Proofreading tips | Proof Communications

How to proofread tricky words

July 2, 2020

B2B documents, Editing, Proofreading tips

They say English is the world’s most difficult language to learn. And proofreading certainly has its challenges. The English language may be blessed with many words, but quite a few set out to trip us up. Here are some of the most common words that even the best English writers confuse and which are important to look out for when proofreading. Unique Many businesses like to think of themselves as the most unique in their industry. But ‘unique’ means truly…

How to proofread tricky words was last modified on July 2nd, 2020 by Proof Communications Team

10 common English language mistakes

June 30, 2020

English language, Grammar tips, Proofreading tips, Typos, Writing tips

(Plus one you may think is an error, but isn’t). One of the wonderful features of the English language is its flexibility. We have a staggering range of words to choose from, whatever we are trying to say. And the ease with which we adopt new words and spread these around the world is a true example of globalisation. But writing in the English language is fraught with opportunities for error and confusion. Avoiding mistakes is not just a pastime…

10 common English language mistakes was last modified on June 30th, 2020 by Proof Communications Team

Proofreading Stakeholder Documents

June 18, 2020

B2B documents, Proofreading tips

You may be surprised to learn that in long, complex business documents, such as annual reports, financial statements, bids and proposals, PDSs and reports, typos are actually rare. In a typical 150 page annual report, for example, we usually find only a handful of spelling mistakes, even in the 70 pages or so of very dense, copy-heavy financial statements. What’s more common, however, is inconsistency in how phrases, titles and financial terms are presented. This is usually due to different…

Proofreading Stakeholder Documents was last modified on June 18th, 2020 by Proof Communications Team

Red Faces at Yellow Pages – and how not to let the same happen to you

April 16, 2020

Editing, Grammar tips, Proofreading tips, Typos

Typos can have a highly detrimental effect on a business. And no one knows that more than Banner Travel Agency owner, Gloria Quinan. Back in 1988, when the world relied on telephone books, Gloria’s listing in the Yellow Pages advertised her business as offering ‘International and Erotic Travel’. An appalled Gloria said, ‘We offer exotic travel, like tours up the Amazon, but nothing erotic.’ To make matters worse, the offending word was emblazoned in red across her prominent advertisement. Gloria’s…

Red Faces at Yellow Pages – and how not to let the same happen to you was last modified on April 16th, 2020 by Proof Communications Team

Don’t fall into these four common grammar traps!

April 9, 2020

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

The extra comma Ah, the debate about the use of the extra comma. One only has to look at the well-known question, ‘What is this thing called love?’ to realise the extraordinary power of a little black squiggle to change that sentence’s meaning entirely when inserted after ‘called’. Try it, and you’ll see what we mean. Commas, of course, are used to separate items in a list. For example: ‘I bought wine, gin, tequila, and more wine.’ Note that extra…

Don’t fall into these four common grammar traps! was last modified on April 9th, 2020 by Proof Communications Team

Failure to proofread leaves job applicant furious

February 12, 2020

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

A little while ago the SMH carried an article by Tom Cowie, reporting events after a lawyer hired a resumé writing company to write her job application for a government agency. But when both parties failed to spy numerous mistakes and the lawyer wasn’t granted an interview, a lengthy legal stooshie ensued. The lawyer said she had ‘sent some documents’ through to the resumé writing company 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 February 12th, 2020 by Proof Communications Author

Why copy editing your business documents is a great idea

February 10, 2020

B2B documents, copywriting, Editing, How to win business, Proofreading tips, Uncategorised, Writing tips

Phew! You’ve just finished your first draft of an important business document and now all you need to do is proofread it, right? Well now, let’s just back up a bit there because you’ve missed a very important step in the process: copy editing. Copy editing isn’t just kind of a good idea, it’s absolutely essential for anyone wanting their writing to flow well and sound professional. Just ask any well-known author if they could manage without their editor and…

Why copy editing your business documents is a great idea was last modified on February 10th, 2020 by Proof Communications Author

Proofread like a professional with our 7 top tips

September 23, 2019

B2B documents, Proofreading tips, Typos, Writing tips

Some things in life are just plain wrong. Referring to a week at home as a ‘staycation’, and believing macramé will ever look good on your living room wall are both sure signs of going over to the dark side, for example. In a business scenario, publishing important documents without first conducting a thorough proofread is about as dark as it gets. Shame on anyone for thinking a ‘quick read over’ will do. It won’t. Use these seven top tips…

Proofread like a professional with our 7 top tips was last modified on September 24th, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

Everyone can write, right?

July 1, 2019

B2B documents, copywriting, Editing, Grammar tips, How to win business, Proofreading tips, Writing tips

Most can write, but most can’t write well! Writing is hard: it’s not only thinking up the ideas, but articulating them, linking them together and crafting them into a neat package. It takes practice – and sometimes many attempts to get right. Here are some of the traps that novice writers often fall into: Choosing difficult words: Overly formal language is usually a turn off for readers. If there is a simpler everyday alternative that you can use, then do…

Everyone can write, right? was last modified on July 1st, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

When saving on a proofreader is a false economy

June 27, 2019

Proofreading tips, Typos, Writing tips

Now that the brouhaha over the RBA’s apparent inability to pick up a typo in an entire batch of newly-minted pineapples – the fruity vernacular for a $50 note – has died down, it’s timely to ask, “Just how could this have happened?” With remarkable ease, apparently. All it takes is an absence of the proofreading process. For the benefit of anyone who’s been holidaying on Mars, the recent currency fiasco which left Australia’s central bank distinctly red-faced occurred when…

When saving on a proofreader is a false economy was last modified on June 27th, 2019 by Proof Communications Author