Spell check is NOT enough
Hello everyone and thanks for visiting my blog.
No matter what work we do online we need to be able to type. How we type is irrelevant, be it one finger or all fingers and thumbs it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we spell our content correctly, whether it’s an advert, article, blog post, ebook or email.
I always write my content in word as it provides a spell check and saves me making silly errors, or so I thought…..
I have recently finished my latest ebook and I asked a few people to read through it and let me know of any errors that they come across. Having used a spell checker I wasn’t to concerned about my spelling, but punctuation and grammar was something else.
One of my friends, Mandy Allen of http://mandyallen.com, pointed something out that had been missed by everybody that had read my ebook, including me.
Before I tell you of my stupid mistake I think it’s important to emphasize that when people read they tend to form a picture in their mind.
My mistake was that I had entered a wrong word and my spell check didn’t pick it up as it was spelt correctly.
I had written “ebook creatures” when I should have written “ebook creators”, which would not only make the reader picture the wrong thing altogether but alter the meaning more than words can explain.
Can you picture my end reader if this mistake hadn’t been picked up on? There I was trying to build a picture of Jessica Fletcher and what I had actually done was make them picture something like this:
So, the moral of the story is; “always ask someone to proof read your work BEFORE it has a chance to be seen by your customers, first impressions count”.
Mandy: “Thank you very much for spotting my mistake and bringing it to my attention before I made a fool of myself”.
Until next time, take care
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Barry,
I feel the pain brother. Had the same problem on several occasions in my book. I am a poor speller and spell check is a great tool, however proof reading is much more than spelling and Mandy does a great job. She caught my mistakes too.
Jay Mueller
http://www.jaylynne.com
http://www.ourgreenlifebiz.com
http://www.renewableenergyexplained.com
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Yeup Barry spell checker is limited that way.
Another lesson, I recently learned…DOUBLE CHECK any links you include in your prose. Imagine producing a very popular almost viral ebook…and…no one can follow the link because you double typed a letter in the URL….arrrrggggghhhh
That might be a niche….offer a proofing service for internet marketers….hmmmm
Hi Scott, that’s a very good point my friend. All that hard work would’ve gone to waste and when would you discover the error? Its always to late…..
Speak soon my friend
Regards
Barry
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Bless you, Barry! I laughed so much when I read it first time round – and laughed again just now! Someone else I proof read for had written ‘choir’ when they meant to say ‘chore’. That was funny too as I sing in a choir.
Steve Wilkins suggested I could set up a business proof reading so if anyone is interested…..
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy, thanks for stopping by.
If you did go into proof reading I would use your services and recommend them to everyone else. Especially when you think that I had 10 people read the ebook and you were the only one that pointed out my mistake. I won’t name anyone (as it’s not my style and I was guilty of it to), but you’d be suprised if you knew….
Take care & “Thanks again”
Barry
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Hi Barry, I know how easy it is to overlook these things but who needs a spell checker when Mandys available, and Mandy I`d gladly be your first paying customer as I know you`d provide a first class service.
Regards Colin
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Good post Barry,
That’s the problem with Spell Checkers, they don’t spot incorrect words that are spelt correctly!
I use them, but then read my post through again for errors. It’s best to leave a gap when doing this, to use ‘fresh eyes’ on your article. That’s why proof readers are useful. You tend to ‘read’ your own article as you think you have written it, not as it actually is. 
Keep up the good work.
John
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Hi Barry,
Thats a really good point, i`ll bet that i have tons of mistakes without even realizing it, i`ll keep my eye on that one!
Cheers Barry TTFN….Ed.
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Twitter: swilkins2525
on July 31st, 2009 at 7:40 am
Hi Barry,
Top points you make here. I also had the same problems, I used the wrong version of words in so many places in my eBook. It is not because I don’t know the different meanings of words it’s just that as you write free-flow you subconsciously tend to write how the word sounds rather than focus on the actual meaning and of course spell check will not pick this up.
Mandy was also kind enough to review my eBook and fix the mistakes for me. I seriously believe she could make a business out of this.
Anyway great post Barry I will always get my product proof read before finalising it.
Best regards,
Steve Wilkins
http://steve-wilkins.com/
Hi Steve,
You’re absolutely right my friend, it does tend to be head down and hard at it typing. I will also get every ebook proof read in the future.
Thanks for the visit,
Regards, Barry
[Reply]
Hey Barry…good post!
It points out the fact that, yes, we have spelled the word(s) correctly, but unfortunately, they have unknowingly been used in the incorrect context.
Spell check is a great tool, but it can’t ‘read’ our minds to know what were trying to say…
Mandy, if you would be available to proofread any of my blog posts before I submit them, I would be happy to allow you to
Have a GREAT weekend!
Ron
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Guys, I have reviewed so many of your books and I have learnt amazing things; I feel privileged to have been in this position where I get all this knowledge for free! Everyone else has to pay for it – or wait til you give them away one day.
I am seriously interested in doing this as a sideline – books, articles, blog posts, all are welcome. And if you want to tell your friends, please do. You have my email.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
I can honestly vouch for Mandy, she’s a lovely person. If you haven’t got her email address click on her name and visit her blog, leave a comment with your enquiry and she’ll get back to you.
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There’s a lot of information here. I’ll be back again.
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Hi Barry, Although I am commenting on this post I have just read several of your posts, and it’s all very interesting stuff!
Mandy would make a great proof reader as she also spotted some mistakes in my ebook.
Ray.
Hi Ray, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I agree, Mandy does a terrific job, aren’t we glad we know her this well. I know that I’m glad to know her as well as i do.
http://mandyallen.com
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