Proofreading is the correction of typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical inaccuracies. It could also include the comparison of a source text with its translation to review the accuracy and consistency of the target text, perfecting terminology where words are vague or inaccurate, reworking structure and sometimes syntax where the meaning isn’t clear.
Having an eye for detail and a good command of the language is not enough. Good proofreaders need to be first and foremost avid readers in order to acquire the knowledge needed when dealing with a vast array of writing styles and topics. They need to be familiar with official style manuals and build extensive glossaries, to practice, practice, and then practice some more, and of course to be patient, accurate and methodical.
Why should you pay for a professional proofreading (when Microsoft Word has a proofreading function)?
Because when you write, mistakes can lead to misunderstandings, and may even change the meaning or intent of your text; a misplaced punctuation, a dangling modifier, a jumbled metaphor, a tense shift, a clumsy run-on sentence. They can show you in a poor light, cost your company money, or result in the rejection of your academic article. The impact is undermined when a text looks sloppy. It creates a lasting impression of being unprofessional.
Proofreading your own work is a real challenge. A person is usually unaware of their own most common mistakes, which tend to slip by unnoticed. And you cannot rely entirely on spell-checkers and grammar checkers, as they do not catch every mistake and cannot replace the human eye/brain/sensibility.
By hiring the services of a professional proofreader to review your document with a fresh pair of eyes, you make sure that your document is always consistent, accurate, and error-free; in other words, you make sure your message shines through.
You only get one chance to make a first impression; let us help you make a great one. Click here to learn more about our rates or here for a free quotation request.