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Q&A How can I catch more errors when I proofread?

I find that most of my mistakes occur at or across line breaks. After your first proof-reading pass, change the margin slightly on your window - perhaps just by half an inch. This will cause all t...

posted 11y ago by Matt J.‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:17:54Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/9409
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Matt J.‭ · 2019-12-08T02:17:54Z (almost 5 years ago)
I find that most of my mistakes occur at or across line breaks.

After your first proof-reading pass, **change the margin slightly** on your window - perhaps just by half an inch. This will cause all the text to wrap at a different point and previously hidden errors will become apparent on the second pass.

Of course I think that (as others have suggested) reading it out loud is the very best way, this way is quick and will always turn up a few more. In fact, it will reveal errors that will be MISSED by reading it aloud.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2013-11-14T20:50:14Z (about 11 years ago)
Original score: 3