The importance of proofreading can’t be overemphasised. It’s so integral to the success of any piece of writing, in any context. Without thorough proofreading, mistakes can slip through the net and errors can go unnoticed. In the worst case scenario, the text might not even make sense.

You may want to break your proofreading down into stages to make it more manageable. If you try to tackle too much in one go, it’s very easy to miss something. Be very careful not to skim-read; your eyes can often be tricked. Reading over text quickly puts you in danger of missing spelling mistakes and skipping over poorly-constructed sentences. Be thorough in your proofreading.

It’s always worth asking someone else to proofread for you. Once you’ve read it through yourself, call on the help of a friend, colleague or even a professional proofreader. It is very difficult to be objective when you have spent a long time working on a piece of writing, and a new pair of eyes will be so valuable. If you find someone who is a good proofreader, use their services again – it’s important to find someone with a keen eye for detail who works well with you.