Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

1. Let time pass between writing and proofreading your document – you’re more likely to spot errors if you lett your text go cold.


No Error


Error

Is there a proofreading error in the sentence above?  Click on your choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

1. Let time pass between writing and proofreading your document – you’re more likely to spot errors if you [lett] your text go cold.
 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

1. Let time pass between writing and proofreading your document – you’re more likely to spot errors if you [lett] your text go cold.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

2. Make multiple passes through your document, first checking for big problems, such as missing pages and inconsistent format, and last looking for small errors, such as spelling and coma placement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

2. Make multiple passes through your document, first checking for big problems, such as missing pages and inconsistent format, and last looking for small errors, such as spelling and [coma] placement.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

2. Make multiple passes through your document, first checking for big problems, such as missing pages and inconsistent format, and last looking for small errors, such as spelling and [coma] placement.
 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

4. Read slowly and let your eyes stop on each ward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

[4]. Read slowly and let your eyes stop on each [ward].

 

There were
two errors.

(The numbering sequence skipped from "2" to "4.")

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

[4]. Read slowly and let your eyes stop on each [ward].

 

There were
two errors.

(The numbering sequence skipped from "2" to "4.")

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

5. Check  for extra spaces between words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

5. Check[  ]for extra spaces between words.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

5. Check[  ]for extra spaces between words.
 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

6. When you find an error, reread the entire sentence in which the error occurrred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

6. When you find an error, reread the entire sentence in which the error [occurrred].

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

6. When you find an error, reread the entire sentence in which the error [occurrred].

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

7. Make certain you haven’t omitted the second mark with punctuation marks that come in pairs (such as parentheses and quotation marks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

7. Make certain you haven’t omitted the second mark with punctuation marks that come in pairs (such as parentheses and quotation marks[)].

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

7. Make certain you haven’t omitted the second mark with punctuation marks that come in pairs (such as parentheses and quotation marks[)].

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

8. Check for word-processing errors, such as repeated text and scraps of text where they that don’t belong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

8. Check for word-processing errors, such as repeated text and scraps of text where they [that] don’t belong.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

8. Check for word-processing errors, such as repeated text and scraps of text where they [that] don’t belong.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

9. Look closely at headings and other highlighted text – their authoritative appearance can fool you into thinking they contain no errors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

9. Look closely at headings and other highlighted text – their authoritative appearance can fool you into thinking they contain no errors.

There was
no error.

  

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

9. Look closely at headings and other highlighted text – their authoritative appearance can fool you into thinking they contain no errors.

There was
no error.

 

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

10. To help you take a fresh look at your text, change its appearance by changing the font or altering its size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

10. To help you take a fresh look at your text, change its appearance by changing the font or altering its size.

There was
no error.

  

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

10. To help you take a fresh look at your text, change its appearance by changing the font or altering its size.

There was
no error.

  

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

11. Proofread both on screen and on paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

11. Proofread both on screen and on paper.

There was
no error.

 

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

11. Proofread both on screen and on paper.

There was
no error.

  

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

12. When proofreading on scream, run your fingertips over the glass – text containing errors usually generates more heat than text that is correct.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

12. When proofreading on [scream], run your fingertips over the glass – text containing errors usually generates more heat than text that is correct.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

12. When proofreading on [scream], run your fingertips over the glass – text containing errors usually generates more heat than text that is correct.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

13. Take a similar approach when proof reading on paper – imperfect text generally has a rougher feel to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

13. Take a similar approach when proof[]reading on paper – imperfect text generally has a rougher feel to it.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

13. Take a similar approach when proof[]reading on paper – imperfect text generally has a rougher feel to it.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

14. Fold the sheet of paper containing your text into a paper airplane and try to throw it across the room – text with proofreading errors won’t fly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

14. Fold the sheet of paper containing your text into a paper airplane and try to throw it across the room – text with proofreading errors won’t fly.

There was
no error.

 

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

14. Fold the sheet of paper containing your text into a paper airplane and try to throw it across the room – text with proofreading errors won’t fly.

There was
no error.

  

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

15. Wad up two sheets of paper, one blank and one containing the test you are proofreading, and drop them side by side – if the sheet with text falls faster than the other one, it’s weighed down by errors, and you need to do more proofreading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

15. Wad up two sheets of paper, one blank and one containing the [test] you are proofreading, and drop them side by side – if the sheet with text falls faster than the other one, it’s weighed down by errors, and you need to do more proofreading.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

15. Wad up two sheets of paper, one blank and one containing the [test] you are proofreading, and drop them side by side – if the sheet with text falls faster than the other one, it’s weighed down by errors, and you need to do more proofreading.

 

There was
an error.

Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

 

 

16. Tear the sheet of paper containing your text into 16 pieces, wad up the pieces, and stick them one at a time into your ears – text with holes in it will allow more sound to pass through than text that is solid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

No!

16. Tear the sheet of paper containing your text into 16 pieces, wad up the pieces, and stick them one at a time into your ears – text with holes in it will allow more sound to pass through than text that is solid.

There was
no error.

 

Once more, from the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for Business and Pleasure
 Copyright by Stephen Wilbers
www.wilbers.com

Take the Proofreading Challenge!

 

 

Yes!

16. Tear the sheet of paper containing your text into 16 pieces, wad up the pieces, and stick them one at a time into your ears – text with holes in it will allow more sound to pass through than text that is solid.

There was
no error.

  

Congratulations!

Once more, from the top.


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