What do you do if your writing needs a grammar and spelling check?

I’m a huge fan of Grammarly’s browser extension. It helps me check grammar even when I’m not in a word doc, provides advice for spelling, punctuation, and concision. Not every suggestion matches my personal style or intent, but it has saved me many times from making embarrassing errors.

This is a topic that I answer yes and no to. Yes, spell checkers and grammar checkers are helpful tools, with respect to proof reading, checking for typographical errors, etc. No, because these tools still have limitations. My common examples being spell checkers not identifying typographical errors, e.g. 'eth' instead of 'the'. With grammar and spell checkers incorrectly approving words ending with 'ed' instead of 'es' and vice versa. Additionally, grammar checker rules are usually language specific. So, US English grammar checkers (most common in word processors, etc.) do not correctly identify UK grammar errors. So, I recommend using the find tool to help locate common typographical errors. As well as proof reading.

Reading your content aloud can help. If you have a suitable environment to do so. This approach is very beneficial for presentations, lectures, etc. As it helps you tailor the wording, etc., to meet the requirements of the presentation, presentation timing, etc. Depending on the material being produced reading aloud may not always work, For example, if you are presenting tables. So. a more normal proof reading approach may help. One possible trick you can use, to avoid reading what you think you wrote, verses what is actually written, is to increase the font size. So, the document 'looks different'. Though such a change may impact page/ document layouts. So, using the zoom/ magnification function may be an easier way to do this.

Never underestimate the power of reading your words aloud. Read them slowly and carefully, multiple times if you must, and ensure you add all the pauses or impact that your punctuation and grammar uses imply. If it sounds high-level or wordy, then you'll know. You can also identify the tone of your message and hear how it sounds falling on your own ears. It's also one of the best, fastest ways to quickly catch typos or basic errors. I read everything aloud when I'm done writing, even if it makes me sound like a crazy person muttering or speaking to myself, and it's helped me catch some many silly, avoidable mistakes. I really thinking reading writing aloud is a secret superpower for writers that not everyone uses but we all should!

No matter what kind of writing you're doing, the best writing processes include editors. As a freelancer, that usually means your client, but if you're doing volunteer work or creative writing on the side, finding someone to review your work for free is tricky. If you do have a peer or colleague who has time to edit your writing, reduce their workload by being clear about what you want upfront. For example, tell them what you need help with and what to watch out for so that they can focus on that — like if you struggle with tense, or you can never figure out whether to put "a" or "an". Or, if there's a particular section you aren't sure about, highlight it. That way, you get their input about something specific.

Printing proofs for proof reading is an 'old fashioned' technique. It basically works by changing how you view the material. Though we have an increased resistance to 'paper waste'. Print proofing can help you identify typographical errors, poor wording, etc. These corrections, however, will still need to be updated in the electronic copy of the material. This is why changing how you view the material, electronically can be a good alternative. By increasing the font size, as suggested above, you get 'different view'. Whilst still being able to edit the material. Reading PDF copies may also help. So, it is best you experiment, to find which works best for you.