Avoid a Grammar Facepalm With These Tips!

Since the new year is upon us… and resolutions are rampant, how about one for making it your most error-free year yet?

We’re all going to make a mistake here and there, but why not shoot for the moon? Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars! ?

Keep reading to learn some of my best proofreading tips!

When you’ve got errors in your text, your reader can get more distracted than a chicken pecking at chicken scratch (or grapes… ours love?). Here’s how to keep their eye on the prize: your captivating content!

1) Post-Writing Hibernation. After you’ve typed the last word of your document, don’t jump into proofreading like it’s a Black Friday sale. Give it a rest. Let your brain cells rejuvenate with some Netflix or, dare I say, actual rest. Come back when you can’t remember what you wrote. ?

2)Outsource Your Eyeballs. Let someone else take a gander at your masterpiece. They’ll bring their own set of biases, life experiences, and possibly a penchant for judging your grammar. Bonus: They might accidentally add value! ?

3) AutoCorrect: The Frenemy. We all have that one word that betrays us every time (looking at you, ‘recieve’). AutoCorrect can be your hero in a half-shell, swooping in to fix those habitual blunders. Just don’t trust it blindly, or you might end up suggesting Children Alfredo for dinner!

4) Read Aloud: Channel Your Inner Shakespeare. When you read your document out loud, you’re like an actor on stage, enunciating every syllable. It’s amazing how many errors pop out when you’re in the spotlight. Plus, it’s a great way to weird out your cat.

5) Robot Audition. Use text-to-speech and let the robots do the reading. Kick back, pop in your earbuds, and enjoy the mechanical serenade. You might catch mistakes or fall asleep – either way, it’s a win-win. ?

6) Old-School Printout. Drag your document kicking and screaming from the digital world into the physical one. There’s something magical about holding a piece of paper – and something deeply satisfying about marking it up like a teacher from the ’90s. ✍?

7) Spell Checker Roulette. Free spell checkers are like that friend who’s great at pointing out your typos but clueless about your word choice blunders. “Impotent” instead of “important”? Spell checker says, “Looks good to me!”

Bonus tip: If you suddenly transform into a proofreading wizard the second you hit “Send,” let’s set up a system. Send all your drafts my way. I promise to read them without judgment and provide lots of helpful feedback!

PS Did you catch the missing word in the photo? Be honest and lemme know!

Since half the country is currently in what I call a “freeze-play” (and lots of snow, which is actually a 4-letter word to me!), here’s Snoopy and Woodstock for some winter giggles.

If your brain is more frozen than a popsicle at the North Pole and the mere thought of proofreading or editing makes you want to hibernate until spring, fear not!

I’ll de-ice your documents and keep your words from getting buried under a snowdrift of errors. Your writing will be as crisp and clear as a winter morning but without the painful frostbite!

And, btw, the #jollychickens gotta eat… and contrary to popular belief, chicken scratch ain’t cheap (neither are sweaters and snow boots for chickens), so I appreciate referrals! ?

About Us

“Us” is me, Jennie Jolly – the Diva of Diction… the Empress of Editing… the Mistress of Manuscripts! (I’m not bragging because ChatGPT gave me those titles!)

I solve one big problem for my clients: I keep their message edited, elevated, and effective by providing excellent editing + proofreading + content writing services. A well-edited piece is as satisfying as a coop full of contented hens! So, step into my henhouse, shake off the dust, and let me help you cultivate your best writing yet.

Learn more about my services here.