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Proofreading, the stage of writing where an author checks for errors, is one of the most difficult parts of writing. Even after authors re-read their work multiple times, errors in grammar, word usage, or sentence structure still slip past them. The following tips can help minimize errors to help authors get the most out of proofreading.

Take a Break
Proofreading immediately after finishing a draft can cost authors because they are so familiar with what they’ve just written that their brains automatically correct the errors without throwing up a red flag. Authors should put their work away for at least a couple hours, if not overnight, before beginning the proofreading stage.

Use Your Mouth
Reading out loud helps authors catch errors because, while they might visually miss the error, authors can still hear it. Authors should read aloud slowly, in order to ensure they do not automatically correct the error as they read it.

Start at the End
Reading the paragraph or essay from the bottom up, one sentence at a time, pulls the text out of context and forces the author to look at each, individual sentence independent of its surroundings. Authors will notice more errors when they do this because surrounding sentences will not distract them.