Writing content for any industry takes a time-consuming process before a whole output is produced. A single article does not just get published without undergoing a step-by-step procedure that all content writers do. The Final Step: Here are 6 Proofreading Tips for Content Writers.
The prewriting stage is challenging as it is when you gather all the information needed in the content, and this includes reading, doing research, and planning the writing approach to use. The writing stage is, naturally, when you compose the content from the introduction, and body to the conclusion. Last but not the least, the post-writing stage should not be forgotten. It is when content writers do proofreading to double-check and enhance the quality of each article.
If you are a content writer, you need good proofreading skills to make sure that each piece you create is worth reading from start to end. This is the time for you to read the entire article you write and edit it as necessary. In this operation, you will also use your reader’s perspective to come up with the final product and be satisfied with it.
To assist you in doing this, here are 6 proofreading tips for content writers. Keep these in mind in every content you craft.
1 – Read carefully and mindfully.
Proofreading is the chance for you to double-check your content. It’s the last stage before submitting your piece and before publishing it. It is a critical step, make sure you read carefully and mindfully.
Review your article with the presence of mind and not when you are feeling sleepy. If you do it while you are drowsy, good parts could go bad and bad parts could get worse. Mindfulness is very important as you assess and edit your content, so you can definitely achieve the purpose of proofreading.
2 – Trim sentences and split paragraphs that are too long.
Length is one of the major factors in the quality and readability of an article. Too short is not always best, and too long also is not.
However, when talking about the length of each sentence, you have to be watchful and avoid making them extremely lengthy. Give readers a pause, a time to breathe. Trim those sentences that are evitably long. Divide them into two sentences. For sure, there’s a better way to express that long sentence’s thought.
At the same time, paragraphs that are too long should also be split. First of all, they can be exhausting and discouraging to readers. People who are not fond of reading might just skim or skip those parts. People who are reading in a hurry might close the tab and choose another article to get the information they need. To avoid involuntarily shooing potential readers away split those paragraphs as well. Doing so also allows you to organize your content’s body more appropriately.
3 – Find synonyms for repetitive words.
Whenever possible, commonly for proper nouns and technical words, avoid using a word too repetitively. Find their synonyms, and use those that fit the idea you wish to convey.
A single word could have so many synonyms. Others are in direct correspondence with the word you need and are using, but some are just very much related and not directly synonymous with it. In the case of the latter situation, select the most closely related. That retains the idea of your sentence or upgrades it even more.
4 – Cut off unnecessary remarks.
When content writers have a lot to say, sometimes, it’s not easy to stop writing. Ideas are flowing and emotions are also cooperating well in creating great content. However, there are times when not everything you think of and feel must be written down. You will realize this, especially while proofreading your content.
Cut off unnecessary remarks. Delete sections that just make the content long but that do not really play an important role in the content. Remove areas where you are giving too much information.
Make every area substantial. Keep only the relevant segments.
5 – Rephrase statements that can be said better.
You wrote that sentence earlier, and it seemed fine, but now that you are proofreading, it feels awkward. Thanks to proofreading, you can revise them.
Rephrase statements that can be said better. You will understand and find the need to do this when you scrutinize your content from a reader’s perspective. Does your tone sound a bit rude? Is there no interactive vibe in the way you write? Anything essential to the content but does not feel right or comfortable in words can be enhanced. Reconstruct.
6 – Don’t be afraid to remove parts, when needed.
Many content writers love their creations too much that they proofread them with a lot of reservations. They proofread to improve and polish their article, but they are not willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.
Do not be afraid to remove parts, when needed. Regardless of whether you are independent or working in a creative agency, this is something pivotal to understand. If a particular section is to your liking but is not really helpful, it has to go. Let go. That’s the way for you to see and attain the best quality of your piece.
THE FINAL STEP
Proofreading is a very crucial stage in writing because this is when you make last-minute changes before finally submitting and publishing your content. Here, you get a chance to spot errors and correct them. There are portions that sound fine while you were writing it but do not sound very well anymore while you read it as a reader, but thanks to proofreading, you can revise and make it better.
Truly, proofreading is a must, and it is a must to do it efficiently. This is the last step before your content gets read by countless readers out there, so don’t skip it, and do it very well!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host, and a voice-over artist. Quality and well-researched writing is her worthwhile avenue to enlighten and delight others about things that matter. She is a daytime writer for Orion Creative, a digital agency, and design studio in Sydney, building greater possibilities for brands and businesses of all sorts. Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.