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Why
Let's look at some common misconceptions about professional proofreading:
I'm a natural pedant and stickler for detail anyway
People who do have a keen eye for detail will spot the odd typo, but is this enough? When we learn to read, the brain is trained to read ahead of what the eye is seeing. The professional proofreader unravels this mechanism to spot errors, grammatical no-nos, and so much more.
I have a spellcheck on my computer
Spellcheck can be of limited use, but how many times have you been left unsure about the alternatives suggested (U.S. English anyone?). Ever been irritated enough just to switch it off? Even advanced versions cannot read for "sense". A good example is affect vs.effect: right spelling, but wrong word?
OK, the proof has some errors - I'll tell the typesetter
Proofreaders are trained to use use discreet symbols which tell the typesetter exactly how the proof should be corrected. This minimizes the chance of any corrections being misinterpreted.
It wouldn't matter to those reading my text
Don't be so sure. It's dangerous to underestimate your readership, and is it worth risking a client losing interest or being irritated because of wrongly-worded copy?
"No reader should ever be required to retrace their steps, however short the journey."
Bill Bryson
I can't afford another extra cost
A poignant issue in today's economic climate. But text that reads poorly or has mistakes would be the worst possible start for your copy to be taken seriously and stand up to the competition. Going back to the printers or designers is the extra cost you shouldn't have to budget for.
So what proofreading services can FINETEXT offer you?