November 19, 2015 By Marisa Moks-Unger

The 3 Best Ways to Proofread a Document

A Trifecta of Proofreading Tips

Watch your words! Closely proofread your text for common spelling errors.

Yes, yes, I know. Computers are getting smarter by the minute. Software is now able to catch such things as transposed letters within a word as each word is being keyed. Furthermore, the proliferation of documents being voice transcribed makes it is worth the effort to look for spelling errors in the way words are interpreted by software. This holds true for the basic word confusion as noted in the Bermuda Triangle of Grammatical Disaster: there/their/they’re. It can happen, too, when software misinterprets the spelling of a person’s name. This happened recently with a voice to text transmission that I received. The caller, a woman by the name of Maki, was text recorded with the following software error: “Hi, this is Mickey!” So, smart software can have its pitfalls.

Get back to basics with subject/verb agreement.

Nothing jumps out of a text quite like misplaced subject/verb agreement. The subject is a noun or a pronoun, or with a second person pronoun “you” that is implied and therefore missing. The verb can be both active and passive, but the active verbs seem to trip up inexperienced writers the most. When in doubt, consult an online grammar sites such as www.grammarly.com.

Begin with the end in mind.

Reading a manuscript carefully after the spell check and the grammatical software has caught a number of errors is always a good plan. Going through the manuscript again and looking closely at words that could pass for the correct usage and spelling is another pass worth taking. The last step for an error-free document is to take the time to read the entire document backwards, whether it is a article, paper or blog post. That’s right, I wrote backwards – word by word. In doing so, the proofreader catches every single stray error that can affect the integrity of the document.

About Marisa Moks-Unger

"Grow Your Flow" is a creativity blog by Marisa Moks-Unger, who has over 20 years of professional writing experience. If you enjoyed this post, please share on your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram accounts.

Scrabble Words for Flow

Create a Word Bank from Scrabble

Word Lists from Scrabble — First play the game, then get writing from your curated word list.

Sunday afternoons find my husband, mother-in-law, and I playing Scrabble. This ritual helps us to pass the time during the pandemic. The games usually run one to two hours. We have taken these games to a new level by anticipating them each week, then carefully crafting our word choices. It helps that all three of us are avid readers and come up with a variety of interesting diction.

Also, the game gets my mother-in-law’s mind off of the local paper’s with its teeming death notices of Covid-19 victims – most from local residential living facilities. And, she is now interested in the fact that I am using these word lists to write from professionally.

Next, free write for a few. Make a list of the words developed during the game. Then use the list as a springboard to write a creative piece using as many of the words as possible. Play with long and short lines. Add some rhymes. Look for alliteration. Give yourself about 10 minutes. See what images appear.

Then, select a genre or two to carry through. As a theme arises from the free write of the word list, follow the lead. Perhaps a poem rises up. Or, a one-act play. Or, both! Choose one genre knowing that you can come back and create more works from any single topic.

Now, it’s your turn! If you have a Scrabble game somewhere hidden in a hall closet, it is time to get it out and try your hand at this writing tactic. It employs procrastination by allowing you to blow off writing at first by playing a game. Then, you are rewarded for the time you invested in the game by writing a piece from the words you and others generated.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

TGIFF – Thank God It’s Friday Flow

Cliché Finds Flow on Friday

Congratulations, you’ve made it to Friday. And, at the workweek’s end, there is time to find flow. But, where do you go to find flow? First, realize that flow can happen anywhere at anytime. Need proof? Look at this past post on finding flow in a card and party goods store. Simply click right here: https://wewriteitright.com/visit-flow-in-a-party-goods-shop/

How Gratitude Leads the Way

Use grateful eyes to take in the world around you. Then, instead of planning to hit the bars and clubs when the clock strikes 5:00 PM, other options present themselves during these times of pandemic. Why not take a virtual tour a museum? Or, take a walk or bike ride through a park? Or, spend an hour working on a poem, and essay, or a blog post. When you are grateful for the options you have – even if you are working from home amid shutdowns – then that is enough.

Your Turn

Playtime creates greater flow. — Spirographs, Etch-a-Sketch, and Slinkys are just a few ways to re-enter flow through playtime. What was your favorite activity as a child? When was the last time you tried it as an adult?

Think back to grade school, junior high, or middle school. Think about the electives that you took that helped round out your schedule. Did you take dance or music classes? Weight training? Or, perhaps, like me, you did candle making. Whatever it might be, try to reunite your lost teen with your adult self. Take time to write, dance, sing, paint, or play with your Spirograph! You’ll be glad you did!

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

A Trifecta of Proofreading Tips

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About Marisa Moks-Unger