HOW TO PROOFREAD IN A PINCH

Is there a way for service professionals to easily proofread their own work? There is a way to do it - if you have to. At the City Attorney's Office, I focused on the legal field and performed frequent research, among many other things.

During one of my outside educational classes, Margaret Lovig poured into us her experience and knowledge gained through years of teaching. In the legal field, presentation of documents to the court and opposing counsel is critical and of paramount importance.

Margaret's frequent encouragement to "always proofread your work" before you send it out or submit it has remained with me. Planning in advance for proofreading support is the best option. Unfortunately, many humans have a tendency to procrastinate.

When you wait until that very last minute to create presentation handouts there is no room for error. This includes extra eyeballs at the printer or photocopy store to catch and correct typographical errors. Presentation handouts, our example in this case for professional speakers, must be perfectly done to immediately reflect well on your credibility as a speaker. After all, you're a professional with a polished reputation, and you can and will, stand and deliver successfully to a packed room, right?

Have your materials proofed by a professional several days in advance of your presentation or submission to meeting planners. You can always review them again. If you decide to do them at the last minute, Margaret's most important suggestion was her follow-up tip that "if you must proof your own work read it backwards." Yes, you read that right. She encouraged us in the order of priority to:

1. Find a pro to proof your work. Get to know them, let them get to know your style, and have their contact info always available - before the need arises.

2. In a last minute rush, start proofing at the far right side of the page, and read each word in that sentence backwards all the way to the left margin. Then move to the far end of the next sentence. Repeat until you finish the document or section of text you're working on.

3. Now, go back and reread your materials from the beginning to ensure best results!

Time consuming? Yes, with good results. It works - and makes your business better in a pinch! You can better your speaking business by getting to know a writer and find out how writing solutions can make your products, profits and productivity better. Do it today - before the need arises and your credibility takes a nose-dive over easily corrected errors that have no business being in your professional materials. Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved.