Okay, this is not small stuff—it’s a BIG DEAL. At JMG, we make every effort to catch spelling and grammatical errors before they make it into the final product, be it print or online. While there’s something to be said for a cold read, when it comes right down to the nitty-gritty, there are some proofreading rules that must be adhered to if you want to ensure accuracy, minimize costly reprinting expenses and avoid embarrassment.
- Use the right people. Proofreading is a talent as much as a learned skill—maybe more so. Let’s face it; if you hated grammar in school and you’re a lousy speller, you’re never going to love proofreading. Thus, you will never be very good at it.
- Read OUT LOUD with another person. Maybe not every time, but at bare minimum—before the job goes to the client the first time and before approval/release.
- Make sure the people proofreading have access to clients’ style sheets/books.
- Provide proofreader(s) with complete documentation—in chronological order. That’s not too much to ask. A proofreader should feel confident they have accurate reference to proof against and not worry they’re only seeing part of the picture and it’s “good enough.” No, it isn’t.
- Be consistent with proofreaders’ marks—identify/create one set as the agency standard. Some good ones here:
Laugh and learn: http://terriblywrite.wordpress.com/(Warning: there could be links on this site to off-color content…I’ve not checked it out thoroughly.)