Proofreading Your Journaling

I am a natural proofreader. I don't have to try very hard to notice errors in written text. That said, I find it next to impossible to proofread anything I write! As the author, I know exactly what I meant to say. So when I'm proofreading my own work, my mind automatically fills in missing text or edits the errors. If you have ever typed "I no" instead of "I know" in an instant message, then you know what I mean. When I find layouts with errors published in scrapbooking magazines, I assume that they fell into the same trap. But since errors can range from the humorously incorrect to the embarrassingly inaccurate, let me offer a few tips to help you avoid errors in your journaling.

Know the rules of good writing and where to find the rules. At some point in your life, you have learned grammar, punctuation, capitalization and so forth. If you need a refresher course, try reading books on grammar. One of my favorites is called Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. It's actually a humorous book about how to use punctuation properly.

If you use your computer, a spell checker or grammar checker can help, although don't assume that they will catch all errors. A style guide, dictionary, and/or thesaurus can come in handy, or you can look up the information on the internet. Here are a few good grammar websites:

• http://englishplus.com/grammar/
  
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/
• http://www.bartleby.com/141/

Start with a rough draft of your journaling. Whether you plan on using the computer or writing your journaling by hand, don't add your journaling directly to your layout until you have tried a rough draft first. This way, if you do make a mistake, you can catch it before it becomes ‘permanent.'

Put your journaling aside for at least fifteen minutes. Once you finish writing your rough draft, set it aside. Work on the layout itself, or work on the journaling for the next page. After 15 minutes or more have passed, you will have forgotten, to some extent, what you have written. Read it as if someone else had written it.

Read through your journaling twice. The first time you read through your journaling, read it for the content. Make sure what you wrote says what you wanted it to say. Check to see if you forgot any important details, decide if you described what happened clearly enough, and make sure the overall feel of the text is what you were going for. The second time through, focus on looking for errors.

Read your journaling out loud at least once. You will find that if you read your journaling out loud, you will suddenly notice missing words, inaccuracies, and awkward sentence structure. There is something about hearing your own voice that helps you to distance yourself from the writing so that you can find the errors.

Have someone else read it. The absolute best way to proofread is to have someone else take a look at it. This isn't always practical when you are working on a scrapbook layout, so don't worry about it if no one is handy. But even a child who can read well will be able to point out what doesn't make sense.

Know what errors you most frequently make. If you know you consistently make the same types of mistakes, then make sure to check for those as you read through. For example, I struggle with using "affect" and "effect" correctly, and I often can't remember how to spell "weird." Alternatively, be aware of common errors that most people make.

Read your writing backwards. If you struggle with spelling and aren't using a spellchecker, try reading your writing in reverse, word by word. This will isolate the words in your mind so you won't attach them to their meaning. Instead, you will focus on how the words are spelled. This is also a good way to catch typos. You can also read it in reverse, sentence by sentence. This will help you focus on sentence structure as opposed to the context of the entire writing.

The need to be as error-free as possible in your journaling may not be as obvious as being error-free in a document written for a grade or for work. An error here and there will in no way ruin your scrapbooks, but it will be much easier for your descendants to enjoy your scrapbooks if you proofread what you write. That way, you will be sure you say what you meant to say!

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