Proofreading tips | Proof Communications

Why pandas carry guns

November 28, 2018

copywriting, Grammar tips, Proofreading tips, Punctuation, Typos

According to a recent Google Doodle, this year marks the 187th since the birth of the man widely considered to be the father of modern football, Ebenezer Cobb Morley. Riveting stuff indeed. But even more noteworthy than that particularly fascinating sporting nugget is that 2018 also marks exactly 15 years since Lynne Truss published her widely acclaimed book, ‘Eats, Shoots & Leaves’, the zero-tolerance approach to punctuation. Why is this important? Because within its pages lies the information you need…

Why pandas carry guns was last modified on November 29th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

How to write compelling business copy for your website

November 21, 2018

B2B documents, copywriting, Proofreading tips, Websites, Writing tips

A website sporting well-written business copy will immediately lift your brand above the competition. Your ‘voice’ will be heard because readers respond positively to unambiguous writing that has a compelling message. Here are six ways to ensure it comes across loud and clear. Decide upon your main message What exactly is it that you’re offering? Really think about that. What’s the most important thing you want your website visitors to know? Whether the main benefit of your product or service…

How to write compelling business copy for your website was last modified on November 22nd, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

How one word can make your marketing message go spectacularly wrong

November 16, 2018

B2B documents, Proofreading tips, Typos

This month has seen yet another stand-out example of how just one word can make a marketing message go spectacularly wrong. American soft drink giant, Coca Cola, has been on the receiving end of some well-deserved criticism after failing to perform due diligence before advertising in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Auckland Airport was the unlikely setting for this latest linguistic debacle, when Coca Cola’s seemingly innocuous attempt to greet thirsty Kiwi travelers with the words ‘KIA ORA,…

How one word can make your marketing message go spectacularly wrong was last modified on November 19th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

What’s the difference between copy editing and proofreading? And why should you care?

October 23, 2018

Editing, How to win business, Proofreading tips, Writing tips

If you’re briefing an editor or proofreader, you’ll need to know the difference or you might not get the result you were hoping for. Whilst they overlap to some extent, copy editing and proofreading are essentially separate functions, yet work hand in hand to polish your business documents to make them look and sound as professional as possible. What does a copy editor do? Copy editing comes before proofreading and is focused on getting your document ready for publication. It’s…

What’s the difference between copy editing and proofreading? And why should you care? was last modified on October 23rd, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

Houston, we have a problem…how can people get it so wrong?

October 4, 2018

copywriting, Proofreading tips, Typos, Writing tips

‘Communication Shipwrecks’, a recent white paper by American-based business writing school, Hurley Write Inc, gives some cracking examples of the impact bad business writing can have on consumers, corporates, government and academia. Read these and wince. The issue: Metric mishap In 1999, NASA’s much vaunted $125 million Mars Climate Orbiter self-destructed upon entering the red planet’s atmosphere some 100 km closer and 25km lower than planned. This costly space debacle’s post-mortem revealed that Lockheed-Martin, the company which developed and built…

Houston, we have a problem…how can people get it so wrong? was last modified on October 4th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

Failure to proofread leaves job applicant furious

August 17, 2018

copywriting, Editing, Proofreading tips, Typos, Writing tips

This week’s SMH carries an article by Tom Cowie, reporting events after lawyer Susan Cole hired online resumé company, 1300 Resumé, to write her job application for ASIO, Australia’s national spy agency. But when both parties – somewhat ironically – failed to spy numerous mistakes and Ms Cole wasn’t granted an interview, a lengthy legal stooshie ensued. Ms Cole ‘sent some documents’ through to 1300 Resumé to help with her application, including a previous CV. Preparing for an overseas holiday,…

Failure to proofread leaves job applicant furious was last modified on August 17th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

Always go to a tattooist who understands apostrophes

March 8, 2018

Proofreading tips, Typos, Uncategorised, Writing tips

The perils of not using a proofreader were quite literally thrown into the harsh glare of the notoriously unforgiving Hollywood spotlights earlier this year. While Emma Watson, star of all things Harry Potter, posed for photographs at the kill-for-an-invite-post-Oscars party, it was Watson’s grammatically incorrect ‘Times Up’ tattoo that made the biggest headlines. Does any of this Tinsel Town to-do really matter? Well, yes, it does. It matters because it’s a whopping example of how the power of tiny mistakes…

Always go to a tattooist who understands apostrophes was last modified on August 28th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

Did they really mean to say that?

December 8, 2017

B2B documents, Proofreading tips, Typos

What is it they say about never getting a second chance to make a first impression? Enjoy this hilarious selection of CV and cover letter bloopers – proof positive of the benefits of proofreading! I took a career break in 2014 to renovate my horse. Skills: Strong work ethic, attention to detail, team player, self-motivated, attention to detail. I am great with the pubic. My duties included cleaning the restrooms and seating the customers. Objective: A career on the information…

Did they really mean to say that? was last modified on December 22nd, 2017 by Proof Communications Author

How a simple comma could cost you business

October 17, 2017

B2B documents, copywriting, Grammar tips, Proofreading tips, Typos, Writing tips

A misplaced comma can come at an almighty cost. Just ask Oakhurst Dairy in Maine, USA. They’ve recently been embroiled in a landmark court case over their interpretation of a law which excludes overtime pay for companies involved in the ‘…drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of’ certain products. One side argued that ‘packing for shipment or distribution’ was one activity; the other side claimed it was two. And with around $10M at stake if three employees suing…

How a simple comma could cost you business was last modified on August 28th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author

Five ways to make your document free of typos

September 7, 2017

B2B documents, Editing, Grammar tips, Proofreading tips, Punctuation, Typos, Writing tips

Editing and proofreading your own work is tough. We’re too close to it to proofread it perfectly. A fresh pair of eyes is the answer. If you don’t have anybody to help you, then rest between the time you write and the time you proofread—at least overnight. By doing this, you’ll gain some distance from your writing and you’ll have your own fresh pair of eyes with which to view your content. When you’re ready, here’s how to do it.…

Five ways to make your document free of typos was last modified on August 28th, 2018 by Proof Communications Author