When content really matters, proofreading is an essential service. It catches errors and inconsistencies not only in your writing, but in your figures, your design and your tech.
That’s why I recommend proofreading to any organisation that’s serious about content – and why I don’t believe in relying exclusively on digital tools.
A good human proofreader is a friendly, last-ditch “backstop” who can find content issues before the world sees them, helping reduce the risk of a mistake.
What is proofreading?
The term proofreading comes from the world of print publishing. Technically, it means reading a draft for errors at proof stage, once layout is complete and the document is (in theory) almost good to go.
In the digital world, there’s often no such thing as a “proof” any more, unless you work in book publishing. But it’s still vital to have an editorial professional check your content.
This should happen as late in the process as possible. Only once a PDF is laid out, for example, might you realise that a diagram you’re using is full of spelling errors, even though you checked the Word doc.
Or a junior designer might have had to write a caption into a document, transposing numbers, or writing in English that isn’t house style.
Proofreading for value
Ultimately, you want to reduce risks to your organisation’s reputation. A proofreader helps you to do that – casting an eye over the copy you send out, and helping to catch errors before they reach the outside world.
Proofreading is about helping you get full value from your investment in content – so you don’t fall at the last hurdle thanks to silly mistakes.
