The writing industry has evolved. It has revolutionized over the years. Writing is now more than just forming sentences. Many writing agencies have a whole team to prepare and manage projects. These include content, academic and copywriting tasks. However, it is always required to have proofreading and editing skills as well. It is also understandable that proofreading and writing can be challenging at times, especially if you are an academic writer. These writers indulge in the screen and often forget to go back for a skim. 

All kinds of writers claim to struggle with proofreading and editing when doing it side by side. We have prepared exemplary tricks to make you efficient with editing and proofreading. So let’s look at the most common errors of all time:

4 Top Proofreading And Editing Mistakes

• Spell It Right! 

Sounds good! Spell it right! Well, it is unrealistic to say that. Human errors do exist, and so do spelling mistakes. That means getting near perfection can be impossible if perfection is not valid. Similarly, you will not need to depend entirely on an online essay editor. You will need to keep in mind a few things, and here are those:

1. Words that sound the same, for example, they’re, their and there.
2. Tricky spellings 
3. Read the passage or article more than once at least
4. Apostrophes placement like its and it’s. 

• Writing Structure Inconsistent 

If you are a writer by profession, you may relate to this. Inconsistency occurs in all kinds of writing. Even if you write for lower word counts, it happens when you are in the middle of typing and going back to re-read makes the error unnoticeable. So what are these errors? Let’s explore: 

1. Structure of heading, titles and sentences
2. Specifying date differently in a write-up
3. Inconsistent in following American and British English. For example, favor and favour
4. Joining words without and with a hyphen
5. Check consistency in tenses

• It same Sound, Different Meaning

What are those? Have you ever heard of it? The same sound and different meaning words are called homophones. They have similar sounds but different meanings. Professional dissertation editor always suggests using homophones carefully as they proofread and edit student thesis. They also claim that most thesis writers mess up with grammatical constructing sentences as they hastily scroll down their screens. Therefore, be vigilant when re-checking each word, as it has to be published online or onsite. This decreases your work efficiency. 

• More Than Once

Mainly, proofreaders and editors master a language. They understand sentences linguistically. And so they have an ocean of vocabulary to use. In the writing industry, editors get hired to check others’ work thoroughly and maintain consistency for reading purposes. It is not worth establishing content if words are in repetition. The flow gets interrupted and uneven structurally. So, if you check a write-up, ensure repetitive words are replaced with their synonyms.   

For example:

1. Use ‘vital, essential or beneficial’ words instead of important.
2. You can use the meaning of the word than the word itself. 
3. Avoid poor arrangement of phrases.
4. Check commas, hyphens, signs, etc. 
5. Take a break if you are writing or proofreading to refresh your mind. 

Winding It Up

Spotting errors while re-checking an essay will improve with practice. Make a good habit of re-reading passages to scrutinize them accordingly. The above bits of advice on proofreading and editing will help you assess flaws and uplift your work. This article has exceptional pointers to embellish your piece of work. And it is more inclined toward understanding what errors you can skip. We gathered tips to give you a hint of where you are going wrong. So, read these tips, follow them and repeat the process to master the skill of editing. You will never miss a chance to fix an error. 

In conclusion, proofreading and editing are crucial skills in the writing industry. With the evolution of the industry, it has become more important than ever to ensure that written work is error-free and consistent in structure and style. However, it is also understandable that proofreading and editing can be challenging, especially for academic writers who spend a lot of time in front of screens.

To be an efficient proofreader and editor, it is essential to be vigilant when checking for errors. Some of the most common errors include misspelled words, inconsistent writing structure, homophones, and repetitive language. By paying attention to these common mistakes and taking the time to re-read and scrutinize your work, you can significantly improve the quality of your writing.

Incorporating the tips and tricks discussed in this article will help you develop your proofreading and editing skills and enhance the overall quality of your work. Remember to take breaks, re-read passages, and be mindful of common errors, and you will become a skilled editor and proofreader in no time.