Quality Proofreading Is Similar But Different Than Editing

By Dominique Martin


Writing all of the promotional materials and copy you need in order to adequately run a marketing business takes more than just putting a lot of words on a page. These pieces may be articles, blogs, white papers or short advertising pieces. They may even be Facebook pieces or Twitter feeds. The spelling and grammar has to be right and, if not, can be viewed as amateurish. The need for a quality proofreading technician is a very real concern.

A proofreader is often confused with an editor. They are two different types of treatment for your work. An editor can serve as a proofing service, however, a proofreader will only work with the information already written in the piece. The grammar, spelling any other issues will be looked at and corrected by this person. Their purpose is to make sure the copy is readable and understandable by the people interested in this copy.

An editor will be someone who is knowledgeable in the same field you are in. They will be looking for all appropriate data, charts and statistics that will create a well balanced piece. They may bring in additional information that you missed or develop some points more effectively. They will, of course, bring these to your attention before this is done.

Proofreaders will know all of the very many rules that govern grammar, spelling and those words that sound alike and are spelled differently. Commas, semi colons, colons and other punctuation is no mystery to them as they will catch the improper use of these and others. Finding a proofreader of this caliber, in San Diego, CA should not be an issue.

One of their most important functions, especially on websites and in long articles or white papers, is to keep the tenses uniform throughout. Many times people will write in a first person singular at the beginning of a piece and, somehow, change into a second or third person by the end. This is confusing and frustrating for readers who are trying to gain operational information as in a how to do article or series.

You will also know that some writing will need, or is accustomed to be, in certain formats. For example an article is a little more formal than a blog. A white paper is usually in a third person, very formal, just the facts, type of writing. A blog is very much less formal and often will leave some information out to bait the reader into clicking in on the next blog for an explanation.

Some of the things that make the piece look like it was written by someone who does know what they are doing are the broken live links. Misused words and general run on sentences that make any thing look bad should be allowed to stay. A proofreader will make you look good simply by making your piece read well.

Looking at the type of writing you do and the number of problems you have, you can decide whether you need an editor or a proofreader. A proofreader can do most of the job and many of them will do more than some of them will. Have a conversation with them, in person, to determine what they can do for you to make your business presence better.




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