Proofreading is seemingly becoming a lost art; but that doesn’t mean you can’t master it. In my “Got proofreading?” post, I talked about the necessity of proofing. Let’s talk now about making proofreading part of your everyday workaday world.

1. Dedicate time to it. Build time in your project plan for you, your staff or your freelancer to proofread copy again and again and again — and again. If you’re both the writer and the proofreader on the project, set the copy aside for a little while before proofreading. Better yet, proofread first thing in the morning for a fresh perspective.

2. Keep an ongoing list of common errors. Because I proofread for so many different clients and each has their own style guide, I keep a list of things that I must be especially vigilant about. Add to it as you think of it since this will not only make your list more useful, it will help keep your mind on the necessity of proofreading. Your list could include notations about punctuation, capitalization and unusual spellings. For example, one client of mine prefers putting a comma between a proper name and the Sr. or Jr.; another client doesn’t. It’s my job to know which client prefers which.

3. Spend 30 minutes or so every few weeks reviewing style guides and grammar rules. Now I happen to think that reading style guides is fun, but I also read cookbooks voraciously. Nonetheless, make a standing appointment to read and review grammar rules and encourage your staffers to do the same. If you’re not sure you can do that, consider subscribing to a couple of proofreading and grammar newsletters that you’ll read on a regular basis. You’ll be amazed at what you re-learn or pick up on.