In that previous title alone I don't know how many grammar laws I violated. I've probably slaughted the English language so many times it resembles something like the Butcher's shenanigans in the Five Point District.
What really irks me is when I read through my posts after publishing only to find grammar and spelling errors with each visit, and I would have spent a considerable amount of time "editing and reviewing" mind you. Sometimes if time allows I leave a draft for a couple of hours or a day and come back to it and re-edit. But once published. I can bet my last born, that I will find at least 3 incorrectly spelt words (or you where there's supposed to be your), etc. As you might guess, I am more than a little vexed by this seemingly chronic lack of attention to obvious details.
I read somewhere that when you edit, it's recommended that you read the text out loud and I found that this does help to some extend. However, if I know what's coming, it seems as if I read from memory or something and therefore overlook the errors. So I need additional weapons to slay this How do I edit and review in a way that will almost guarantee fault free posts in the little time we have to do this?
HELP!!!
One trick I was taught at some point, at least to check for spelling errors, was to read the text backward (aka bottom to top, right to left). That way your brain isn't absorbing the information and anticipating what's to come. As for you for your and the like, you can look at the text in chunks as you're going backward and see if that helps?? I haven't tried it so I can't vouch for it, but reading backward is very helpful for spelling errors.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I think this is very helpful Rosie. I'll start with Mondays post. Hold thumbs for a close to perfect if not perfect post.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean. You have one in the statement below...extend should be extent.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that when you edit, it's recommended that you read the text out loud and I found that this does help to some extend.
I read somewhere that it helps to print out what you write and read it backwards. Maybe if you have three paragraphs, you read the last one first etc. Most of the time we see what we thought we wrote or what we meant to write and not what's actually on the paper. Dunno if this will help you any, but thought I'd share.
One thing I always do is to write my blog-posts in "word" first and use the auto-spell and grammar check before copying and pasting them into blogger - I find seeing them on that size screen helps me rather than in the little editing screen...not perfect, but it catches several!
ReplyDeleteLx