Even though I write for a living, there are times when errors slip through my writing. I’m always embarrassed when I realize my stupid little mistakes, but you always learn from your mistakes. At least I hope we do.
Whether you are typing an email, writing a letter, preparing a proposal, or submitting an essay for a continuing education class, it’s important to read what you’ve written before you hit the dreaded send button or hand in an assignment.
Here are a few techniques I use to help in reviewing my writing.
- Don’t rely on spellcheck to catch everything. Your vs you’re won’t be caught during spellcheck.
- Print the document rather than reading it on your computer screen. It does make a difference!
- If possible, put your writing away for a day. Sometimes you get so close to your writing that you insert words that aren’t really in the text.
- Read your content out loud. This helps with flow of sentence structure.
- Read your content backwards. You’ll catch punctuation mishaps and misused words.
Happy writing!
Nancy Roe
Author