Before you send that important letter or document – print it out! How to proof like a pro...

You probably worked hard on that cover letter, resume or proposal – do yourself a favor and print it out before you send it...

Most of us aren’t very good at proofreading our own stuff and spellcheck is no substitute for human eyes. If possible, it’s best to have someone else look over your work, on paper, red pen in hand. If nobody else is around, you’ll have to be your own second set of eyes. You’re much more likely to spot mistakes if you view your work in a different form than the one you wrote it in. It’s also a good idea to distance yourself from the work for a while before proofreading it.

While you’re proofreading, do that out loud. That’s the best way to catch awkward phrasing and run-on sentences that will burden the recipient.