How to Proofread Your Own Writing

As a freelance writer, you’re responsible for ensuring the pieces you deliver to your clients are polished and professional. In this post, we’ll take you through how to proofread your writing and check that it’s clear, refined, and error-free. We’ll cover:

• Why it’s important to proofread your writing
• When you should proofread your work
• What you should include in a proofreading checklist
• How Knowadays courses can help enhance your skills

Keep reading to learn about proofreading and how to incorporate it into your writing process.

Why Is It Important to Proofread Your Writing?

Imagine that you’ve put substantial time and effort into researching and writing a first-rate article only to realize, after you’ve submitted it, that you misused a semicolon or misspelled a word. That’s why it’s so important to carefully proofread your writing before sending it to a client.

Proofreading is an essential step in the writing process and shouldn’t be overlooked. Even one or two errors left in a piece could cause you to look unprofessional or damage your reputation as a freelancer. If you leave errors in your work, you’re less likely to receive positive feedback, repeat work, and word-of-mouth recommendations – all significant ways freelancers build their client base.

When Should You Proofread Your Work?

Proofreading is the last step in the writing process, completed after you edit your work and address all major structural issues. When proofreading, check for surface-level issues, such as grammar/punctuation errors, spelling mistakes, typos, dialect differences, and inconsistencies. It can be hard to spot errors in your own writing, so make proofreading easier on yourself by:

• Waiting at least a few hours after you complete your article to begin to proofread
• Proofread using a different screen or print out a hard copy to review
• Read the piece out loud
• Try reading backwards for a fresh perspective
• Divide the document into manageable chunks (such as reviewing a few paragraphs or pages at a time)
• Take a proofreading course to brush up on your English language skills

Finally, make sure you set up a comfortable, distraction-free workspace to complete your proofreading and don’t forget to take regular breaks, especially if you’re reviewing a long document.

Proofreading Checklist for Writers

Many writers find it useful to make a checklist of things to look for when proofreading, such as common punctuation errors and frequently misspelled words. Below are some examples of common proofreading issues that you could use to form your checklist:

• Missing terminal punctuation
• Misuse of commas, semicolons, and colons
• Incorrect subject-verb agreement
• Inconsistent or incorrect dialect conventions
• Acronym and abbreviation usage
• Dangling/misplaced modifiers
• Unsuitable or incorrect word choices
• Inconsistent capitalization
• Date/time formatting
• Extra double spaces

Keep in mind that these are just some common issues to look for when proofreading and that your checklist will vary based on the document type, dialect, style guide, etc.

Becoming a Freelance Writer

If you’re interested in pursuing a rewarding, flexible career as a freelance writer, check out our Becoming A Freelance Writer course. We teach you everything you need to know about researching, structuring, and drafting writing projects for your clients. Claim your free trial and get started today!