No matter the profession, most of us write text messages, emails, and documents every day. I’ve learned in my years as an author and writer that being an excellent writer also includes proofreading or double-checking your text before sending or publishing.

Here are 17 reasons why proofreading is important. This list will convince you to start polishing your work or perhaps start a proofreading business.

17 Compelling Reasons Why Proofreading Is Important 

Proofreading Removes Distraction

Once a reader pauses on your punctuation mistake, it can be challenging for them to get back into the moment. This is especially true if you wrote “Let’s eat dad” instead of “Let’s eat, dad.”

One wrong punctuation or a misspelling can ruin everything for your audience. If you write books, it might take hours, days, or weeks before they get back into the groove of reading. 

In fact, your writing mistakes are worse than other reading distractions, such as loud neighbors and poor lighting. That’s because the distraction is in the book itself. 

By checking your manuscript for errors, your writing will be easy to digest and free from misinterpretations. It will also enhance the flow of your paper, making people’s reading experience smoother.   

Enhances Authority and Protects Reputation

Proofreading has a crucial role to play in any brand. Whether you’re a self-published author or an employee of a huge company, this process will protect your reputation. Whoever reads your content or receives your emails will rethink your authority once they post poor grammar. 

The final editing state also protects your image by ensuring all information you state is accurate. Your thesis panelist will question your work if you mention anything not scientifically factual.

Proofreading also ensures you have the right tone. Imagine what a huge company stakeholder would think if your business document were tone-deaf and informal. They might also be put off by your unconfident or offensive language. 

Say What We Mean to Say

Keeping your written document free from errors will guarantee readability. You already know that missing punctuation can change the entire idea of your sentence. A misspelling also changes its meaning. 

For example, in the sentence “Tulips are my favorite flour,” your reader might assume Tulips is a name for flour. Many online spell checkers won’t be able to spot this mistake because “flour” is an actual word. That means one has to keep a sharp eye for these errors.

Proofreading also includes adding labels to your images and tables. Readers might get confused about the diagram you included if you don’t put a short caption below it. 

If you want your essay homework to be easy to understand, you should have a thesis statement. This sentence includes your main idea. Then, expand it by adding supporting details. 

Proofreading Can Shield Us from Embarrassment

Some mistakes can taint your reputation. Others are only downright embarrassing. If you write scripts for news reports and forget to put “pause” between parentheses, the reporter might mention the word live. It won’t ruin the company, but it will surely be a huge public talk.

To save yourself and the rest of your company from embarrassment, always polish and perfect your entire writing. Remember Gaiman’s Law. If there’s one typo on your book, it’s on the page it opens to the first time you pick it. But using a high-quality proofreader can help cut down the chances of that happening.

There will always be tweaks to your content or manuscript, whether it’s about your phrasing, structure, or flow. Continuous editing will make a huge difference and put your words close to perfect before publication. Whether it’s magazine articles, your next novel, or just a slew of work emails, having an eye for details will keep you one step above the rest.

Helps to Make a Good Impression

It’s not enough that your writing is error-free. It also has to be beautifully written to make a good impression. While the excellence of a paper is subjective, writers need to cater to what their target readers find “excellent.”

For example, despite poeticism being a classic, your readers might want you to keep your language simple. They want a common vocabulary with direct ideas laid out. Or, instead of writing a paragraph, your audience might prefer a short list of your thoughts.

Your written document will leave a lasting impression on your audience. It will make them want to read your other works or completely avoid you.

Proofreading Shows We Care About Our Work

Taking the extra time or spending extra money to have your work proofread means you care about three things. 

First, proofreading means you care about your audience. Proofreading is a small gesture that leaves a meaningful impact on your readers. You show effort in making your message clear because you value them. 

Proofreading also means you care about your work. You won’t settle for low-quality work because you value your writing, whether it’s your first book or screenplay. 

Lastly, proofreading means you care about yourself or your company. You understand that you represent a whole brand, so a few errors will affect the entire organization.

Can Save a Lot of Money

What would you do if you printed thirty magazine copies only to find a typo on the cover page? That’s a couple of bucks put to waste unless you decide to distribute them still. You don’t have to splurge if you proofread your work or have somebody else do it.

Not proofreading your online content can also waste a lot of money before it even reaches your pocket. For instance, you might lose commissions if you forget to add affiliate links to your blog post. 

Perhaps you’re planning to make a deal with another company, but your email address isn’t included in your business card. You’ll no longer have contact then suffer the loss of that fantastic business partnership. 

Improves Chances of Landing a Job

Many hiring managers prioritize a CV or resume without spelling and grammatical slip-ups. One survey reveals that 77% of employers don’t accept a job applicant with typos and poor grammar. 

Human resource managers are also huge fans of impeccably formatted CVs. Eliminate errors from your CV, resume, and cover letter to improve your likelihood of landing a job. Keep the description of your work experience short and meaningful.

You also want to keep the whole document layout simple, especially if you’re not applying for a creative job. Add a section for a character reference, your contact number, and your email address. Lastly, keep the font style and size readable. Avoid Papyrus, Jokerman, or Impact.

Increase Likelihood of Being Published in Scholarly Journals

Your work can be rejected or discredited only because of grammatical errors and poor formatting. Believe it or not, this situation really happens because the quality of your writing dictates your credibility.

English experts scrutinize your work before publication. They have a significant influence on whether the company will find your work worth it or not. If they do their best to edit your work, it might get positive attention from the other stakeholders. 

Once you’re done proofreading, you will get a report or article ready for publication. It won’t have spelling and grammar slip-ups, and each sentence will be logical and readable. It should also adhere to your publisher’s guidelines to be easier to disseminate. 

It Assists Businesspersons in Building Trust in Their Brand

Many business owners write different kinds of documents every day. It can be as simple as an Instagram caption or a business proposal for another company. Other types of writing businesses may produce include:

• Brochures. 
• Emails.
• Business letters.
• Memos. 
• Proposals.
• Product description for eCommerce sites.
• Reports. 
• User manuals. 
• Website copy

People will read these documents, whether it’s your followers, employees, or another company. Carefully proofreading these documents will help your target audience understand your message. It promotes clear communication and professional relationships. 

You can also improve your connection with customers if your writing shows clarity and fluency. Ensure you strike the right tone, so you don’t sound too uptight or unprofessional.

It Increases Our SEO Rankings

Google clarified that our spelling, grammar, and logical flow are not direct indicators of rankings of search engine optimization. But your spelling and grammar have an essential role to play in your SEO because of user experience. 

Higher quality content is more reputable because of the polished language. It also improves the trust of various audiences, increasing the average time spent on your content. You might have less traffic if you have a low retention rate because of your slip-ups.

Proofreading also includes organizing your content into sections. Knowing how to add headers and use keywords naturally will keep you on top of results pages. 

It Gives You Better Grades

Proofreading will give you a higher score if you have a persuasive essay, research paper, or play coming up. Basically, any document for publication. Check your teacher’s rubrics for grading you, and you will find “cohesiveness,” “clarity,” or “organization of ideas” as a criterion.

No matter the brilliance of your ideas, the teacher might fail you if you can’t articulate them well. Even a simple punctuation misuse might turn them off. Make sure you submit an impressive paper checked by a high-quality professional proofreader to remove as many spelling and improper grammar errors as possible. 

Following the grammar and mechanics of English will help you stay cohesive and clear. Your professor might even give you extra points for your fluency. Observe lively sentence variety and smart choice of words to make your writing stronger and more compelling.

It Increases Your Chance of Entering University

Most entrance examinations worldwide include essay examinations. If you want to impress college admissions committees, start with the basics. Have a sharp eye for typos, misspellings, and style inconsistencies.

Then, proceed to your main message. Make sure it’s inspiring and thoughtful, especially if you want to get a scholarship. It should also be free from cliches and repetition. 

University competition can be stressful, so do your best to perfect that paper. Ask a professional or experienced proofreader to proofread your academic paper or document file. They are most likely to spot errors your eyes won’t catch and ensure cohesive sentences. 

Proofreading Can Be Applied Anywhere

Proofreading should be a basic skill like reading and writing because you can apply it to different activities, industries, and contexts. For instance, proofreading is common in:

• Blogging.
• Business.
• Creative arts.
• Design.
• Education
• Finance.
• Government. 
• Law.
• Marketing. 
• Publishing.

Many industries do not hire proofreaders for each department. Instead, everyone who writes emails, letters, reports, and posts should be responsible for editing their works. For instance, proofreading should be a qualification for hiring social media managers.  

It’s Better Than AI Proofreaders

We all know that no online grammar and spell checker can replace human judgment. Bad grammar and poor spelling will always need careful proofreading by a qualified proofreader in combination with a grammar checker tool. Microsoft Word’s built-in editor won’t spot contextual spelling mistakes or homophones like “hey” and “hay” or “I’ll” and “aisle.”

Ginger, ProWritingAid, and other online grammar tools won’t spot more advanced errors of grammar and poor transitions or offensive language. The problem is that these applications rely on artificial intelligence, which isn’t always perfect. Grammarly spots most of it, but still not all.

Professional proofreaders can catch more inconsistencies, poor vocabulary, and grammar mistakes than any application. They also take the time to judge each writing based on context and the writer’s voice. 

Proofreading Your Own Work Gives You Freedom

The act of proofreading your own work gives you the freedom to adjust your work based on your preference. And it gives a sense of ownership since you don’t lose your voice in the middle of editing. 

If you choose to pursue it as a job, you can work in almost any industry. Or chill at home to do freelancing. Proofreading is a flexible job anyone can enjoy. 

It Makes a Great Profession

Proofreading makes a great side hustle because every company needs one. From careless mistakes with emails to mistakes in grammar, it’s a widely needed skill. If you decide to do freelancing and offer proofreading services, you can work anytime and anywhere with only a laptop and an internet connection. 

Many proofreading training courses also exist for free. Enroll in these online classes to acquire more knowledge and skills in the profession.

Learn Effective Proofreading Now

Proofreading offers tons of benefits to students, professional writers, and everyday writers. It shows you care about your audience, writing, and your company. Removing spelling errors and grammatical mistakes from your life can only make it better.

Start honing your skills in proofreading to get better grades or start a side hustle. How has proofreading helped improve your life?