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Test Your Proofreading Skills

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Lynn Gaertner-Johnston Updated on

Get your proofreading game on! Three challenges await you. A hint about the number of errors, followed by the solutions, appears at the end of the tests.

Test 1: The Note of Thanks

Dear Krista;

Thank you very much for your work on the auction. Your limitless enthusiasm and energy was a valuable contribution to the events success. We would not of succeeded without generous people like you.

If you visit the PTA room you will see that there's several table decorations left over from the auction. If you would like to take one, please do so with the committee's thanks.

Thanks again for your wonderful work, we appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Lacey Jones

 

 

Test 2: The Email Request for Permission

Re: Permission to Schedule a PI Meting

Jane thanks for letting me know your schedule. While you are gone, I would like to setup a telephone meeting with the principle investigator of the maternal health study. The study will reach it's two year mark in October and I would like to ensure that everything is on track.

Can I have your permission to schedule the meeting? I will appraise you of the outcome when you return. (Note: I also asked Dr. Rangan's permission, however, I have not heard from her yet).

Your trip to Antigua, Guatemala sounds lovely. Have fun!

Best Wishes,

Rhonda Levin

 

Test 3: The Announcement

I am please to announce the promotion of James Wright to senior project engineer. In his new roll, James will work on the Leeds project and will head our sustainability efforts.

James joined Losher in October, 2007 as a manufacturing engineer. Since then he has lead our process improvement efforts in robotics and product manufacturing. He previously worked at XYZ Company in its manufacturing division and at ABC Company in its machine shop.

James earned a MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business in June. His Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering is from the University of Illinois.

Please join me in congratulating James on his well deserved promotion.

 

 

 

Number of errors:

Test 1 has 7 errors.
Test 2 has 13 errors.
Test 3 has 8 errors although two errors appear in the same word.

Note: The number of errors is based on the rules commonly observed in the United States and Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are corrected versions with the corrections highlighted. Of course, you might choose to correct some errors differently.

Solution to Test 1: The Note of Thanks

Dear Krista, [A comma is correct in the United States and Canada.]

Thank you very much for your work on the auction. Your limitless enthusiasm and energy were a valuable contribution to the event's success. We would not have succeeded without generous people like you.

If you visit the PTA room, you will see that there are several table decorations left over from the auction. If you would like to take one, please do so with the committee's thanks.

Thanks again for your wonderful work. We appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Lacey Jones

 

Solution to Test 2: The Email Request for Permission

Re: Permission to Schedule a PI Meeting

Jane, thanks for letting me know your schedule. While you are gone, I would like to set up a telephone meeting with the principal investigator of the maternal health study. The study will reach its two–year mark in October, and I would like to ensure that everything is on track.

May I have your permission to schedule the meeting? I will apprise you of the outcome when you return. (Note: I also asked Dr. Rangan's permission; however, I have not heard from her yet.)

Your trip to Antigua, Guatemala, sounds lovely. Have fun!

Best wishes,

Rhonda Levin

 

Solution to Test 3: The Announcement

I am pleased to announce the promotion of James Wright to senior project engineer. In his new role, James will work on the Leeds project and will head our sustainability efforts.

James joined Losher in October [no comma] 2007 as a manufacturing engineer. Since then he has led our process improvement efforts in robotics and product manufacturing. He previously worked at XYZ Company in its manufacturing division and at ABC Company in its machine shop.

James earned an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business in June. His bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering is from the University of Illinois.

Please join me in congratulating James on his well–deserved promotion.

 

How did you do? Any surprises? If you need to develop your proofreading and punctuating skills, take my online self-study courses Proofread Like a Pro and Punctuation for Professionals. Try a free preview of both courses. 

Lynn
Syntax Training

Posted by Lynn Gaertner Johnson
By Lynn Gaertner-Johnston

Lynn Gaertner-Johnston has helped thousands of employees and managers improve their business writing skills and confidence through her company, Syntax Training. In her corporate training career of more than 20 years, she has worked with executives, engineers, scientists, sales staff, and many other professionals, helping them get their messages across with clarity and tact.

A gifted teacher, Lynn has led writing classes at more than 100 companies and organizations such as MasterCard, Microsoft, Boeing, Nintendo, REI, AARP, Ledcor, and Kaiser Permanente. Near her home in Seattle, Washington, she has taught managerial communications in the MBA programs of the University of Washington and UW Bothell. She has created a communications course, Business Writing That Builds Relationships, and provides the curriculum at no cost to college instructors.

A recognized expert in business writing etiquette, Lynn has been quoted in "The Wall Street Journal," "The Atlantic," "Vanity Fair," and other media.

Lynn sharpened her business writing skills at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a master's degree in communication, and at Bradley University, with a bachelor's degree in English. She grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois.

13 comments on “Test Your Proofreading Skills”

  • In test 1, why is it
    Your limitless enthusiasm and energy were a valuable contribution?

    rather than

    Your limitless enthusiasm and energy were valuable contributions?

    I thought the “valuable contributions” should be plural to agree with the subjects and verb.

    Thank you!

    Reply

  • Punctuation and capitalisation are definitively my weak points. As a non-native English speaker, I’m just glad I got grammar and words right!

    Reply

  • Hi Frank,

    Good point! I believe both “contribution” and “contributions” work in the sentence. I chose “contribution” to make the verb error a bit more challenging to catch. I believe “contribution” works because one might write “Your contribution of limitless enthusiasm and energy . . . ”

    Thanks for asking.

    Lynn

    Reply

  • Hi Lynn,

    As a non-native I have been able to correct the errors but I inserted some new errors. LoL..

    For example, I unnecessarily corrected this sentence as:

    “Since then he has been leading our process improvement efforts…”

    Very interesting exercises indeed. Thank you.

    Pankaj

    Reply

  • Hello Lynn,

    I found above proofreading exercises quite interesting. I tried to find out couple of mistakes but not all. It definitely gives me a proper direction how to proofread a document.

    Thanks a lot.

    Sudhir

    Reply

  • The Note of Thanks
    Dear Krista;
    We are pleased with your work at the auction. Your limitless enthusiasm and energy were a valuable contribution to the event’s success. We would not succeed without generous people like you.
    If you visit the PTA room, you will see that there are several table decorations left over from the auction. If you would like to take one, please do so with the committee’s thanks.
    Thanks again for your incredible work, we appreciate it!
    Sincerely,
    Lacey Jones

    Reply

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