What is the point of proofreading?  As long as your writing is getting your message across, why be fussy with spelling, grammar and punctuation?  You are communicating so is there really any need to get the language absolutely perfect?

With all the urban slang, abbreviations and spelling mistakes that are used in email and text messages, we have all become a lot more relaxed over what we think of as acceptable written English.  There are good reasons for English to be standardized though.  Bad English can cost you grades – and even money.

Unclear English or outright mistakes in university essays or dissertations can lead to the marker giving you a lower grade than you would otherwise deserve.

• Bad English used in the workplace could lead to you producing reports that are misleading or – at their worst – perhaps libellous.  If you are working in purchasing, you  might end up ordering the wrong product entirely, too many of the product or the wrong size or colour.  All these errors could add to expense.
• Poor English usage in emails could lead to misunderstandings and even losing friends or contacts.
• Foreign learners of English will have a much harder time learning English if the rules of Standard English are abandoned.

One misunderstanding is that the copy editor doesn’t bother to look at punctuation, spelling and grammar.  This isn’t true.  The copy editor looks at all this.  The proofreader checks that the changes suggested by the copy editor have been carried out.

If you are proofreading your own text, remember:

• Put the work away for a day or so and come back to it fresh. Familiarity with the work makes us miss errors.
• Change the layout of the page.  If you are proofreading on screen, change the font size or type.  This can trick the brain into thinking you are reading a new text, so you pay attention and notice mistakes more easily.

Are you editing essays or dissertatons?  Are you finding any particular challenges?  Let us know.  Post a comment below.