Proofreading is the final step in the editing process of a document. It focuses mainly on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and often also page layout according to specific style guides. For proofreading to be most effective the proofreader should practice the following proven strategies:

• Do not proofread your own writing. Ask a friend or hire a professional to do that for you. If that’s not possible, put as much time as possible between writing and proofreading your document.
• Create a quiet workplace with as few distractions as possible.
• Use a printed copy of the document instead of reading from the screen. It has been shown to yield a higher rate of error detection.
• Read the document aloud. Go slowly line by line, word by word, and cover the unread portion of text with a ruler or piece of paper. This will disrupt the flow of text and prevent you from getting drawn into the natural rhythm of the document, which often leads to overlooking a problem.
• Another way of disrupting the document flow is to read it backwards. Start at the end with the last word and go back word by word.
• Read the document several times. The first run-through should give you an overview of the contents. The following passes should each focus on one specific type of error (e.g., punctuation) at a time.
• If the document follows a particular style guide (e.g., APA), add at least one pass through the document focusing on the particulars of that style.
• Create a personalized checklist of items to look for in the text, including items that you overlooked in the past.
• Even with a perfectly written document, never assume that the writer made no mistakes. Always work under the premise that there is an error in the document. If you have the slightest doubt about any word, expression or punctuation that you read, verify it!