Copywriting Information |
|
How You Can Proofread Your Own Work
Putting out a high quality product is a given these days. With all the competition out there, you have to look great in every aspect. So proofreading all copy is extremely important and here are some tips to help you to proofread your own work after you've finished editing it: Read through your copy the next day -- many times your eye tends to 'deceive' you by reading what's supposed to be there rather than what may actually be there! Reading it a day or two later helps you to look at your copy with a fresh perspective! Use 'spell check' which is available on most programs. Although they're not perfect, they will help you to find many errors. A red squiggly underline means the word may be misspelled, a green squiggly underline may mean a grammatical or punctuation error. Print it out. Reading it in print can many times help you catch things you didn't catch on the screen. If at all possible, have someone else read it. They can catch sentences that may be too long, be unclear, etc. You know the point you're trying to make in your copy, but if others don't understand it, rewrite it so it's more clear to everyone. Be very careful how you use words such as 'then' versus 'than'. These words are used incorrectly quite often but mean different things. Then is primarily used to signify time, e.g. "We went to the grocery, then we went to the bank." Than is primarily used as a comparison, e.g., "I would rather go hiking than take a nap." There are a lot of questions about the hyphen (-) versus dash (--) and here's the basic rule: A hyphen is used when you are putting two words together or adding a prefix to a word. Here are a few examples: twenty-four, re-signed or long-time. A dash is used when you're interjecting into a sentence (such as, "I love taking the dog for a walk -- especially on warm days -- because it is great exercise for us both."). In many programs a dash will look like a long hyphen instead of two hyphens next to each other. Dashes are also many times used in place of parentheses in more informal writing. Punctuation inside or outside the quotes? Here's the basic rule for this one: if you're using a comma or a period, they go inside the closing quotation mark. Colons and semicolons go outside the closing quotation marks. Question marks and exclamation marks are different and depend on how they are being used (just to complicate things more!). If you are directly quoting someone and a question mark or quotation mark is needed because what you're quoting is a question or exclamation, it would go inside the quote. Here's an example for this one: He asked, "Are you going to the party?" "You bet!" she exclaimed. If what you're directly quoting isn't a question or exclamation, the quotes go inside the exclamation or question mark. An example of this is, Did David say, "You must have fallen out of bed"? or Linda actually said "You must be right"! Learning these rules may take a little time but if you print out this article and post it near your computer, you can refer to it any time you get confused. Remember, you don't have to worry about it while you're writing and editing your copy (that's when you just let the creativity flow), worry about it after all revisions have been made and it's time to proofread. You can also find Grammar books at your local bookstore or library. Glance through them to find one you like. If you feel you don't have time to proofread, don't want the hassle of trying to learn the rules, or just don't want to worry about it, you always have the option of hiring a professional proofreader. Professional proofreaders (as well as copy-editors) can be found via a search on the internet or by asking other writers who they use (if they have good, clean copy). When you're searching for a proofreader, make sure they are skilled in the type of writing you do (business writing versus sales, informal or conversational writing) and that they have no errors on their copy -- if they aren't extremely careful with their own work, do you think they would be with yours?) The money you spend on a professional proofreader, besides easily being made up with the increased sales you should expect by having a more professional product, is easily worth the time, effort and frustration you will save yourself. So take it easy, let the creativity flow, send the work off to a professional for editing and/or proofreading, then sit back and relax while your copy is being groomed to perfection! (c) 2005 Nita Helping Hand?, all rights reserved. You are free to use this material in whole or in part as long as you include the following: About the author: Nita is a professional proofreader, copy-editor and the President of Nita Helping Hand? Please visit Nita's website for additional information about proofreading, copy-editing and other administrative needs available at NitaHelpingHand.com or contact her at info@NitaHelpingHand.com. Nita is your 'Partner In Perception'.
MORE RESOURCES: Fundraising Copywriting on the Right In the Second Trump Era Campaigns & Elections Can (or will) AI Replace Copywriters? Browser Media 13 Best Copywriting Practices - Writing for the Web in 2024 Influencer Marketing Hub The Best AI Copywriting Tools: Find Your Perfect Match in 2024 The Tech Report "It's not enough to be a good writer”: Zosia Swidlicka on the importance of brand language in copywriting Creative Bloq I lost my job to ChatGPT and was made obsolete Business Insider The Ultimate Guide to SEO Copywriting in 2024 Influencer Marketing Hub The best AI copywriting tools currently available Android Authority 7 Best AI Copywriting Tools to Use for Better Ideas and Efficiency Influencer Marketing Hub Copywriting's Great Pun Debate: Punderful or Punfortunate? | LBBOnline Little Black Book 7 skills copywriters can learn from comedians Browser Media I'm ChatGPT, and for the Love of God, Please Don't Make Me Do Any More Copywriting McSweeney's Internet Tendency Layout-Enhancing Copywriter Tools Trend Hunter 'We're all maggots': an audience with Jim Riswold, the copywriter behind some of Nike's greatest adverts Financial Times Best AI Copywriting Tools to Generate Content MobileAppDaily How a Gen-Z Copywriting Community Became a Recruitment Service | LBBOnline Little Black Book - LBBonline Seven FREE Places on Copywriting for Musicians Course Offered | Fireplace Arts & Media | Artist News NZ Music Commission ChatGPT took their jobs. Now they're dog walkers and HVAC techs. The Washington Post She Built A Million-Dollar, One-Person Business While Raising Four Children Ages Nine And Under Forbes Solomon tells FutureBook writers 'can't afford' for copywriting jobs to be lost to AI The Bookseller Creative Minds: Jerome Lum stumbled upon a career in copywriting and became the office guy with the best taste in ... Campaign Asia ‘Copywriter hungry for Swiggy’: Kolkata man applies for copywriting job with creative 11-page deck pitch The Indian Express Nobody Taught Me: Adman Bodhisatva Dasgupta Launches Course to Bridge India's Copywriting Gap YourStory Drowning In Content – From Copywriter Relevance to the Age of Artificial Intelligence | LBBOnline Little Black Book How to Use AI As a Freelance Copywriter and Editor Business Insider A copywriter laid-off without an explanation blames ChatGPT: report Business Insider Outshinery Launches New Service: Compelling and Optimized Ecommerce Copywriting for Wine wineindustryadvisor.com Vale Geoff Fischer ~ A Life Well-Lived in Copywriting Campaign Brief How to Make 6 Figures a Month on Fiverr As a Freelance Copywriter Business Insider Copywriter - Part or Full Time Working Available - London | The Bookseller Careers & Jobs The Bookseller Learn to write like a copywriter with AdSchool's Copywriting course - kicking off September 21 Campaign Brief WA Copywriters on Writing Dialogue that Connects | LBBOnline Little Black Book Top Responsibilities and Skills of Copywriters | Study MarketingProfs.com The Copywriter Should've Gone to Specsavers for Glasses Branding in Asia Magazine How I Made $175K in a Year From Home As a Freelancer on Fiverr Business Insider What could ChatGPT mean for copywriters? Marketing Brew Side hustle jobs you can do from home Business Insider FGV university application campaign wins prize from Brazilian advertising copywriters' association Fundação Getulio Vargas Rapper to Master Copywriter with Siyamak Jung | LBBOnline Little Black Book How to make up to $13K a month copywriting on Fiverr Business Insider Embracing AI-generated content, BlueFocus will replace human copywriters and creatives | Advertising Campaign Asia AI stealing jobs: Ad agency replaces copywriters, designers with ChatGPT and other AI tools Firstpost Senior and Mid-level Creative Team: Copywriters and Art Directors - South Africa - Cape Town Bizcommunity.com The lost art! Why the advertising industry needs to invest in the art of copywriting The Financial Express TOP Copywriting Agency — TOP Agency TOP Agency Opinion: AI is coming for my job. My boss told me so The Globe and Mail Soon To Be Automated Copywriter Commits To Existential Crisis And Adds 'Proficient In ChatGPT' On Resume — The ... The Betoota Advocate |
RELATED ARTICLES
The One Word Every Prospect Craves It's arguably the most important word in the copywriter's arsenal. It ranks right at the top with words like "free," "new" and "savings. Step One for Copywriters: Understand WHAT to Say Find a passage of poorly written copy, and chances are you will have found a copywriter who never figured out what it was that he or she was trying to say. Whenever I have trouble with some copy, I stop, sit back and then write at the very top of the page. Top 8 Techniques - Secrets - Create Ad Copy For Your Business To Sky Rocket Perhaps the most important benefit in the material that follows is its ability to provide you with the necessary concepts and constructs which are critical for becomingsuccessful by utilizing many of the high-tech, high-touch capabilities offered by the use of online marketing. Building your home business "Internet-Style" is not only exciting and challenging, it can also be very beneficial in more ways than can be imagined. Engage Your Customer - Write About Benefits Think quick. In 10 seconds, can you list the 5 key benefits you offer your customers?I bet you said "Yes". How Your $2-an-Article Ghostwriter is Like a Cheap Pair of Pants Web marketers: have you figured out that article marketing is the secret to your success on the web?And did you realize that the more web articles you put into circulation, the more of a web celebrity you'll become, and the more money will come pouring in?So what did you do after you figured this out? Let me guess: You went on Elance.com searching from someone to write your web articles cheap. Steps to a Writing an Effective Press Releases Want to get the most media attention and spotlight for your business? Then the first place to start is with a GREAT press release. Now I can almost see half of you leaving now, dreading the thought of having to write one of these. Six Reasons You Don't Need a Technical Writer (and Why They're Dead Wrong!) I know, I know. Times are tough. Online Promotion Beats Traditional Ten-One While traditional marketing can work for the book author or publisher, the return is dim for the huge effort it takes. You must promote 90% of the time to even get a milligram of attention. Website Advertising: 10 Tactics To Make Your Ad Copy More Impactful If your ad is not generating a lot of sales, the reason may be because it is not effective.Here are secret website advertising tactics to make it more impactful and therefore generate more orders:1. 10 Keys to Copy That Sells! Whether you're selling a product or service, the 10 tips below are your keys to writing great copy that communicates and persuades .. Its Time To Start That Swipe File Just as great fiction is an art, so is great copywriting. Beneath the art, however, there's a foundation of basic knowledge and skills. Freelance Copywriters on the Internet: How to Tell the Difference Between Heaven-sent and Hack If you're hunting for a good freelance copywriter and have never done it before, or if you have but find yourself needing another for the first time in a while, I don't envy you. This "brave new" e-world has turned your once straightforward search of a neatly stacked file of brochures and introductory letters into a bothersome wade through a mucky world of half-baked online listings and search results which only seem to list those freelance copywriters who are experts in SEO, or at least know what the heck it means (search engine optimization). Dissolving Buyer Scepticisim ... A Lesson In Copywriting When making a purchasing decision, people have their "rip off radars" on high beam. They're wary and so they should be -- after all, they're about to spend money so they want to be sure they're not going to get ripped off, AND they want to be sure they're going to get the absolute best return on their advertising dollar. How To Take Your Freelance Writing Chances Your initial freelance writing assignments are the best way to present yourself to your client for repeated work. If you provide for them a good product, at a good price, they are likely to come back time and time again. Ten Eye Popping, Jaw Dropping Ad Copy Secrets In order to make more sales and get more profits for your business, fist of all, you should have a good ad copy. Once you master the knowlege for how to get traffic, you will get a lot of visitors to your site. 42 Deadly Ad Copy Sins That Ive Made I have read thousands of ad copies online and offline over my lifetime. I have read excellent ad copies that made me buy right away and some that may have had a decent product, but had a poor ad copy that turned me away. 5 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Copy 1. Isolation technique It doesn't matter how good your copy is if they don't read it. 7 Steps You MUST Take Before Writing a Word of Copy! Copywriting ChecklistOkay, you know you have your product (or service) in front of you. Now it's time to get the word out with an attention-grabbing sales letter. Writing Copy for Voiceovers As with any of the performing arts, an effective voiceover begins with a well-crafted script. You don't have to have many years of writing experience to create copy that is both effective and a pleasure for the voice actor to perform. The Power of Saying You Can If you have children, you will doubtless remember saying to them, "You can do it."It's what we say when our toddlers first struggle to their feet. |
home | site map |
© 2006 |