The devil’s in the detail: avoiding the pitfalls of pitiful proofreading
You’ve seen embarrassing examples of pitiful proofreading. How do you make sure your brand isn’t next in line?
You’ve spent months developing your strategic marketing plan, weeks refining your positioning and days polishing your message.
It’s a tried and tested process that takes a lot of time and costs a lot of money.
Yet how many times have you risked that investment… only to find a typo in the title at the end?
Don’t do it!
In the age of AI and automation, perhaps you think you’re safe to leave proofreading to spellcheck.
But computers can’t check context. They don’t know your business, or understand your customers.
They don’t know if you meant there, their or they’re, affect or effect, loose or lose.
And – oops! – you just spelt manager as manger. Sorry – it won’t spot that either. P45 anyone?
(Don’t panic! When it comes to those tricksy homophones, The Little Book of Confusables 1 + 2 have your back.)
The reality
We’re all under pressure.
Our inboxes buckle under the strain of hundreds of unanswered messages, our to-do lists get longer every day, and there’s never enough time… it’s no wonder you end up cutting corners.
You’re too close to your own work to proofread it yourself, and your colleague’s just as busy so there’s no point asking them to do it.
Maybe something has to give… but it should never be proofreading.
Mistakes damage the brand and reputation you’ve put all that time and effort into controlling.
Even the smallest error can make your company look unprofessional – losing you sales, and driving customers to do business with your rivals.
Conversely, accurate copy is more convincing, more effective and a whole lot more desirable.
Peace of mind incoming…
Consider professional proofreading as security on your investment. It may be another expense, but it’ll pay for itself many times over.
A specialist proofreader (hello!) will check a lot more than your spelling. They’ll check for consistency, grammar and syntax, typographical errors, alignment – and sense.
Theirs know point making shore you’re words our spelt write if you’re sentence makes know scents.
Neglecting proofreading is like filling your home with expensive furnishings then cutting costs by not buying locks for the doors.
As the saying goes, ‘There’s never time to do it right, but always time to do it again.’
Don’t learn the hard way.
Book a discovery call and let’s talk.
More than 1,000 misused words demystified
Master 1,000+ confusing words with the multi-award-winning Little Book of Confusables 1 + 2 – jam-packed with memorable, fun spelling and usage tips: from ACCEPT + EXCEPT and OPTIMAL + OPTIMUM, to BARE + BEAR and PURPOSEFULLY + PURPOSELY.