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Trouble with proofreading? Try this tip...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

As you may or may not know, I offer a service that provides a weekly blog post for agents tips button s.m.who need to keep the blog on their website "alive" but don't have (or take) the time to consistently write something themselves.

Earlier today I wrote this Sunday's post, and I read and re-read it before clicking on "save."

The next step for me is always to test the message.

I did that, and when the message appeared in my in-box, I read it again.

I found not one or two, but three typos that had escaped me just minutes earlier.

These were errors that spell check wouldn't find - like writing "a" when I meant to write "as."

The same thing happens when I write an Active Rain post in Word, then paste it over here. More often than not, I'll find a typo that I missed before. Sometimes I don't find them until I've hit "publish," so always re-read then.

I have no idea why this works, but for me, it does.

Moving the text from one format to another changes something - and I (usually) spot my errors.

I won't say I always find all of them, because now and then something slips through - as anyone who has kindly written to alert me to errors knows.

The best way to catch errors is to have someone else proofread your work, but if you don't have someone handy to do so, try moving it to a different format.

I also have a question...

Is it just me, or is it easier to make typos when the font is tiny?

It seems like it shouldn't matter, but if I have to type in a ten-point font (as in some mailing programs) I make far more errors.

And one more question: Why do mailing programs - and Active Rain - make the default font so small? Are they trying to save space? Why?

Comments(21)

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Marte Cliff I can surely relate to most of what you said.... I proofread every post twice before I post it.... and then after that step, I'll read it again and find an error....  it's brutal!!! 

as far as a small font, it's not negotiable....I can't read it.... I write with an 18 font.... bigger is not always better, unless it's a font!!! 

May 09, 2020 03:49 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Marte - the initial writing can be a struggle at times and the moment when it is published, another fight often begins.  How did I miss that?  

May 09, 2020 04:33 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Very good questions and suggestions! Thanks for sharing!

When I write an Active Rain post in Word, then paste it over here. More often than not, I'll find a typo that I missed before. Sometimes I don't find them until I've hit "publish," so always re-read then. I have no idea why this works, but for me, it does.

May 09, 2020 05:04 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

I should proofread more often, but my impetuosity usually has me clicking send to the world and then I notice a mistake so have to edit, and if in AR it does not always like to let you make those edits.

May 09, 2020 05:28 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good morning! This is a good tip for catching errors. I usually read my post/email aloud before I hit send. Well, not LOUD. No one would hear me.

May 09, 2020 05:35 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

It drives me crazy when it is so small. I like 12 or even 14 which is much easier on the eyes. 

May 09, 2020 05:52 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Marte... a long, long time ago in the late 1970's one of the responsibilities of my position as Assistant Corporat Treasurer for a Fortune 500 Company was to coordinate the preparation of our Annual Sharehold Report... typically a 24-30 page bound document. That's when I learned how to proof read and it's a skill that has stayed with me since.

May 09, 2020 06:22 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Marte,

What great tips you shared with us, and frankly I enjoy having a proofreader to double and triple check...Happy Saturday.  A

May 09, 2020 06:43 AM
Anthony Kirlew
Group 46:10 Network @ eXp Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Helping You Make Fiscally Sound Real Estate Deals!

The best proofreading tip I ever learned (from someone I worked for) was to read the copy out loud. It's interesting to note what you catch when reading out loud that you miss when you read silently. It's a technique that I use often.

May 09, 2020 12:18 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

It’s interesting to hear all of your guys’ Ideas for how to proofread better and they all have a lot to contribute to my own proofreading. Thank you all!

May 09, 2020 01:59 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Marte- I am getting better at proofreading and yet, I found an oops moment in my post today. I had to go in after I published it to correct it. 

May 09, 2020 06:36 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Marte:

Well I don't have the answers to the questions you asked, but I certainly have experienced finding typos even after reading, and re-reading, and sometime's re-reading. There are some things (not blog posts) I print out first since I find looking at print can help me catch things.

I doubt there are many people who don't make typos at some point.

Jeff

May 09, 2020 10:35 PM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

For some reason no matter what size font I use when I publish it on Active Rain it goes to a small size  I check it on the preview and it is fine But when I publish it goes to small.  Weird!! 

Great post as Usual!!! 

May 10, 2020 01:11 AM
Lanette Branch
Taylor Properties - Bel Air, MD
Bel Air, MD Real Estate Agent

Congratulations on your featured post, Marte. I feel your pain regarding smaller type - maybe AR and others are trying to fit as much as possible into as small a space as possible?

May 11, 2020 01:41 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Marte Cliff very valuable tip about trouble with proofreading.

May 11, 2020 02:03 PM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Rather than write in Word - try writing in Gmail, then copy and paste to AR. Gmail is more compatible with AR than Word. Links, fonts, etc. You can save it as a draft email, with the post title and date in the subject line. Easy to find, you can pull it up on your phone and work on it. When you are done, email it to yourself. Then save all in a folder.

May 11, 2020 06:22 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Marte Cliff, I am so looking forward to your presentation tomorrow at 2 pm. Thank you for agreeing to share your wisdom with us.

 

May 11, 2020 06:47 PM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

 Good tip Matre,  Its like seeing your kitchen in the light from a different time of day. We say "I didn't know there were fingerprints on the glass stove top".

Perspective. 

May 12, 2020 10:12 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Marte Cliff 
So true -- "don't find them until I've hit "publish," so always re-read them."  
Thanks for the presentation on Tuesday - Lynn

May 13, 2020 04:10 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

No, it's not just you!  It is so easy to miss a typo in a small font.  And I miss them with larger font, too!  I like your method of using word. I've also copied a post into Linkedin and caught some typos after a post is published.  Great post!  

Nice meeting you on Tuesday!

May 14, 2020 11:06 AM