If you’re a new writer who has just started their blogging journey, then you need to be very careful about the grammatical and structural accuracy of your content before putting it out for an audience.
Proofreading is a very important part of writing content. You can’t just put all your thoughts onto the paper as they run through your head without reviewing them before posting. It is very important to edit and proofread your written content after you’re finished with the initial draft.
Often writers make several typos, miss words, and type irregular sentences when they are writing in a flow. It is not because they are not aware of the technicalities, it is just more likely to make these oversights when so many thoughts are running through one’s mind at the same time.
Plus, this isn’t just for the new writers. Proofreading is absolutely necessary for all levels of writers, no matter how much experience they have. You never know when you miss pressing a key while words are flowing out of you.
The reason why it is so important for writers to take this step seriously is that sometimes your entire credibility depends on it. If a reader visits your blog for the first time, they are likely to be put off by your content if it is not properly edited or proofread.
No matter how good the quality of your content is, if it has technical issues like typos and grammatical errors, the information you’re sharing is likely to be overlooked because of it. In this article, we are going to share three important steps and techniques to help you proofread your blogs perfectly. Let’s dive right in!
Step #1: Use Microsoft Words’ Spell Check
The first and easiest step of proofreading is to use the spell-check of the software on which you’re writing. Most commonly, bloggers use Microsoft Word or Google Docs to type the draft for their blog post. If you do the same, then make sure that the spell check feature of the application is turned on.
Once the spell and grammar check of Word or Doc is turned on, you will see red or blue lines under a few words in your post. The red lines mean that you have made a clear spelling or grammatical error. When you click on that word, the spell check will suggest the correct spelling. Make sure you correct all the red marked words in your document. This is the most fundamental way of screening out obvious mistakes.
After that, you need to look for all the words that are underlined with a blue line. These are the words that require your review. The blue marking means that there is something wrong with the word or sentence, but the application feature can’t pinpoint it.
In some cases, there is no need for a correction, while in others the mistake could be as minor as double spacing between two words. Just make sure you review each of these words and are satisfied with how that sentence turns out.
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Step #2: Use Grammarly or other Similar Application
It is always a good idea to run your document through Grammarly or any other similar proofreading application that has more extensive features, and can catch more subtle and contextual errors. The reason why we recommend another spellcheck by an application is that this one is a more advanced check and it will identify the contextual and grammatical errors – not just spelling mistakes and typos.
The great thing about Grammarly is that it is free. Although it has a more extensive premium version, the free one works just as fine, and identifies any and all grammatical, spelling, or contextual mistakes in your copy.
You can either upload your document on the Grammarly software to look for mistakes or you can download the Grammarly plug-in for Microsoft Word. With the plug-in, you won’t have to upload your document anywhere, and the mistakes will be identified within your Word file.
If you write on Google Docs, then you can download a Grammarly extension for Chrome and it will work perfectly with your doc. The free Grammarly app is an excellent resource as it ensures that you have no proofreading issues in your document.
If you want suggestions for better words or want help with refining your content, then it would even be worth it for you to buy the Grammarly premium. It does an excellent job of making your content more crisp, friendly, or professional based on the settings you choose. Overall, Grammarly is a blogger’s best friend and it makes life much easier. You can even have it on while you’re writing, so you don’t make those common mistakes in the first place.
Step #3: Re-Read Your Copy
The final step in ensuring that your copy has no mistakes involves you. As much as you feel tempted to just turn your copy in, it is very important you actually read through what you have written to make sure everything looks the same as it did in your head. Often writers miss out on typing down sentences due to the speed of their thoughts flowing in their minds.
Plus, no matter how advanced the software is, a human eye is still required to check whether all sentences would make sense to a reader. Some contextual errors are often left undetected by spelling and grammar applications.
Therefore, you must take out a few minutes to read through your own copy before turning it in. Alternatively, you can also hire blog writing services for professional editing and proofreading. In any case, a review of the copy by a human eye is necessary to ensure that the copy reads perfectly.
Final Thoughts
Writing is a process of intricate thinking and careful delivery of sentences. You can have so many excellent ideas, but for your reader to connect with them, you need to be able to deliver them accurately. That is why proofreading is essential to the process of writing.
If you have any comments or any other tips for blog writers, leave them in the comments below!
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