4 easy steps for blog proofreading

After a blog is completed, we will begin another important task: proofreading. Although this title guides us that this article is only for blog, in fact, it can be extended to any other writing areas, such as papers, magazines, presentations, lectures and so on. Below you will find 4 simple and practical steps to carry on a good proofreading.

Tag: blog writing, blog proofreading, writing skills, writing tips

In fact, the whole process for blog proofreading begins from the beginning of your blog writing. In this post, blog proofreading process can be divided into 4 simple steps:

1 Using spell checks tools while blog writing
In nowadays, it is more convenient for spell checking. There are many real-time or post-writing spell checking tools available.

Real-time spell checking tools: Many editors have provided this function, such as Microsoft word, especially word2007. It can check the wrong words spelling, simple tense and voice, plural or singular of a noun in real-time. You can find it very easy and convenient to eliminate many mistakes with the help of word2007 while you are writing.
Post-writing spell checking tools: some editors and browsers have such function. My blog is wordpress-based and the standard editor of it can perform such checking. Firefox browser is the same too.

2 preparations for a good proofreading

a) Concentration. Concentration is the key especially when checking the blog written by us. Without a good mind state, we will perhaps easily miss some inconspicuous mistakes. Concentration is also the basis of all the other check steps.
b) Print it out. This preparation is optional, but it is useful for an effective proofreading. We always read differently on paper and on screen. At the same time, with the printed blog in hand, we can also choose other good or convenient places to perform proofreading.

3 proofreading manually
We can take different means to begin proofreading. Read it aloud or silent, read it backwards or just review it quickly are all ok. You choose the best method which is suitable for you, but for many people, read it aloud and slowly is helpful for proofreading.
A more important thing to be known is what to check. We only check homonyms, contractions, apo-strophes and numbers most of the time during this step. If we have time, we shall recheck the tense, voice etc.

4 further proofreading
Sometimes it is not enough only check at one time and by your own. We are always easily fooled by our own mind-set. So put it aside and carry on proofreading after a while is a smart decision. Many times you will find more little mistakes in the blog. If possible, find another person to help you proofreading. The blog perhaps is strange to him and he doesn’t have your mind-set, so the left unnoticed mistakes will be found out.

Proofreading is also a necessary part of good writing. I hope you can find useful information from this post. Other suggestions are welcome and you can leave them in the comments.