How good are you at spotting your own mistakes? How to proofread like a pro...

Sooner or later, we all need to proofread something...  

Grammatical errors and mistakes are a big pet peeve for a lot of people and our own mistakes can be the hardest ones to spot. Here are some pro proofreading tips from Jo Van Doren, author of “How to Avoid Costly Proofreading Errors:”

1. Never proofread your own stuff.

2. Read everything straight through from the beginning to end.

3. Read backward to catch spelling errors.

4. Read pages out of order.

5. Have guest proofreaders initial everything they check.

6. Have someone read numbers while you check hardcopy.

7. Take short breaks so you can concentrate more clearly.

8. List errors you spot over a month.

9. Alter your routine.

10. Make your marks legible and understandable.

Don’t get too dependent on spell checker – it can actually work against you. Not only will a spell checker miss mistakes, it may autocorrect to a word or spelling you don’t want. If there’s nobody else to proofread for you, reading your work out loud can really help you see AND hear any hidden mistakes.