Proofreading vs. Editing: Why You Should Pay Attention to It

We all know how important it is to have quality content, whether through blogs, videos, or social media posts. You can do so much with good content – increase website traffic and engagement, generate leads, and a source of information or entertainment. A good website should have engaging and high-quality content – something that your website should have. 

Quality content also means one that is free from typo and grammar errors. That means your content should be double-checked first before you upload it. Doing so will help make your site look authoritative and trustworthy. Unfortunately, this is one part of content creation that a lot of marketers often take for granted. 

This is where proofing and editing will come into the picture. These two are important to ensure error-free and high-quality content. However, not everyone knows that these are two different things. More so, these two cannot be done at the same time. Here’s what you need to know about editing and proofreading. 

 

Editing and proofreading: What’s the difference? 

The last thing you want to happen is uploading typo-ridden content or a video or photo that does not load properly. In most cases, the content creator is the same one who proofs and edits their work. This turns out is one of the worst things you could ever do as a content creator. 

As mentioned, editing and proofreading are two different things. On the one hand, editing involves checking the material for any spelling or grammar concerns and then is turned over for proofreading. The person assigned to do these tasks is called an editor. He or she can also rewrite the content as needed to lessen the wordiness and ensure that the style of writing is in line with your brand. 

On the other hand, a proofreader checks the content after the editing process. The proofreader should have a sharp eye with strong attention to detail. He or she ensures that the content is good to go before publishing. Ideally, the editor and proofreader should be two differently assigned persons.

But if you’re the proofreader and the editor, make sure not to do them at the same time. Otherwise, you can be mentally exhausted and mess up your content review. 

 

How to edit and proofread well

Here are tips for better editing and proofreading process. 

 

• Get to know the content’s purpose. Who your audience is, what the content is about, what the tone and voice of the content are, etc. 
• Check if the headline or the introduction grabs your attention. Determine if the content has a nice flow and makes sense. 
• Re-read the content as if you are the target audience. Make sure that the content is fact-checked as well (especially if the content has statistics involved). 
• Use tools like Grammarly, Copyscape, and Hemingway app to help with the editing and proofreading process. 

 

These are important tips to remember when editing and proofreading content. Remember, content creation is not only all about trending topics, high-resolution photos, and spectacular videos. It is also more on checking the content of any errors before publishing it. An SEO expert in Franklin TN will also help you boost your website and achieve your marketing objectives. Contact one today!