Comments on: Letter from a Proofreader with Edits

By: Links: May First 2009 Edition | Meryl.net

Links: May First 2009 Edition | Meryl.net — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:07:04 +0000

[...] Letter from a Proofreader with Edits [...]

By: Davina

Davina — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:31:42 +0000

Hi Barbara.
I don’t know why it works when you print it out to proof, but it does. I think we tend to scan more when we’re reading on screen so it’s easy to miss typos that way. Reading backwards is supposed to help but I’m not fond of doing that.

One trick I use is to close one eye when I’m proofing. I switch back and forth between eyes. You can also scroll so that each line you are proofing is at the top of your screen, like using an imaginary ruler. That helps you just to focus on one line at a time.

Hi Robin.
I know what you mean. Even Gmail corrects the American and Cdn spelling. I don’t really know why there have to be two different ways to spell the same word. Who cares? Personally, I’d rather there be a U in colour. (Yep, there’s that red squiggly line again.)

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:27:30 +0000

Hi Davina – it really annoys me we sort of need to use some American spelling, and that our browsers try to correct us if we don’t – it’s a pet peeve of mine. Mommy, mom and mommy blogger are the ones I find most annoying – these make my skin crawl. I am penalised if I don’t spell things the way that goes against the grain for me? (and penalised has a wiggly red line under it at the moment because it is not spelled with a “z”) – we get so fed up with US domination! – R

By: Barbara Swafford

Barbara Swafford — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:04:33 +0000

Hi Davina – I didn’t take the time to hunt for all of the typos in your previous post, but some were glaring at me.

I’ve need to try your “printing the post out” tip. I often find I’ll use the same word back to back, like and and. It’s not a spelling error so I can only catch it by rereading.

I’ve also heard reading an article backwards is a great way to proofread, but it sounds like so much work, I’ve never tried it.

P.S. I agree. Jannie’s posts on misspellings are awfully cute.

Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Reaching Out To Help Others

By: Davina

Davina — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:02:53 +0000

Hi Jannie.
You’re welcome! :-) Warm and fizzy posts – heh, heh.

As for your typo posts, how bout posting the 10 you have ready? Then, in a couple of weeks you should have collected 10 more and you can do another post… or keep it as a handy standby draft.

Hi Patricia.
Thank you. I enjoy the conversational style of your blog. That muscle problem was a major distraction for you wasn’t it? I hope you are well past that discomfort now. I have every confidence that you will do an excellent job with that book.

By: patricia

patricia — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:10:32 +0000

Nice post and great information sharing. When I was typing on my lap with my muscle problem in full swing I noticed that my typos increased substantially - I often make errors, run on sentences and fragments to make a point in my writing. I work on making most posts as close to how I speak as possible - as though we are having a conversation. When I do the book, I will certainly need to tighten up the ship and hold on patricia’s last blog post..Mending Fences