Proof reading

Having decided to work on my proof reading skills, due to my commitments with ARLIS (Art libraries society). I have started to read up on a few things online and putting them in to practice with some work I am trying to get published. 

Tips I have used:

Print it out- this has been critical for me to be able to read a long document. I personally find reading long documents on screen gives me eye strain. 

Contentrate- which sounds obvious, but working in a busy open office environment that isn't easy. To resolve this, I have needed to find a quiet space to work, which is usually at home after my two year old has gone to bed. No TV and no other distractions. 

Check for punctuation- proof reading is about the information being correct, the spelling being right and the punctuation being accurate. So far I have found that I need to do an inital read of the document, then a second more detailed read through. Taking it slowly, contentrating on each line, making sure the words, phrasing and punctuation is all correct. At the moment I am taking quiet a while to get this right, but I am sure I will speed up. 

Check homonyms- words that are spelt or pronounced the same. These can be tricky, and I have found myself speaking sections out loud, much to the amusement of my husband, to ensure I am getting it right. A good online spoken dictionary can also be useful here. 

The use of apostrophes- again this can be tricky, and it makes you think back to your GCSE English class and what did Miss Christopher teach me about when you use apostrophes. To be fair, I was probably younger than doing my GCSE's but Miss Christopher is the only English teacher that I can remember, possibly because she was amazing. One of those teachers who inspired people to read and love literature. Anyway, the apostrophes are important as they also help make sense of what is being said, but checking them is one of those tricky bits. But proof reading is one of those tasks where the devil is in the detail. 

Get a proof reading buddy- get someone else to read it for you, once you have finished. A collegue of mine wants to write a book and I have offered proof read her work, if she will proof read mine. Seems like a fair swop.

This last tip I tried and it didn't show up any problems, mainly as nothing made sense. The tip was to read the document backwards. It completely confused me and the sentences made no sense what so ever, so I am not sure how this is meant to help. 

My future plans are to continue with proof reading, continue to learn as much as I can and use it both in my role as librarian and with ARLIS.

ARLIS meeting

After the train problems of my last trip, due to the Dawlish line breaking, I have finally managed to make it to the ARLIS publications committee meeting. From Plymouth to Reading, I have been proof reading the next art city guide. So 30 minutes to rest before a tube to the V and A. The rest I feel is particularly needed as I currently have laryngitis and tonsillitis, with a very weak voice. Having not spoken for the best part of 4 days, I should be able to do a 2 hour meeting.

Also whilst I am in London, the BA photography students from PCA are having there annual exhibition held at the Old Truman Brewery, which I shall be attending. Which after working with these students for 4 years in some cases, this will be a pleasant surprise when they see me. Plus having been absent from PCA summer show, I feel I have missed out on the celebrations this year. 

Apart from seeing the students work, I intend to spend the next four days in galleries as much as possible, I would like to visit the Tower of London and the Cutty Sark. Plus the wedding dress exhibition at the V and A, having spoken to a collegue yesterday about a dress, I would now like to see it for real. 

By the end of my first day in London, I have realised from the meeting, I need to work I my proof reading skills, starting on my own article about information literacy and that I loved the V and A's wedding dress exhibition. There were several wonderful examples of dresses from decades ago, as well as Gwen Stefani and Kate Moss's wedding dresses. Not to sound like I don't like the royal family, but I did wonder why the busiest part was William and Katherine's wedding highlights on a loop. Which seemed such a shame, you can get that on youtube, but the delicate work of the dresses which told some of England's social history were being almost ignored.