So I’m snatching a free moment (while my baby naps beside me in her swing) to share these Black Friday deals before they disappear.

For all of you who’ve expressed interest in becoming a proofreader, now’s the perfect time to consider taking a professional training course. The education will boost your skills, your confidence, and your résumé—all at an affordable price.

You can check out these limited-time deals at the links below:

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Enjoy!

The post Black Friday Deals on Proofreading Courses appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

A missing or misplaced apostrophe, comma, period, quotation mark, etc. may disrupt and confuse readers—and no author wants that.

When proofreading, I watch for the following:

Apostrophes

      •  Contractions

An apostrophe takes the place of missing letters or numbers.

Examples: don’t, who’s, you’re, I’m, ’80s

      •  Possessives

An apostrophe may be used to show ownership.

Examples:
girl’s doll
boys’ room
children’s toys
Tom and Sarah’s house (shows joint ownership)
Tom’s and Sarah’s shoes (shows individual ownership)

      •  Plurals

Contrary to popular belief, most plurals are not formed by using apostrophes.

Examples:
cats
ifs, ands, or buts
dos and don’ts
the Smiths
the Williamses
the 1990s
VIPs
As, Bs, and Cs

Apostrophes are used to form plurals of single lowercase letters.

Example: p’s and q’s

      •  In Place of Letters

An apostrophe takes the place of missing letters (use this technique to reflect the way people speak).

Examples:
them becomes ’em
about becomes ’bout
reading becomes readin’

      •  “Sake” Expressions

Example:
for goodness’ sake
for conscience’ sake

Commas

      •  Adjectives

Adjectives in a row should be separated by commas if the adjectives are of equal importance, can swap position, and make sense with an and between them.

Example: A fresh, fruity, tropical scent filled the air.

Incorrect: I ate the most delicious, hot, fudge, sundae.
Correct: I ate the most delicious hot fudge sundae.

      •  Introductory Elements

Use a comma after most introductory elements.

Examples:
Before bedtime, brush your teeth.
Annoyed, he walked out of the room.

      •  Conjunctions

Use a comma before a conjunction that joins two independent clauses (clauses that can stand alone as sentences).

Example: I bought groceries at the new supermarket, and I had to wait in the checkout line for ten minutes.

      •  Clauses

Use commas to set off nonessential clauses (extra information).

Example: When you buy bread, which we’ll use to make sandwiches, be sure to choose whole wheat.

      •  Serial Commas

Serial commas, also known as Oxford commas, separate each element in a series.

Example: I’m going to buy socks, shoes, and sandals.

      •  Comma Splices

A comma splice occurs when a comma separates two independent clauses. (In most cases, comma splices should be avoided.)

Example: The church service was beautiful, the potluck lunch was delicious.

      •  Cities and States

Use a comma between a city and state. Most writers are familiar with this rule. The comma they more often forget is the one that goes after the state.

Example: Our trip to Eagle River, Wisconsin, was a delight.

      •  Direct Address

When used in direct address, a name is set off by a comma or commas.

Examples:
Hello, Cheryl.
Cheryl, nice to meet you.
Thank you, Cheryl, for your support.

      •  Dates

In running text, one comma follows the month and date and precedes the year.

Example: The wedding is on January 5, 2019.

When the date is written before the month, no comma is used.

Example: They were married on 19 May 2007.

Colons

      •  Introduction

A colon introduces something.

Example: I need to buy three items: toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.

      •  Time

A colon separates hours from minutes (do not use a space before or after the colon).

Example: I will proofread until 4:30 this afternoon.

      •  Bible Verses

In Bible references, a colon separates a chapter from a verse (do not use a space before or after the colon).

Example: Romans 8:28 is her favorite verse.

Semicolons

      •  Clauses

A semicolon may be used between two independent clauses.

Example: She ran up the hill; he followed her slowly.

Note: Be careful not to overuse semicolons, particularly in fiction and dialogue. Semicolons tend to have a formal quality. Often, a sentence may be better served by using a comma and conjunction, or by breaking the sentence into two.

Examples:
She ran up the hill, and he followed her slowly.
She ran up the hill. He followed her slowly.

      •  Series

Semicolons add clarity to a series that already uses commas.

Example: Margaret likes apples, bananas, and pears; Billy likes watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe; and Sue likes oranges, kiwi, and strawberries.

Dashes

Don’t confuse dashes with hyphens. Also, dashes are another mark you want to be careful not to overuse.

      •  Em Dash

An em dash conveys an abrupt change, break in thought, or emphatic pause.

Example: I don’t—I mean, I won’t—

Em dashes may enclose, with emphasis, parenthetical information.

Example: We climbed the mountain—the highest in the range—with determination and courage.

      •  En Dash

The en dash (longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash) connects a range of numbers, such as in dates or Bible verses.

Examples:
1983–1999
Genesis 9:1–17

En dashes are used to form multiple-word compound adjectives.

Examples:
She is the ex–vice president of the company.
The Audrey Hepburn–like dress caught my eye.

Ellipses

      •  Trailing or Faltering Speech

Examples:
“I asked him, but . . .” She shook her head sadly.
“I can’t even . . . I . . . I don’t even know how to do that.”

      •  Omissions

Ellipses are used to show omissions within quotations.

Example: “Take my yoke upon you . . . and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

Beware of overusing ellipses.

Exclamation Points

Some writers “over season” their writing with too many exclamation points. That’s not to say there isn’t a time and place for such punctuation. However, like a potent spice, these points are best used tastefully and sparingly. Strong writing and word choice should do most of the “exclaiming.” Too many exclamation points may come off as humorous, cluttered, or ineffective. Worse, they may annoy the reader. This may make it hard to take the writing seriously! See what I mean?!!!

Hyphens

Hyphens are used to join items such as words, prefixes, suffixes, or numbers. In dialogue, they may represent stuttering.

      •  Compound Modifiers

Example: We drove down a dead-end street.

      •  Adverb Phrases

Example: She is a well-loved person.

      •  Ages

Example: We gave the toy to a five-year-old boy.

      •  Colors

Example: Blue-gold sequins adorned her dress.

      •  Numbers

Example: My mother owns twenty-one pairs of shoes.

      •  Prefixes and Suffixes

Examples:
She is a self-confident student.
That skirt looks very balloon-like.

      •  Stuttering

Example: “I-I’m sorry. It w-won’t happen again.”

Periods

      •  Sentences

A standard sentence should be punctuated with a period, followed by one space (not two).

      •  Abbreviations

Use periods with lowercase abbreviations, but not with uppercase abbreviations (even if they contain some lowercase letters).

Examples: i.e., ETA, PhD

      •  Initials

A person’s initials should be followed by a period and a space.

Example: L. M. Montgomery

      •  Indirect Questions

Example: I wonder why she didn’t want to go.

Parentheses

Parentheses enclose extra information (this information may be in the form of a complete or incomplete sentence).

      •  Complete Sentences

Parenthetical information that makes a complete sentence may be placed in another sentence or stand on its own.

Examples:
He said he read the entire book in one hour (we believe him), and we’re amazed.
Mary’s parents surprised her with a kitten for her birthday. (Mary can’t stop smiling.)

      •  Incomplete Sentences

Parenthetical information that does not make a complete sentence cannot stand on its own.

Example: When transporting the new furniture (particularly the bookshelf), please be careful.

Quotation Marks

      •  Double

Double quotation marks enclose exact words of a speaker or writer.

Example: She said, “I enjoy proofreading.”

      •  Single

Single quotation marks enclose exact words of a speaker or writer when used inside another quotation.

Example: “Her grandmother said, ‘The years go by faster and faster the older you get.'”

      •  Placement with Other Punctuation

A period and comma always go inside the quotation marks.

Example: “I’ll be praying for you,” she said. “Remember, Jesus loves you.”

A colon, semicolon, dash, and exclamation point go inside when they apply to the quoted material, but they go outside when they apply to the entire sentence.

Examples:
“Are you serious?”
Who first said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”?

      •  Titles of Short Works

Example: “Dragonfly” is a short story about a big bug.

      •  Irony

Quotation marks may be used to indicate irony.

Example: The “business meeting” quickly turned into a party.

Slashes

      •  Abbreviations

Some abbreviations are formed with a slash.

Examples:
c/o means care of
n/a means not available or not applicable

A slash may stand for per.

Example: I charge $0.004/word.

A slash may also stand for or or and.

Examples:
When an editor reads my story, I hope he/she likes it.
We bought a pair of his/her towels.  

      •  Fractions

A slash separates the numerator from the denominator.

Example: 2/3

      •  Poetry

When poetry is written in running text, a slash represents a line break. In this case, a space goes on each side of the slash.

Example: In the wispy wind that stirs the leaves, / Before flittering away.

Used correctly, punctuation should aid a reader’s comprehension and never hinder it.

The post What Does “Proofreading for Punctuation” Include? appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

The following isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list of every grammar issue I proofread for, but it should give you a good idea of what I’ll  be on the lookout for:

Modifiers

      •  Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier does not logically modify or describe anything in the sentence.

Incorrect: Working in the hot sun, a cool shower sounded nice.

The “cool shower” is not the one “working in the hot sun.”

Correct: Working in the hot sun, I thought a cool shower sounded nice.

      •  Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is located in the wrong place in the sentence and appears to be modifying a different word or phrase than the author intended. The result may be confusing or humorous.

Incorrect: He praised the food he’d eaten with a thumbs-up.

“A thumbs-up” did not eat the food.

Correct: With a thumbs-up, he praised the food he’d eaten.

      •  Simultaneous Modifiers

A simultaneous modifier contains action occurring at the same time as another action in the sentence.

Incorrect: Putting on her shoes, she walked out the door.

She cannot walk out the door while putting on her shoes—at least, not without some crazy acrobatic feat. (Sorry for the unintended pun. )

Correct: After putting on her shoes, she walked out the door.

Parallel Construction

Equal elements in a sentence should follow the same structure.

Incorrect: Today I plan to wash dishes, fold laundry, and too many diapers will need changing.

Correct: Today I plan to wash dishes, fold laundry, and change too many diapers.

“Person” Shift

Writing takes one of three perspectives, called points of view: first person (I), second person (you), or third person (he/she). Writing should not shift mid-sentence from one point of view to another.

Incorrect: When we eat too much, you sometimes get a stomachache.

Correct: When we eat too much, we sometimes get a stomachache.

Similarly, do not shift from singular to plural.

Incorrect: If one does not enjoy reading, they won’t enjoy the book club.

Correct: If people do not enjoy reading, they won’t enjoy the book club.

Pronouns

      •  Antecedent Agreement

An antecedent is the noun that a pronoun refers to. Logically, the pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) and gender with that noun.

Incorrect: Neither one of the girls brushed their teeth.

Correct: Neither one of the girls brushed her teeth.

Also, readers will be confused by pronouns with no clear antecedent.

Unclear: Bob called Dan because he needed someone to talk to.

Who needed someone to talk to? Bob or Dan?

Clear: Bob needed someone to talk to, so he called Dan.

      •  Pronoun Case

Subjective case pronouns are used as subjects, while objective case pronouns are used as objects.

Incorrect: Sam and me went out for ice cream.

Correct: Sam and I went out for ice cream.

Incorrect: Her and her cat like to sleep in the sun.

Correct: She and her cat like to sleep in the sun.

      •  Who / Whom 

Getting who and whom right is particularly tricky for many writers.

Incorrect: Whom was at the door?

Correct: Who was at the door?

      •  That / Which / Who

That should be used with essential clauses (not set off by commas) and refers to things or animals.

Example: Her doll that walks and talks is her favorite toy.

Which is used with nonessential clauses (set off by commas) and refers to things or animals.

Example: The carpet, which is new, was expensive.

Who should be used with essential or nonessential clauses referring to people or to an animal that has a name, such as a pet.

Example: I spoke to Caroline, who came over last night, and she agreed to host the party.

Run-on Sentences

A run-on sentence is two or more independent clauses (complete thoughts) that run together as one sentence. Punctuation can fix this.

Incorrect: Jill wrote a story she submitted it her agent loved it.

Correct: Jill wrote a story. She submitted it. Her agent loved it.

Also correct: Jill wrote a story and submitted it. Her agent loved it.

Also correct: Jill wrote a story, submitted it, and her agent loved it.

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. While there are certainly times an author may use fragments for effect or in dialogue, there are other times when fragments simply do not work. They may disrupt a story’s flow, jarring or confusing the reader.

Incorrect: The long, steep hill.

Incorrect: Because I know you will.

A sentence fragment can be corrected by completing the thought (adding the missing subject or verb).

Correct: The long, steep hill frightens me.

Correct: I won’t clean my room because I know you will.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular or plural). When dealing with prepositional phrases, compound subjects, and certain nouns or pronouns, this agreement can get tricky.

Incorrect: The bag of marbles are heavy.

Correct: The bag of marbles is heavy.

Incorrect: The squirrels or the chipmunk are eating the nuts.

Correct: The squirrels or the chipmunk is eating the nuts.

Incorrect: Everyone are there.

Correct: Everyone is there.

Incorrect: Two dollars are not enough.

Correct: Two dollars is not enough.

Verb Tense Shift

Tense deals with time such as past, present, and future. An error occurs when a writer switches tenses for no reason. This can be very confusing for readers.

Incorrect: She fell asleep tired and wakes up refreshed.

Correct: She fell asleep tired and woke up refreshed.

Correct Word Choice

Similar as they may appear, the below words have very distinct meanings and cannot be interchanged at random.

among / between

anxious / eager

fewer / less

if / in case

it’s / its

lay / lie

try and / try to

who’s / whose

and many more!

Finally, rest assured that I’m familiar with grammar myths, and I recognize that some “rules” should, at times, be broken—particularly in fiction.

Sentence fragments and comma splices may convey a particular rhythm or effect that can’t be obtained any other way. Likewise, characters often speak in ways that are not grammatical. Such speech makes for authentic dialogue and is perfectly fine (as long as it doesn’t confuse readers).

Also, contrary to what you may have been taught, you can begin a sentence with a conjunction (such as and, but, if, or, so, yet). Just don’t overdo it. Similarly, don’t begin a sentence with a conjunction if it causes confusion or disrupts the flow of your story.

In conclusion, let logic and clarity reign (not rein ).

The post What Does “Proofreading for Grammar” Include? appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

1.  A single quotation mark instead of an apostrophe

Examples:

Incorrect: Go get ‘em.

Correct: Go get ’em.

An apostrophe—not a quotation mark—takes the place of a missing letter or letters. The direction that this little mark curls determines whether it’s an apostrophe or a quotation mark. In the first example, a single quotation mark takes the place of th (the missing letters in the word them), and that is wrong. Yet I see this error all the time in self-published books.

We can thank autoformatting for this prevalent mistake. To ensure you type an apostrophe and not a single quotation mark, type a letter, any letter, before you type the mark, and your word processor will curl the mark correctly—giving you an apostrophe. (Just don’t forget to delete that extra letter once you have the apostrophe.)

2. Unnecessary commas and missing commas

Since there are many different ways to use and misuse commas, I won’t try to address them all here. But if you’re not familiar with basic comma rules, you’ll do yourself (and your readers) a huge service by brushing up on the rules.

Don’t simply toss a comma in where you think there’s a pause. While the use of commas in certain sentences may come down to style choice—with neither choice being technically wrong—most of the time, comma rules are clear on whether or not a sentence requires a comma (or commas).

Commas with direct address

Examples:

Incorrect: Jenny I like your new earrings.

Correct: Jenny, I like your new earrings.

Jenny is being spoken to directly, so her name should be set off by a comma. This also holds true at the end of a sentence:

Correct: I’m glad I saw you today, Jenny.

And in the middle of a sentence:

Correct: Hold on, Jenny, I want to talk to you.

Commas with essential vs. nonessential information

Examples:

Incorrect: My husband Joe likes chocolate cake.

Correct: My husband, Joe, likes chocolate cake.

Since I have only one husband, the word Joe is extra information and isn’t necessary for the sentence to be understood. That’s why the word is set off by commas. This also holds true for clauses:

Correct: Jenny’s sister, who likes playing in the sand, is outside.

However, if Jenny has more than one sister, “digging in the sand” identifies which sister is being referred to, so that information is essential to the sentence and should not be set off by commas. In that case, the following would be correct:

Correct: Her sister who likes playing in the sand is outside.

It’s up to you, the writer, to identify what information is essential to your sentence.

Commas with conjunctions

Don’t worry if you don’t know what a conjunction is—it’s just a fancy word for and, but, yet, or, nor, for, or so. When a conjunction links two independent clauses, use a comma before the conjunction. Of course, now you need to know what an independent clause is—it’s any clause that can stand alone as a sentence (meaning it will have a subject and a verb and will express a complete thought). If what follows the conjunction is not an independent clause, no comma is needed.

Examples:

Incorrect: I hired a proofreader to identify the errors in my manuscript and she found a comma mistake on every page.

Correct: I hired a proofreader to identify the errors in my manuscript, and she found a comma mistake on every page.

“She found a comma mistake on every page” can stand alone as a complete sentence. Therefore, a comma is necessary before the conjunction (and).

Important note: It is generally acceptable, particularly in fiction, to omit the comma if the conjunction joins two short independent clauses.

Example: He wrote the novel and I proofread it.

Now let’s look at a sentence without an independent clause after the conjunction:

Examples:

Incorrect: I ate three pancakes, and two sausages.

Correct: I ate three pancakes and two sausages.

“Two sausages” cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Therefore, do not use a comma before the conjunction—even if you think there should be a pause when you read it.

Commas with compound predicates

Predicates is just another word for verbs—which are action words (such as run, eat, drive) or “state of being” words (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been).

Examples:

Incorrect: Jenny drove Mary to the store, and bought her a doll.

Correct: Jenny drove Mary to the store and bought her a doll.

The two verbs, drove and bought, refer to the same subject, Jenny, and should not be divided by a comma—even if you think there’s a pause there.

Remember, comma placement is not dictated by pauses!

3. Unnecessary hyphens and missing hyphens

As with commas, there’s a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to using hyphens. Some words always require hyphens, while some words require hyphens only sometimes, depending on how the words are used. No wonder hyphens cause confusion for writers. (And no wonder The Chicago Manual of Style provides a lengthy guide on this topic. We proofreaders make good use of that book.)

Keep this basic guideline in mind: typically hyphenate compound words that come before the noun they modify, but don’t hyphenate compound words that come after the noun.

Examples:

Incorrect: That movie star is well-known.

Correct: That movie star is well known.

Incorrect: She is a well known movie star.

Correct: She is a well-known movie star.

Note: movie star is the noun in these sentences.

4. Lay instead of lie and lie instead of lay

I hear you—these words and all of their forms are difficult. I often refer to references to double-check the correct use of these words myself. (It’s as if whoever created the rules for these verbs purposely made them confusing.) Also, we hear these words misused every day, which often makes our ears think that the wrong words are right!

Lay means to put or place something. (The action is being done to something.)

Examples:

Incorrect: Rover, go lay down.

Correct: Lay the folded laundry on the bed.

Lie means to rest or recline. (The subject is doing the action.)

Examples:

Incorrect: Lie that blanket down.

Correct: Rover, go lie down.

Please note that the above examples use lay and lie in the present tense. Things get complicated when we move into the different tenses, which of course we writers do all the time. I recommend printing out a reference chart, such as this one, and keeping it handy. Better yet, tape it to your mirror, where you’ll see it every day, until you have it memorized.

That’s it for today!

I hope you found the above examples and tips helpful for mastering the correct use of apostrophes, commas, hyphens, and lay vs. lie.

Please check back soon for more grammar and proofreading tips. Meanwhile, keep in mind that I offer 50% off proofreading services for first-time clients.

God bless you and your writing!

The post 4 Common Mistakes I Find When Proofreading appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

a while or awhile?

• a while is a noun that means a length of time.

Example: I haven’t seen you in a while.

• awhile is an adverb that means for a length of time.

Example: I’d like to sleep awhile.

You wouldn’t say “I haven’t seen you in awhile” because that’s like saying “I haven’t seen you in for a length of time.” And that doesn’t make grammatical sense.

I’m always on the lookout for a while and awhile when proofreading manuscripts, as these words are commonly misused.

Okay, end of lesson.

Today I really just wanted to pop in to say hello and happy Spring!
I haven’t posted in a while for various reasons. In March, I came down with a nasty bout of bronchitis that lingered for weeks. Then, one by one, my four kids got sick. Poor babies. April brought Easter (I hope you had a blessed Easter!), my kids’ spring break, and my baby boy’s first birthday! (He’s guaranteed to sleep through the night now, right? Right?)

I’ve also been too busy proofreading to blog—but that’s a great “problem” to have (a blessing, actually!), and I’m not complaining.

In fact, I’m celebrating by investing some of my earnings right back into my proofreading business. Yesterday, after much research, I ordered a new Samsung Galaxy Tab A (on sale!), complete with a beautiful protective case and a wireless keyboard. Just look at that glamorous case. Yes, I’m excited. Who says work can’t be fun?

I love proofreading, and I love the flexibility of being a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom. I anticipate each new project with enthusiasm while looking forward to sitting down to my next peaceful proofreading session. Aah. . .

Soon, with my portable new tool, I’ll be able to work even more comfortably and efficiently.

I’m looking forward to receiving my new toy—er, ahem–tool in the mail tomorrow afternoon. I’m also looking forward to tomorrow evening, since my husband and I are going to see Jim Gaffigan. If you’ve ever seen any of his shows, you’ll understand my excitement. He delivers the best hilarious, relatable, clean comedy!

As I look ahead to May and another busy month of proofreading, I couldn’t be happier. I’d like to send a big thank you to my clients for the wonderful work they provide me with.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a house to clean, laundry to wash, and dinner to make.

And my one-year-old is waking up from his nap . . .

The post It’s Been a While (Or Is That Awhile?) appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

Find a comfortable, distraction-free location.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to read to an audience (unless you want to, of course). Your ideal reading location might be in your home, your backyard, or even your van parked in a Walmart parking lot. Whatever works! If you’re concerned your children or spouse might distract you by listening (perhaps even laughing?), make it clear you’re working and don’t want to be disturbed—then go into a room and close the door.

Keep your eyes, ears, and mind alert.

Now is not the time for skimming or speed-reading. Make sure you’re reading what’s actually on the page. Pay attention to the rhythm and flow of your words. Listen for awkward phrases and run-on sentences. Note where your tongue trips up. Watch for missing or incorrect words or letters. Your ears should make it much easier to recognize repetitive words and phrases. How about that dialogue—does it sound natural, or stilted and forced? Pay close attention to punctuation.

To further understand what you should be on the lookout for, brush up on your grammar before beginning. Better yet, familiarize yourself with The Chicago Manual of Style, which is the go-to style manual for both fiction and nonfiction books.

Take your time.

You won’t do your best proofreading by rushing, so slow down and focus on the words, letters, and punctuation. Truly listen to what you’re saying. Be ready with a red pen to mark changes as needed. Proofread in manageable blocks of time so that your eyes and brain stay fresh and sharp. The more weary you become, the more likely you are to miss something important. Try reading one chapter at a time, or even just a page or two. If you do plan to read for a prolonged length of time, read in a whisper so you’re gentle on your vocal chords and don’t strain your voice. Keep a glass of water handy to wet your throat and hydrate your body.

Take this method a step further.

Two readers are better than one. Three readers are better than two, and so on. Consider asking people you trust to read your work out loud to themselves. Ask them to mark any obvious mistakes and anything that causes them to stumble or reread a sentence. Some readers may even give feedback on awkward, confusing sentences.

Read it again.

Just when you think you’re done, reread one final time. Each fresh round of proofreading increases the likelihood that you’ll end up with a professional, clean, readable manuscript that you can be proud of.

The post Proofreading Tip: Read Out Loud appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

1. It’s or its

It’s is always a contraction and means “it is” or “it has.” The apostrophe indicates the missing letter(s) and is NOT indicating possession.

Example: It’s going to be a long day.

Its is possessive. Don’t try to make it possessive with an apostrophe because it is already possessive.

Example: When he returned my book, its cover was bent.

2. Farther or further

Similar as these words are, they’re not interchangeable. Each word has a distinct meaning. Farther indicates measurable distance.

Example: She rode her bike farther down the trail.

Further indicates figurative distance.

Example: I will think about this further and get back to you.

3. Should have or should of

The correct phrase is should have—not should of, despite how many people say it that way.

Example: You should have studied your grammar book.

4. Then or than

One letter does make a difference. Then refers to sequence of time.

Example: I’m eating an apple, then I’m going to the doctor.

Than is used to show comparison.

Example: Mary is taller than you.

It’s important to learn the correct use of all these words because if you get them wrong, spell-check won’t mark them for you. And sharp-eyed readers may call you out on them.

Happy National Grammar Day!

The post 4 Pairs of Frequently Misused Words appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

Sound ridiculous? Tedious? Maybe, but this is honestly what it takes to spot elusive errors. It’s the single most effective tip to improve your chances of catching mistakes. Errors can’t slip past as easily when you’re not breezing through the sentences or words. Your eyes won’t be fooled into reading what isn’t actually there. Your brain will have time to register what’s wrong on the page.

Keep a special lookout for typos, spelling errors, misused words, contractions, and tricky homophones (words that sound the same but are spelled differently or have different meanings). You’ll be amazed at the mistakes you find! Hopefully this will make your plodding pace worthwhile.

If you’re having trouble forcing yourself to slow down, try pacing yourself by moving your finger very slowly beneath each word as you read.

Remember, the point of proofreading is to increase quality, not speed. You know the tired old saying: Slow and steady wins the race. Happily, the more you practice such intense proofreading, the more efficient you’ll become. Your speed will naturally increase—which is great, as long as you don’t out-pace your typo-catching abilities.

While this “slow down” method is simple, it may be too grueling for some writers. If the mere thought of such methodical reading sounds painstakingly tortuous (and torturous!), consider hiring a professional proofreader to do the job for you. To borrow one last cliché (which we should avoid in our writing ): Time is money.

And even if you do proofread your own work until you think it’s perfect, hire a proofreader. I bet she’ll still wow you with the mistakes she finds!

The post Proofreading Tip: Slow Down appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

Likable, which means “having qualities that bring about a favorable regard,” is the preferred spelling in American English.

Likeable is the preferred spelling in British English.

Furthermore, Merriam-Webster (the primary dictionary used by professional proofreaders) lists likable first, then likeable as a variant choice.

Besides the obvious promotional slant of the man’s comment, the fact that he’d placed a period outside the quotation marks also stood out to me. Again, such usage is not considered correct in American English—but in British English, it’s perfectly acceptable.

Depending where you live, grammar rules may differ in certain instances, so it’s necessary to utilize human intelligence and not rely solely on spell-check programs. Professional proofreaders should know the difference between American English and British English.

Last of all, it’s rather rude to call someone out on an error unless you know what you’re talking about (and even then, there’s no need for rudeness). Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, even proofreaders. And the likable ones will not be condescending. Professional proofreaders do not view clients’ written errors as “silly mistakes” and “pet peeves.” Authors write thousands upon thousands of words on a regular basis—of course some typos and mistakes will slip through! As a proofreader, I’m always honored to be entrusted to identify and correct such details.

The post Likable or Likeable appeared first on Christian Proofreaders.

Today I’m going to share how I came across my latest public proofreading find:

Not long ago, my husband and I took our four kids to the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This amazing place abounds with spectacular exhibits. If you’re ever in the area, it’s definitely worth visiting. My kids’ favorite stop was the KidVenture Gallery, which is full of fun, interactive experiences. Just read the sign that’s posted at the entrance (I apologize for the reflective shine in my low-quality smartphone photo):

Did you spot it? Or rather, did you spot the lack of it?

Here, allow me to use my red-ink proofreader’s “pen”:

“Individual exhibits test visitors abilities . . .” should read, “Individual exhibits test visitors’ abilities . . .”

See it now? That apostrophe needs to be there to show possession. Whose abilities? The visitors’ abilities.

The grammar reasoning goes like this:

Visitors is a plural noun ending in s. You form the possessive of a plural noun ending in s by adding an apostrophe after the s.
Example: The girls’ dolls wore pretty dresses.

When a plural noun does not end in s, such as the word men, you form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and then an s.
Example: The men’s coats hung on the rack.

While it’s unfortunate that the KidVenture Gallery sign contains an error, it’s a very minor one and likely won’t be noticed by many. It certainly didn’t affect my kids’ enjoyment of the room!

Have you come across any typos in public places?
If so, I’d love to hear about them. Please share in the comments below.

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