How perfect is your output?

[MrsMargoLeadbetter]

Am looking for perspectives on what others do....

I (marketing freelancer) have just delivered a first draft of a document to a new client. I am mortified that they picked up some (5 in a 6 page doc ) really basic typos. Obviously I shouldn't have sent it with them in.

In addition I also refered 2 internal things wrongly. Even if I hadn't left the typos in I would still kick myself about these errors too. They are the sort of details that if I worked there they would be second nature but as I am external etc. They were mentioned in passing in a meeting.

So, am I setting the bar too high expecting that everything I deliver should be perfect?

I think the issue is that because I do marketing I feel it should be perfect.

I just find proofing my own stuff very difficult. What is the secret? I suspect baby brain/lack of practice (have a 6 mth old) doesn't help but this sort of thing has come up before.

Any thoughts pls? TIA

Can you get someone else to proof-read stuff before you send it in?

I do think it looks sloppy and unprofessional to send in work with typos and errors.

If there's no-one else who can check your work for you, then 1. Always print it out - it's easier to spot mistakes on a page than on a screen; 2. Try and take a break from it and then come back to it for a final proof read - ideally overnight, although that's obviously not always possible.

Hi,
I think referring to internal things incorrectly is forgiveable - especially as it's a new client and it does take time to work out the internal lingo of a new organisation. And I think if I was the client I'd understand that, assuming that what you wrote was understandable and logical.

Other errors are, I think, less forgiveable and you don't want to give the impression of not giving them your full attention or appearing unprofessional. I suppose it depends what I'm submitting as to how carefully I check - if I'm producing copy for their marketing material I check that far more carefully than, say, a report for internal use.

As for avoiding it, I second what the previous poster said - the only way I can spot my own mistakes is by taking a real break from it, clearing my head, then going through it on paper with a red pen at the ready.

A proofreading tip I was once told was to not check for everything at once. So have one read-through for sense-checking, another looking at the words to check spelling (without 'reading' them IYKWIM), another looking at only the punctuation, another checking consistency (e.g. are all bullet points in the same format, paragraph breaks looking equal etc.).

HTH (but don't beat yourself up either - mistakes happen, and it doesn't sound like they were something that would have a major impact).

Sounds like my standards are about right, it is just that I am not meeting them.

DH has proofed before. Thought I'd done it properly - obviously not. I have also paid people before perhaps I should do that again. I just don't want this to eat away at my general confidence as that can be a downward sprial!

Keep wishing I could rewind to last night before I sent it!!

Thanks for the tips, will give them a go.

Thanks cake you can imagine what I want to talk about later!

One tip I've seen is to read through the pages/sections in reverse order, so you don't get carried along by the flow.

Good tips here. It sounds to me like you just went too quickly. My spelling is better than Microsofts so I stopped using spell check for a while, but now I do use it to try and spot typos.

My top tip is to print things out then read them upside down - it really slows your eyes down then means you have to decode what's in front of you.

I wouldn't care about the internal errors though - they were probably just telling you them so you knew for the future.

Och Margo I just saw it was you! Don't let it knock your confidence, is this one of your first jobs back?

Thanks will try the upside down one!

Yes tis me Wilson. Is 2nd mat leave project.

It was a recommendation so feel like I need to do a great job of it. I also pushed them up on price so I have that in the back of my mind.

I guess it could have been worse, spelling errors and the report not being what they wanted.

I just hate the fact that I have given them cause to not trust my output. Of course I won't make the same mistake again.

All this is made worse by the fact I have time to stew on it. If I was back working properly then I wouldn't have time to wallow.l

Get comfy later, I have a long list...

Get comfy later, I have a long list...

Margot - I think we may have worked together before - you did some marketing work for me? I am happy to proofread the odd document for you. I'm not a proofreader but find it easy to spot most typos and quite enjoy it :)