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The task of proofreading texts is not the most attractive, especially when it comes to our own texts and these are composed of a great number of pages. Proofreading a text is not an opportunity to re-write it, in fact the first recommendation should be to write your text as best as possible since the beginning, in this way you will avoid having to make multiple corrections.

In the business environment, knowing how to write is a powerful tool. However, it is clear that sometimes can be difficult to express thoughts in a clear and concise way, so people who read what you write understand your ideas. It is then important to work with editors and proofreaders that detect, correct and avoid common mistakes and review your business documents.

The reality is that we are not all excellent writers and excellence takes practice. For that reason we want to offer you some tips that we believe are basic to streamline the process, in the hope that they are useful for you. Whether you are writing, editing or proofreading a simple note or a business proposal, making it error-free is essential for its effectiveness. In this blog we will give you some tips on how to do it.

–        Distance yourself from the text. It is hard to take a step back and be critical when it comes to a document you have put so much effort on. It is always better to get a helping hand. Give the paper to a friend or an editor. Getting someone else to read your work will assure it is seen with a clear perspective.

–        Identify previous or common mistakes. When you are self-correcting your texts you already know in advance in what things you usually commit mistakes, for example, spelling, style, coherence, and so on. In this way, you should keep these errors in mind to avoid them or correct them without devoting too much time.

–        Edit and proofread in the morning if you can, in short blocks of time.

–        Print the text you will review. Having a text physically in your hands streamlines the review process, since you will not get lost between the page breaks of the computer, nor will you tire your eyes with the reflection and luminosity of a screen, in addition you can make notes directly on paper.

–        Have the grammar rules at hand. Clearly, right after having finished a text, the first thing you should do is pass it through the spell checker and then make a last review to double check everything is in place. Remember, spelling checkers can be useful tools but it is a mistake to rely solely on them.

–        Find a place where you can concentrate and avoid distractions. This might sound basic, but is one of the most useful techniques we recommend.

Here at Wagner we count with the best team of editors and proofreaders ready assist you proofreading and editing your texts and enhance the quality of the documents that they review. Whether you are writing a book, a blog or an email to a client don’t hesitate to contact us, we can help you edit and proofread before it reaches the readers.