Proofread Before Posting: 3 Steps to Delivering Quality Content

How many times have you visited a blog with great content, but terrible grammar, spelling and punctuation? How much time can you spend at a blog like this? Is it obvious the author is not as successful as he or she could be?

Personally, poor grammar and spelling make me cringe. I feel that if you want to be a blogger and succeed at doing so, you MUST master the simplest writing skills. A blog that uses small words and simple language is far more valuable than one with spelling errors and improper use of large words. If you cannot use the writing skills you (should have) learned in high school, you should not be writing for an informative blog. Who is going to think of you as an authority in your niche if you cannot carry out this simple task?

This may sound a little harsh to some, but it is the truth. The point of this article is not to insult other bloggers, but instead help them to realize their mistakes and work to fix them.

Here are a few tips to help you present the best content possible:

Spellcheck your articles. This will not find all of your mistakes, but it is a good start. It will help you clean up the most obvious flaws in your writing.

Read over your post at least twice. Sometimes we need to read our own writing several times before noticing our mistakes. Keep approaching your article as if you are reading it for the first time. Don't be lazy, just do it.

Ask an honest friend or family member to proofread your work. This is, in my opinion, the best way to make sure you are delivering quality content to the public. As an outsider, your chosen proofreader is the closest you can get to your audience. Listen to his or her opinion of your work and don't take criticism personally. Fix your mistakes and make a note of any advice that is offered.

If you do these three simple things every time you write a new article, your content will improve dramatically and the chances of developing a supportive audience will increase. Remember, keep an open mind and learn from your mistakes. Your blog will thank you for your hard work.

Comments

[Chris]

I couldn't agree more with this post. I know anyone can miss something the first time through, even the second proof reading, so you do need to look it over, and then look it over again. It can be frustrating when you are reading someone's post that has information you're interested in, but the grammar or spelling is so bad you lose interest.

[steven wilson]

Hi Raivyn
Great tips on the proofreading before your post.Something we all fall victim of from time to time.

Steven

[Kat]

I agree! It drives me crazy! No one is exempt from mistakes but when it is consistent, I will not return.

[Descartes]

I'm often guilty of errors myself-I tend to drop words when I am typing fast in the moment of inspiration. The tip to read over the post is a good one, as is getting someone else to look at it. Since it is my writing, I tend to miss things the second time around-I correct problems in my mind and not on the page.
Spell checking is second nature, but a few odd things still get by.
A preview button is always nice to have as well. Thanks.

[Will]

Here is something I did on my WordPress site that really helps fix the same issues in comments. I installed the WP-Ajax edit comments plugin. This allows users to edit their comment for a prescribed period of time after they post it. People seem to really like having the option.

-Will