice before even reading copy if I spotted an error within the first few lines.
I wouldn’t trust that a business was offering a professional service if they fell at the first hurdle of communicating with a would-be customer. That means, I would look elsewhere for a product or service and not give a company displaying such sloppy workmanship my hard-earned cash.
Errors stand out a mile to me and send me running, and I don’t think I’m alone. It’s not just professional proofreaders who grimace at signs on the high street offering ‘bed’s for sale’. Ugh.
When you wonder what proofreading can do for your business, perhaps the above is all you need to know. Getting it right shouldn’t be a ‘nice to have’, it should be absolutely essential to any company or organisation worth their salt.
When you use the services of a professional proofreader you are making sure that your audience sees the very best of you.
What is my proofreading experience?
I love proofreading, or to be more specific, I get a real buzz out of finding and then eliminating errors from copy. Missing or misplaced punctuation, incorrect use of grammar, factual inaccuracies, spelling mistakes, style inconsistencies – all have no place in my copy, or yours.
When I started out in newspaper journalism, we had a whole department of people whose sole job was to proofread pages. Every word, every figure and every punctuation mark was scrutinised, and errors were rare. As times changed, and money became tight, these vital roles disappeared and the final proofing stage was left to the sub-editors.
During my time as a sub-editor, a hugely important and enjoyable part of my job was proofreading. Spotting errors became almost a sport, and the sense of achievement at stopping a real howler appearing in the paper was immense.
I still get that feeling now – in fact, it’s fair to say that I’m really disappointed if I don’t find anything wrong with a piece of copy. Unless I’ve written it, of course!
please give me a call on 07926 071650 or email janette@janettemallard.co.uk
