This is going to be the first post on this blog and we are delighted to have you. We decided to talk about something we are intensely passionate about as the first post and we know you would learn from this article. Let us get into it!
If someone were to ask what is widely celebrated on March 8th, the response would be chorused because there would be no need to think twice. It would be a hearty and resounding “International Women’s Day!”
That is correct and women are a great cause for celebration. I mean, I am one, *flips hair*. However, did you know March 8th is also National Proofreading Day? I anticipate cricket sounds but I am not surprised. I also did not know until I got into this field. Allow this article to better inform you about proofreading and why it is such an imperative skill for all times.
What is Proofreading?
Proofreading refers to the act of examining the final draft of any written piece to check for typos, grammatical mistakes, and other writing arrows before publishing. This is the final, nonetheless, a very important step as far as the writing process is concerned, according to Grammarly.
This is sometimes used synonymously to editing, which concentrates on writing style, content flow, tone, and so on, but proofreading majorly deals with the mechanical, grammatical aspects of writing. Proofreading is especially concerned with grammar rules and writing errors, and while there are many writing apps and software that help automate this, a human check is always advised as some errors may not be picked up. For example, the use or arrows in the first sentence of this paragraph may not be picked up as an error by a writing software as “arrows” is a real English word. An AI software may also produce “location” as a synonym for “place”, whereas the context it was used in referred to a situation or circumstance. This is why a human being needs to be behind every written work, carefully and meticulously examining it for errors.
What Do I Need to Start Proofreading?
For some complex and even simple pieces of writing, an individual may not be able to sit to ensure this thoroughness themselves, either due to time constraints, a pursuit for higher excellence standards and so on. In cases like these, the person is in need of proofreading services, which leads to the discussion of proofreading jobs. The job of a proofreader is extremely key as it does not simply affect the written piece, it can affect the name on the written piece. That is, it can discredit the author of that work, impacting brand perception that spills into every other work produced in that same name or brand. So, how does one prepare for a proofreading and editing job? What are the requirements for a proofreading and editing service? Let us get into it.
• Firstly, a proofreader must have two eyes for detail, not just one. While reading a text, there is the tendency to get into a flow and not realise you are reading your own mental text, not what is before you. This is how errors escape a proofreader, especially when proofreading your own work – you know what you have written and obviously are aware of the right sentence structure and grammatical rule and so you read your work from that perspective. Hence, it is advised to have another pair of eyes look at your work before it is published. It is then a proofreader’s job to look into their work, fully aware that they do not know the writer’s writing style or ability, and intently search out any possible error in their work. A proofreader must be able to spot out tendencies and errors, including redundancies, such as the multiple use of “Let us get into it” at the end of two paragraphs in this article, and how using “multiple” and “twice” in this sentence is a tautology.
• Secondly, a proofreader must be well grounded in English grammar and/or be willing and ready to expend patience. Proofreading, in itself, in this case, a text in the English language, deals with eliminating grammatical errors and so one cannot begin a proofreading profession without having a solid background in the language. This is exactly what they are entrusting to you, correcting their writing errors, and so you must know the correct form, or at least be able to identify the errors. This is part of where patience comes in; you must be willing to research and learn the correct forms and not lazy over the process. A lot of writers continue in ignorance when they are not sure what the appropriate rule is. As a proofreader, you are expected to pause at that point, or make a highlight of the rule or error you need to research, and ensure you produce the grammatically correct form for your client. Confusions may arise as to whether a comma, semicolon or colon is appropriate in a sentence, or what the correct verb to be form is in a sentence. You either have to know it or find it!
Do I Need a Proofreading Certificate or Qualification?
This is a question that is constantly pondered on by proofreading enthusiasts. While you do not need a certificate or qualification to proofread, if you want to work with a proofreading company or start your own proofreading service, having one would give you an upper hand over other candidates and service providers, respectively. It is possible to find yourself giving out these services for free, unconsciously, because people have identified that you have good control of the language. This was how I started as well in college; other learners would request me to inspect their work and I would because it was not a big deal. Little did I know that it was a muscle I was building and I found myself in the same situation while studying for my Master’s degree, five years later. This is something that can as well be monetized on that scale if you find yourself in that same place. Eventually investing in a certificate would pay off greatly if you desire to get remote proofreading and editing jobs and build a proofreading career later, however. An article by Indeed provides a more robust answer if you are concerned about this. Read it here.
Where to Get Proofreading Qualifications
Do not underestimate your academic degrees! Did that take you by surprise? That had to be stated first because there is a tendency to ignore it. Your degree in English language, or other languages may just be the reason why you get the next proofreading, editing, transcribing or translating gig. Do not downplay it. University majors like Journalism, Creative Writing and other majors in the arts may also be extremely valuable and you should not be afraid to present it as your credibility card.
To the more popular options, there are several places to get proofreading certificates from in a short time. You can sign up for free and paid online proofreading courses available on LinkedIn, Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare and a host of other platforms, in addition to reputable companies that may offer such services in your locality. You can make a Google search for proofreading services in your country and see the results that pop up.
I recently found my notes from a short proofreading course I had taken as far back as four years ago and it gave me a warm feeling. Very unsure as to why in the world I took it at that time, I am glad because it will now come in handy. I will share a few tips from my notes for proofreaders to take away, below.
1. Avoid distractions. Use Coffitivity to simulate the background noise of being in a coffee shop if it will help you concentrate. Switch off your phone, eliminate your distractions.
2. Sleep on it. If all you do is proofread all day, you will lose objectivity and many errors will escape you. Switch activities, take a nap if you need to rest and then return to it. You would have regained your objectivity by then.
3. Don’t rush. We spend a lot of time reading and editing a document as we type but far less to proofread; that’s not good. Schedule the proofreading over a period of days so you have a fresh pair of eyes each time you sit in front of the text.
4. Read the document out loud. It allows you to highlight the errors because you won’t want to say a wrong statement as you stumble on it. While reading silently, you can easily see it as correct and run along the rest of the text. This tip is especially good for short documents, e.g., cover letters.
5. Proofread on screen first, then on paper. If you can afford to, you can print out the document and read it on paper. It helps visibility and you can use a pen to manually highlight errors.
6. Work that muscle. Proofread regularly so you don’t lose your sense of errors. Find documents online to keep that sense sharp if you do not have any job at a given time.
We hope you enjoyed and learnt a couple from this article. We really seek that more people understand the invaluableness that is the skill of proofreading and appreciate it for what it is through this medium. Please, share this blog to your network so that more people learn.
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