Writing a manuscript is a labor of love, filled with late-night inspirations and endless cups of coffee. But even the most captivating stories can lose their impact if they’re peppered with errors. Typos, grammatical slip-ups, and inconsistencies can distract readers and detract from your message. The good news? Most of these common proofreading errors are easy to spot and fix once you know what to look for. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the frequent mistakes authors make and provide actionable tips to polish your work to perfection.
- Homophone Slip-Ups
The Error: Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings, like “there,” “their,” and “they’re.” It’s easy to accidentally type the wrong one, especially when you’re in the flow of writing.
How to Fix It: Create a list of common homophones and keep it handy while proofreading. Read each sentence carefully, and if you spot a homophone, double-check that it’s the correct one. Tools like spell check won’t always catch these mistakes because the words are spelled correctly.
- Inconsistent Tenses
The Error: Switching between past, present, and future tense can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of your story. It’s a common mistake, especially in longer manuscripts.
How to Fix It: Decide on the primary tense for your narrative before you start proofreading. As you read through your manuscript, highlight verbs and ensure they match the chosen tense. Pay special attention to dialogue and flashbacks, where tense changes are more likely to occur.
- Misplaced Modifiers
The Error: Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that are not placed near the word they modify, leading to confusing or unintentionally funny sentences. For example, “Running through the park, the trees were beautiful.”
How to Fix It: Identify the modifier and make sure it’s placed next to the word it’s supposed to modify. Rewriting the example: “Running through the park, I admired the beautiful trees.” This clarifies who is running and what is being described.
- Overuse of Adverbs and Adjectives
The Error: While descriptors can enhance your writing, overusing them can make your prose feel cluttered and reduce its impact.
How to Fix It: Go through your manuscript and highlight all the adverbs (usually words ending in “-ly”) and adjectives. Ask yourself if each one adds value or if the sentence would be stronger without it. Sometimes, choosing a more precise verb or noun can eliminate the need for additional descriptors.
- Repetitive Words and Phrases
The Error: Using the same words or phrases repeatedly can make your writing monotonous and may irritate readers.
How to Fix It: Read your manuscript aloud to catch repetitive language. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms, but be cautious of replacing words with ones that don’t fit the context or tone. Tools like word frequency counters can also help identify overused words.
- Missing Commas in Compound Sentences
The Error: Forgetting to place a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) in a compound sentence can lead to run-on sentences.
How to Fix It: Review sentences with coordinating conjunctions. If each side of the conjunction can stand alone as a sentence, insert a comma before the conjunction. For example: “She wanted to go to the movie, but she had too much work to do.”
- Apostrophe Misuse
The Error: Misplacing apostrophes in possessives and contractions is a common grammatical error. Confusion often arises with words like “it’s” (it is) and “its” (possessive form of it).
How to Fix It: Remember that apostrophes indicate possession or replace omitted letters in contractions. When in doubt, expand the contraction to see if it fits. For “it’s vs. its,” try replacing “it’s” with “it is” to see if the sentence still makes sense.
- Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement
The Error: Using a singular verb with a plural subject or vice versa can make your sentences grammatically incorrect.
How to Fix It: Identify the subject of each sentence and ensure the verb matches in number. Be cautious with tricky subjects like collective nouns or when the subject is separated from the verb by additional phrases.
- Typos and Spelling Mistakes
The Error: Simple typos and misspelled words can slip through, especially in lengthy manuscripts.
How to Fix It: Use spell check tools as a first line of defense, but don’t rely solely on them. Read your manuscript slowly, and consider reading it backward sentence by sentence to focus on the spelling of each word. Sometimes, printing out your work can help you spot errors you might miss on a screen.
- Formatting Inconsistencies
The Error: Inconsistent use of fonts, spacing, headings, or indentation can make your manuscript look unprofessional.
How to Fix It: Set a standard formatting style before you begin proofreading. Use the “Find and Replace” function to fix inconsistencies, and check that all headings, margins, and spacing are uniform throughout the document.
- Misused Quotation Marks and Punctuation
The Error: Placing periods and commas outside quotation marks or misplacing other punctuation can be a subtle but significant error.
How to Fix It: In American English, periods and commas always go inside quotation marks. Colons and semicolons go outside. Question marks and exclamation points depend on the context. Review dialogue and quoted material carefully to ensure punctuation is correctly placed.
- Confusing “That” and “Which”
The Error: Mixing up “that” and “which” can alter the meaning of a sentence. “That” is used for essential clauses, while “which” introduces non-essential clauses, usually offset by commas.
How to Fix It: Determine if the clause is essential to the sentence’s meaning. If it is, use “that” without commas. If it’s additional information, use “which” with commas. For example: “The book that I borrowed was thrilling.” vs. “The book, which I borrowed from the library, was thrilling.”
- Neglecting to Fact-Check
The Error: Incorrect facts, dates, or names can undermine your credibility as a writer.
How to Fix It: Verify all factual information, including names of places, historical events, and quotations. Even if you’re sure something is correct, a quick fact-check can prevent embarrassing errors.
- Overlooking Dialogue Tags
The Error: Using the wrong punctuation or capitalization in dialogue tags can confuse readers.
How to Fix It: Remember that dialogue tags like “he said” or “she asked” are part of the same sentence as the dialogue. Commas, not periods, should separate the dialogue from the tag, and the tag should not be capitalized unless it starts with a proper noun. For example: “I can’t believe it,” she said.
- Ignoring the Passive Voice
The Error: Overusing passive voice can make your writing feel weak or less direct.
How to Fix It: Identify sentences using passive constructions (e.g., “The ball was thrown by John.”) and see if they can be rewritten in active voice (“John threw the ball.”). Active voice often makes sentences clearer and more impactful.
Bonus Tip: The Importance of a Second Pair of Eyes
Even with meticulous proofreading, it’s easy to miss errors in your own work. Your brain knows what you intended to write and can gloss over mistakes. That’s where a second pair of eyes comes in handy.
Consider Professional Proofreading
At the end of the day, investing in professional proofreading can make a significant difference. Tribune Publisher offers top-notch proofreading services provided by industry experts. Our team is dedicated to polishing your manuscript to perfection, ensuring that your work is ready to impress agents, publishers, and readers alike.
Final Thoughts
Proofreading is an essential step in the writing process that can elevate your manuscript from good to great. By being aware of common errors and knowing how to fix them, you can enhance the clarity, professionalism, and overall quality of your work. Remember, even the most seasoned authors make mistakes—what sets them apart is their commitment to refining their craft.
So take the time to proofread thoroughly, and don’t hesitate to seek assistance when needed. Your future self (and your readers) will thank you!
Happy writing and even happier proofreading!