Proofreading Archives

Is It Bare With Me or Bear With Me?

Here’s one question you really need to answer correctly: Is it “bare with me” or “bear with me?” Choose wisely. Otherwise, your email to a coworker saying, “bare with me,” could inadvertently be inviting them to shed their clothes alongside you. Yikes! The correct answer… continue reading

Misplaced Modifiers: What Are They and How to Avoid Them

UPDATED 02 November 2021: What are misplaced modifiers? Let’s start from the top. Modifiers hold a lot of power—they can change, clarify, or limit a particular word in a sentence. You can use them to add explanation or emphasis. They provide the extra details that… continue reading

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice in Business Writing

People love to tell others what to do with their voice: “Lower your voice,” or “Save your voice.” And one suggestion that causes a lot of confusion is: “When faced with active voice vs. passive voice in your writing, use your active voice when possible.”… continue reading

How To Correct Syntax From Other Writers

Understanding why correct syntax matters will help you develop your editing skills when you’re proofreading someone else’s work. In business writing, “syntax” is a set of rules that explain how you should put words together to make a sentence. YourDictionary.com explains that syntax includes “word choice, matching… continue reading

How To Minimize Fluff in Business Documents

When writing for business, you need to be clear and concise, delivering your message without confusion. Like any other style of writing, the quality of the document can make or break its success. An ineffective piece can mean a contract falls through, your boss will ignore your… continue reading

Tips on Writing Proper Document Addendums

There are times when a contract needs to be modified for whatever reason. Perhaps there was an overlooked precaution, a modification that needs to be made on a clause, or a new member of the team who directly affects procedure. When a contract is modified,… continue reading

A graphic of two shadows of seeming detectives looking through a magnifying glass at the words "Error Quest!"

Three Quick Error Quests for You

How good are you at finding errors? The three short error quests below will test your proofreading skills and your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and structure. Each quest contains just one error—no more, no less. Can you find it? You may be surprised at the… continue reading

A sign that reads: "Fish & Game Is out of Order, sorry for the incovenience

Proofreading

Three Quick Tips for Error-Free Signs

Do you ever have to post informal signs at work? Maybe it’s to announce that an elevator is out of order or a meeting has been cancelled. Maybe it’s to direct guests to a conference room. Although informal, hundreds of people can see such signs.… continue reading

A picture of a printer with multi-coloured sheets flying out towards a tree, to signify a dilemma of saving trees and printing less vs. impressing a client

Professionalism vs. Saving Trees: Which Do You Choose?

A friend had just finished a proposal she would be presenting to a new client the next morning. After printing six copies for the people who would be at the meeting, she noticed that she had made an error in the client’s name at the… continue reading

An article with the headline: "French placed shoot dead man near Paris after stabbing attempt"

Can You Fix This Headline?

Reader Lionel B. Dyck has provided us with a great, weird headline to improve. It’s from “The Jerusalem Post.” Yes, newspapers are a special breed of writing, and headlines must be concise. But this one cuts so many words that it hurts my logical head.… continue reading