By Jael Strong
The bigest miss take a bloggger kan make is flail to edit there riting.. Oh, I hate it when I see something that I really want to read and half way through I have to stop because the mistakes are inexcusable. I’m not talking about the occasional typo (Though, those are definitely avoidable!). I’m talking about a decent piece of writing peppered with spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors galore. What can a writer do to avoid this terrible downfall?
First Step: Spell Check
A simple step that may ultimately save you some time is to use that handy dandy spell checker. It won’t catch everything, but it will identify some of the most obvious mistakes. It is certainly easy enough to use so nobody has an excuse for not clicking that little button.Â
However, a warning is in order: Spell check does not catch everything! In fact, the spell check program only located four of the eight mistakes in my first sentence. The reason is simple; this is a computer program and it will not identify mistakes that involve the use of the wrong word. If you get your “their”, “there”, and “they’re” mixed up, don’t expect spell check to help you out. More is needed.
Second Step: Read
 I’ll be honest with you. I don’t always enjoy reading my own writing, especially when I have the suspicion that it isn’t quite up to par. But, we have already noted that the computer isn’t going to catch every mistake. So, you have to read what you write. A quick read can spare you some embarrassment. Another plus, besides catching spelling and grammar errors, is that as I read I tend to revise content, improving on my writing as a whole.
Third Step: Read Backward
 Read backward? That’s right. This is actually my favorite editing tool. Start at the end and, sentence by sentence, read through your writing. It is amazing how many errors can be found using this technique. True, you won’t find many spelling errors this way, but you will find incorrect punctuation, runons and fragments using this method. Also, it will be easier to identify ambiguous wording, helping you to revise for the sake of clarity.
Fourth Step: Employ an Extra Set of Eyes
 This one can be a challenge. After all, where are you going to be able to find someone who is willing to take time out of their busy schedule to help you out? There are a lot of options. Find a friend, a relative, or a colleague and say, “Hey, can you take a look at my latest post?” Find someone you trust, ask them to tell you if anything needs adjusting, and then edit. Of course, thank them profusely for their help.
These steps might seem a bit time consuming. All together though, they take about ten minutes. Unfortunately, editing and proofreading do seem to be something that many bloggers try to do without. Don’t turn away potential readers by eliminating this vital step. Edith and keeep reeders coming bak four more!
Help other writers out:Â What steps do you take to make sure that your writing is error-proof?
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Jael Strong writes for TheWriteBloggers, a professional blogging service which builds clientsâ authority status and net visibility. She has written both fiction and non-fiction pieces for print and online publications. She regularly blogs at Freelance Writing Mamas .
Thanks, Jael
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