Writing well immediately is a myth (even if you're naturally literate)
- "Eye fatigue" is a phenomenon of our brain. We may simply not notice our own mistakes. Our thinking tends to automatically correct errors in familiar text - in our heads, not on paper.
- Geniuses also need a fresh perspective: even Nabokov always worked with an editor and proofreader.
- You've probably heard that many famous authors spend more time editing than writing their first draft.
- Making mistakes is normal and doesn't make you worse. You just need editing.
Example The Wicked Bible or Adulterers' Bible (1631, England)
A grave error was made in the Bible text - one of the Ten Commandments was missing the word "not": "Thou shalt commit adultery" instead of "Thou shalt not commit adultery".
The error was noticed, almost the entire print run was confiscated and destroyed. A few copies survived and are kept in private collections and major libraries. The publishers were fined a large sum and had their printing license revoked.
What professional editorial offices do about this
In professional editorial offices, publishing houses, and media, a text may go through several stages of checking.
It's important to remember that a proofreader is also human and may miss something. However, the probability of errors and typos is significantly reduced thanks to multi-stage checking.
- The author writes the text.
- An editor checks the content, structure, and style.
- A proofreader corrects grammar, punctuation, and typos.
- Sometimes a fact-checker appears - checks factual information.
- The managing or chief editor gives final approval.
It's important to remember that a proofreader is also human and may miss something. However, the probability of errors and typos is significantly reduced thanks to multi-stage checking.
What to do if you work alone
The text still needs to be edited. Here are some tips:
- Set the text aside for a few hours or days and come back to it later.
- Read aloud. This will help identify unnatural turns of phrase and errors.
- Use checking tools: grammar checkers, readability checkers.
- Ask a friend/colleague to read it.
- Create your own checklist with common mistakes you make.
- Use AI tools.
Make your text shine with the power of artificial intelligence: use our Notion Proofreader & Editor AI-Powered
Remember: for now, you still need to combine traditional self-checking methods that work for you with AI. The main thing is to use available resources wisely and critically.
