Causes of Proof Reading Errors 9 – Not using checklists to ensure everything is being done

Be4ward
Written by Be4ward on 04/04/2013

Causes of Proof Reading Errors 9 – Not using checklists to ensure everything is being done

Proofreading requires a great deal of concentration and can often take a considerable period of time. For example, it is not uncommon for a manual proofread of a long multi-language leaflet to take a day to complete. Furthermore, because of the nature of the task, proofreaders need to take frequent breaks to maintain adequate levels of concentration whilst proofreading.

Given that proofreading requires people to repeat many detailed tasks over a long period of time, it is not surprising that it is easy to forget to do certain tasks unless there is some aid memoir built into the process.

Checklists provide an excellent way to remind people of the detailed tasks they need to perform during each and every proofread and give them a convenient way to record their progress. Completed checklists can also form a useful part of the audit trail for a change at critical verification and approval points.

This is the ninth of a series of 15 blogs giving a view of the causes of proof reading errors. Please help me improve the thinking by adding your comments and share this with others who may have a view. To obtain an e-copy of our Top 15 Causes of Proof Reading Errors booklet, go to www.be4ward.com.

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