5 common writing mistakes I observe as a proofreader

Two and a half years on from commencing my freelance career as a writer and proofreader, I realise how far I have come, not only in work experience but also within an educational perspective. As I slowly built my client list and encountered different writing styles and viewpoints along the way, I myself learnt a great deal while correcting other people’s mistakes in writing.

To quote the author, Sandra Scofield: “We are not beginners forever, but we never stop learning.”

Indeed, I believe proofreading is a learning curve for all parties concerned, including the proofreader. While researching the assortment of referencing styles, word definitions and spellings, grammatical rules, and language requirements, I too have expanded my own education and honed my writing skills—not to mention the knowledge I gained from the various topics I read about while proofreading.

Writing is my passion, and I truly appreciate when people entrust me with their creations for review. But while I have been enhancing my expertise with the help of my clients, I find it extremely rewarding to return the favour by inspiring them to learn something new as well!

One of the services I provide for my clients is to include notes explaining any edits I made to their written work.

It is all well and good to correct a thesis or article for others, but explaining what the edits are and why they were done will also help the author learn more about the process of writing a polished piece which follows the rules of writing styles and requirements. But surely, you may say, this might backfire on me? After all, who needs a proofreader when they can write a perfect thesis all by themselves?

Keep in mind, however, that any form of writing is rarely perfect—no matter how proficient you are! To err is human, and many factors—such as fatigue, distraction, deep-rooted habits, tight deadlines, etc.—will cause even the most professional writer to make mistakes. And so, the services of a proofreader will always be needed.

In the meantime, here are a few vital points of note that will help you avoid common mistakes in writing!

1. Be consistent!

Your readers will understand you more if you prioritise consistency in your text. Use the same font, do not apply too many font sizes, and stick to one style of writing. Make sure your headings, indents and alignment, paragraph spacing, and all other related factors are also uniform. This makes it easier for your target audience to appreciate what you wish to convey to them.

2. Avoid contractions!

Unless you are quoting speech, do not shorten words, especially when writing academic text. Steer clear of contractions such as it's, isn't, doesn't, etc., and spell out these words in full: it is, is not, does not, etc.

3. Do not capitalise unnecessarily!

Most words do not require capitalisation, especially when referring to a general mention. For example, when you are citing a type of industry or job position, you can write them in lower case. A specific mention, on the other hand, requires capitalisation. So, we write: ‘She holds the position of general manager within the textile industry’, but ‘Professor Smith heads the Psychology Department.’

Moreover, do not use capitalisation to add emphasis to words. Opt for italics or underlining instead, but do not over-use these either. Alternatively, place phrases within ‘em’ dashes (—) to highlight or provide more clarity in lengthy sentences.

4. Choose between British and American English!

I could write volumes about the numerous variations in spelling used by the Brits and the Yanks. Is it analyse or analyze? Practice or practise? Neighbour or neighbor? Without delving into the specifics, just make sure you select one variation and use the same one throughout. And keep your target audience in mind when making your choice.

5. Know your numbers!

As a general rule, numbers between 1 to 9—or 1 to 10, depending on the style guide being used—are to be written in full. Some exceptions to this include when the number begins a sentence or when it refers to a figure, table, or percentage. All other numbers over 10 may be typed in numerical form.

Shirley Jobson

If you are still unsure whether your written piece is fully refined, reach out to me, and I will review your work professionally and efficiently—with guaranteed friendly service!

My work allows me to cross paths with a diverse and interesting clientele with whom I enjoy interacting, even if remotely. In fact, I often wonder how the students who send me their dissertations have fared in their varying degrees and diplomas. Two of them surprised me recently by reaching out—weeks after I had returned their revised theses—to let me know they had obtained successful results for their efforts. It awarded me deep satisfaction to realise I had played a small part in their journey towards receiving the required qualifications to develop their career.

And this is one of the reasons I love what I do!