We all do our best to catch typos, but how come some still slip through the cracks?

To help your current proofreading process we’ve put together some techniques for you: 

1. Read your work backwards

Starting with the last sentence and working your way in reverse order to the beginning, this technique works better than reading through from the start. Why? Because your brain knows what you meant to write, so it tends to skip over errors when you're reading forwards. Reading it backwards forces you to slow down and look at each word on its own, without the context of the sentence. Brilliant for catching typos (not necessarily for catching grammar or meaning mistakes though). 

2. Change the view

Try and make your writing look different. Change the font style, increase the size or zoom way in so you can only see one sentence at a time. The reasoning behind this is to make the text unfamiliar so your brain is less likely to fill in gaps and stop you from seeing mistakes. 

3. Read it out loud

It might feel a little silly at first, but this increases the odds that you’ll find a typo. By taking your time and pronouncing each word carefully, it will help ensure your writing is correct and clear of misspellings. 

4. If you’re working on screen, print it out

Proofreading a printed version of your work can help you spot errors you weren’t able to see on screen. As you’re reading, follow along with your finger pointing at each word – this helps you stay focused and not skip over anything. Might even be worth getting out the red pen...

5. Read. Pause. Read again

This might seem like an obvious one, but once you’ve written your copy, go for a walk, come back and then read what you just wrote. The more time that passes between the writing and proofreading stages, the more likely you’ll spot mistakes your brain might've skipped over the first time. 

6. Get a fresh pair of eyes

Get a friend to look over your work so they can help find any mistakes. When you’re reading your own writing, sometimes you end up reading what you meant to write as opposed to what you actually wrote. 

Final words of wisdom

Proofreading doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Think about which strategies work for you and give yourself time to catch typos before your readers do. The natural impulse is to rush through your copy as you proofread. Slow. Things. Down. You’ll thank yourself later.

Got proofreading techniques that work? Share them with us at hello@crocstar.com.