Proofread your posts or someone else will
- 8 Comment
I was inspired to write this post after I made a grammatical error on an article I did on Blogging Tips. I used the word your when it should have been you’re. Not once but twice in the same post. Although common, these mistakes are inexcusable unless your looking to be thrown under the bus.
Here are a few proofreading tips - (hopefully I follow them)
Use Spell check- This is an obvious one. But it doesn’t mean its being used. Use Microsoft Word or another word processor then copy and paste your post into your blog application. If your using Firefox 2.0 or later as your web browser, spell check is built right in.
Same sound with different meanings- Read through and pay special attention to words that sound the same but have different meanings.
- there, their
- your, you’re
- here, hear
You get the idea.
Punctuation- Make sure your commas are in the right places. End sentences with the right punctuation. If your asking a question you should end with a questions mark. 
Shouldn’t you?
Save your work and come back later- This is just a personal preference of mine. After I write an article I usually save it for later. When I come back, I read through it a couple more times, if it still makes sense and everything looks good, I publish it. Coming back with fresh eyes and a clear head also helps me identify any other errors I may have made.
So who is going to be the first to find an error in this post?
8 Comments on this post
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Cheapgirl said:
I will!!! Proofread your posts “or” someone else will.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:27 am -
Jason Blanton said:
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner.
Johnny, tell her what shes won.
Congratulations cheap girl you found the first error in this post. For that you get a free plug to your Blog or in this case your Million Dollar Wiki Page.
Hey everyone, check out Cheapgirls Million dollar wiki page @ http://www.milliondollarwiki.com/Free_Samples
There you will find links and ways to get tons of free samples of products we use every day. So head on over and check it out. Looks like she has done a great job with her page.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:56 am -
Mandy said:
The problem is that it is very difficult to proofread your own work successfully. You have written it, therefore it is harder for you to spot mistakes in the text. If possible get someone else to proofread for you, and you will be surprised how much they pick up.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:42 pm -
Justin Tadlock said:
“Although common, these mistakes are inexcusable unless ‘you’re’ looking to be thrown under the bus.”
“If you’re asking a question, you should end with a question mark, shouldn’t you?”
“I hope to follow them” instead of “hopefully I follow them.”
“After I write an article, I usually save it for later.”
“But, it doesn’t mean it’s being used.”
Those are just a few suggestions. Give me a little more time, and I’ll rewrite the entire post.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:48 pm -
Mike Pedersen Golf said:
I feel that small errors show you’re a real person. Not to say it is accepted, but I try to not let it get to me too much.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:16 pm -
Cheapgirl said:
I agree with Mandy, it’s very difficult to proofread your own posts. I notice I make the most mistakes when I make comments on other blogs. Especially with know/now there/their and they’re. I hate that there isn’t an edit option on comments.
Thanks for the win!!!!!
October 14th, 2007 at 3:13 pm -
Fab said:
I agree with Mike. I do some mistakes because I am real. Obviously I try to catch them when I publish but it’s not always easy. I plan on the indulgence of my readers. Also I try to paste my posts in Word to check the spellings. About the grammar, if I wanted perfection I guess I would ask someone to read.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:44 pm -
bhutan community said:
Why is spelling and gramatical mistakes so important.
Why can’t some people accept that bloggers are humans too!February 17th, 2008 at 1:41 am
