If you seek editing services, you’ll be met with some new terms, and today we’d like to define them and explain their differences.

2. Develop a working process
1.
We suggest that a writer try a number of ways to proof his or her own work,
eventually finding the one that works best. Once settled on a process
concentrate on proofreading speed.

3. Look at your weaknesses
2.
Often authors find themselves consistently misspelling the same words or
repeating the same consecutively making a sentence seem boring and
bland.

4. on a little
3.
Some writers fall into the trap of trying to grasp too much material at one
time. Authors should pace themselves by evaluating each sentence alone,
consciously going through the spelling, grammar and structure.

5. Highlight all punctuation
4.
Another little proofreading trick is to print out the manuscript and highlight
every comma, period, semicolon, colon, etc., allowing each to be evaluated
for accuracy. Focusing on punctuation often brings out errors in sentence
structure that can then be easily amended.

6. Use the experts
5.
There are many Style and Usage Handbooks available that will help. If
a phrase or punctuation doesn’t seem right, do not be afraid to look it
up. At first this may take time, but over the long haul it will improve
the speed and accuracy of writing and proofreading.

7. Have someone else read your work
6.
This is probably the most important tip and, unfortunately, the one most likely to
be skipped by writers or bloggers rushing to post. Well, don’t skip it. There’s
nothing like a second set of eyes checking your work, and not just for spelling or
punctuation errors. Remember, you wrote the piece, so naturally you understand
what you were trying to say. A second reader may find that the meaning isn’t so
clear and point out inconsistencies that you didn’t realize existed.

8. Read it Loud
7.
This will reveal mistakes you missed when you simply scanned the page silently. If
the piece isn’t too lengthy, consider having it read aloud to you. One additional
note: if you’re writing a screenplay, it’s VITAL that you have the script read aloud,
and not by you! If your reader has difficulty with a line, whether due to sentence
construction, word choice, or sentence length, it’s likely that an actor will have
trouble too.

9. Read it
8.
This technique, obviously, won’t help you with sentence construction errors, but
it’s useful for finding spelling errors. When you read forward, you tend to get into
the “flow” of a sentence and are more likely to miss spelling mistakes. Starting at
the last line and working backwards breaks up that flow, and allows you to focus
on each word individually.

10. Proofread a printed copy of your work
9.
There are several reasons for this. Most writers find that they are simply more
successful at finding errors when they take a break from their monitors and use
paper instead. Perhaps there’s just something about changing the format that
allows you to read with a fresh eye. There’s another reason, though. When you
proofread, you should only proofread; this is not the time for stylistic changes or
reworking dialogue. If you’re proofreading on your computer, it’s too easy to slip
back into “creative mode,” which will make you a less effective proofreader.

11. Use your word processor’s spell checker
10.
but don’t trust it completely. While not a replacement for a second set of
eyes, a spell checker is still effective at calling attention to things you may
have missed. They aren’t perfect though, so treat their advice as if it’s
coming from your mom: listen to it, but don’t necessarily follow it.

12. Get Your FREE Editing Guide now!
The Xlibris editing guide's seven
easy steps will have your manuscript
ready for publishing in no time. That
means you can have your book in
your hands and ready to share with
the world without delay.

13. Image Source:
Freelance Writing - http://freelance-writing.lovetoknow.com/Main_Page
15 Misspelled Signs - http://www.oddee.com/item_96509.aspx
Consulting - http://leladavidson.com/seo-consulting/
The Funny Grammar Guide to Colons and Semicolons - http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/the-funnygrammar-guide-to-colons-and-semicolons-668/
Free Online Writing Courses and Books for Authors - http://gigaverse.com/guides/free-online-writing-courses/
Weekend Read: Get Your Arse Together….Again. - http://www.alphanista.com/weekend-read-get-your-arsetogetheragain.html
The Art Of Reading Aloud - http://www.fridayschildmontessori.com/blog/the-art-of-reading-aloud/
Reading Backwards Alpha by Stolen Moments - http://shop.scrapmatters.com/reading-backwards-alpha-bystolen-moments.html
What Self-Publishers Can Expect During the Proofreading Process http://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com/2011/02/04/working-with-a-proofreader-to-finalize-a-book.aspx
Student Loan Deal Headed to Obama for Signature - http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/studentloan-deal-headed-obamas-desk/story?id=19829149
Links Source:
Xlibris Book Publishing presents Top Tips to Improve Your Proofreading – Part One
http://www.xlibrisselfpublishing.com/editing-guidelines/xlibris-improve-your-proofreading-p1/
Xlibris Book Publishing presents Top Tips to Improve Your Proofreading – Part Two http://www.xlibrisselfpublishing.com/editing-guidelines/xlibris-writers-workshop-presents-top-proofreadingtips-part-two/
Xlibris Book Publishing presents Top Tips to Improve Your Proofreading – Part Three http://www.xlibrisselfpublishing.com/editing-guidelines/xlibris-presents-top-tips-to-improve-your-proofreadingpart-three/