After compiling a document, it is important to proofread it. Nobody is perfect and you will make mistakes when you are compiling the document. Those mistakes can be identified during the proofreading stage. If the document is in a position to create a major impact, it is better to get the assistance of a professional proofreading service. Then you can make sure that the document is perfect to be presented, submitted or published.

What exactly is proofreading? 

Proofreading is the final step that you can find in the writing process. This is associated with discovering and correcting all the typographical mistakes that can be found in the text, punctuation, grammar, spelling, formatting and even style. It is important to make sure that all these aspects are in proper order within the formatted document. Along with that, you can ensure the accuracy and consistency of the work that is presented. 

Basic elements of professional proofreading 

The professional proofreaders tend to follow a specific approach in order to get the proofreading work done. You need to make sure that you have a clear understanding of the strategies that they follow in order to ensure positive results with proofreading. This will help you to end up with securing maximum positive returns at the end of the day.

Dividing the text 

Before the proofreading process, the professional proofreaders tend to go ahead and divide the text into individual sentences. This is the most effective method available for them to go through the individual sentences carefully. It is important to make sure that this approach is followed at the beginning of every new sentence. When working along with a printed copy, it is important to isolate the lines of sentences. This can be done with the assistance of an opaque object. For example, a ruler will be able to provide assistance to the proofreaders to get their job done.

Developing larger sentence aspects 

The proofreaders don’t tend to go ahead and do the changes to the sentences at once. Instead, they prepare themselves accordingly. For example, it is important to focus on the overall context of the paper before moving forward to make the corrections. Then the proofreader will be able to do changes to the organization, structure and context as required. In the meantime, it is also important to pay attention to the sentences that lack supportive information or length as well. Then it is possible to end up with getting maximum returns with completing the proofreading job.

Analyzing the formats and tense of the sentences 

The next important thing that the proofreaders will need to be mindful about is the format and the tense of the sentences that they can dee in the document. The document should be formatted perfectly well according to the intended purpose of use. In addition to that, appropriate usage of tense should be present throughout the document as well. 

The tense of a document can change throughout the words that are written in it. For example, the abstract of a literature document should be written in the past tense, whereas the discussion and conclusion should be written in the present tense. It is up to the proofreaders to analyze this and make sure that proper tense is being maintained throughout. Along with that, it is possible to get a clear picture of the overall quality of the document.

Reduction of unnecessary words 

Unnecessary words are in a position to make the documents unreadable. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to reducing unnecessary words that are present in the document. The proofreaders are in a position to go ahead and reduce all sorts of unnecessary words that are present within the documents.

Most of the proofreaders tend to remove unnecessary words in the documents before they look for mistakes. Along with the removal of unnecessary words, it is possible to make sure that the document is concise, clear and direct.

Multiple proofreading rounds 

A single round of proofreading is not in a position to deliver the best outcomes to the people. Hence, it is important to go through multiple proofreading rounds to make sure that the document is perfect. This is a practice that you can find among the proofreaders out there in the world.

During the first round of proofreading, it is important to go through the context word by word. In addition to that, it is important to scrutinize the visual elements as well. In every single subsequent proofreading round, you need to make sure that you refrain from going through the entire text at all times. You should do this unless you are instructed to do it. However, you should double-check and make sure that all the requested changes are done accordingly. Then it is possible to make sure that new problems will not take place.

While going through the proofreading stages, the errors should be flagged. However, it is important to make sure that no stylistic, structural or copy editing activities are performed.

Corrections 

At the end of each proofreading round, corrections will take place. During the correction round, special attention will be paid towards punctuation, grammar and spelling. In addition to that, the misplaced modifiers, verb agreements and incorrect pronoun cases will be fixed as well. All these changes will be done within the limits of the proofreader. 

Then the proofreader will make sure that the very first proof has all the additional elements that are prepared for the layout as well. In addition to that, the accuracy and consistency of the elements will be monitored carefully.

Final words

Working as a proofreader is never an easy thing to do. A person who works as a proofreader will have to go through a series of struggles to get a quality job done. In the meantime, it is important to make sure that you hire such a professional proofreader to get your proofreading work done. 

This article first appeared on Harry Clark blog