| Small business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, | | | | before you send an article into a publisher, you |
| consultants, speakers, and of course, authors, | | | | need to have someone else read it and find/fix |
| know that we need to get our writing out on the | | | | any typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar, etc. If |
| internet and in print where people can find us. It's | | | | you are sending something to a refereed journal |
| possible that you have had questions similar to | | | | or to a book publisher, they will clean it up even |
| these: | | | | further if the article/manuscript is accepted, but |
| "I've been doing more writing lately and I would | | | | we always want to put our best foot forward to |
| like to have articles published in magazines and on | | | | make a good impression. |
| the internet. However, I worry sometimes that | | | | There are a number of places where you can get |
| my grammar, punctuation, and other "mechanics | | | | assistance on this: |
| of writing" knowledge is lacking in some areas. | | | | |
| Should I be overly concerned about this? Before | | | | 1. A good friend (who is also a great editor) who |
| something gets published, I'll need to have an | | | | is happy to do this for you for free. |
| editor look at it anyway. Isn't that what editors | | | | 2. A good friend or colleague that is happy to do |
| are for? Correcting grammar and punctuation? | | | | this - and will be happy to have you do something |
| I've heard about using college students who are | | | | for him/her. Just a trade/barter situation. |
| English majors to edit our work. They will probably | | | | 3. Someone you hire (top notch high school |
| be a lot cheaper than a professional. Any advice | | | | student, college student, stay-at-home mom/dad |
| on this? | | | | who wants to earn a little extra money and will |
| Regardless of whether you are writing as an | | | | do proofing & editing for you, or some other |
| English teacher, professor, or professional writer, | | | | service where you can find copy editors, etc.) |
| we all need to have someone else edit our work. | | | | Just search the internet and you'll find a multitude |
| We are too close to what we've written and we | | | | of folks who can help you. I would recommend |
| always need (at least) a second pair of eyes to | | | | making sure that they are native speakers of |
| take a look at what we've written. | | | | whatever language you are writing in, however. |
| Part of why we need to be concerned about | | | | So see if you can find someone to take a look at |
| additional editing 'eyes' is because if there are | | | | your work before you post it on your website or |
| words misspelled in our articles or on our | | | | submit it to a publishing house, magazine, journal, |
| websites, there are people who can't focus on | | | | etc. It's worth the effort and the minimum |
| anything else except our mistakes! I work with | | | | expense it may involve. |
| super smart people so I know this to be true! So | | | | |