The Difference Between Editing and Proofreading — and Why I Focus on The Former…

Rumor has it that some crafty marketers sprinkle typos and misspellings into their emails on purpose.

The reason: Emails with typos and misspellings seem more personal and authentic — or so some claim. 

I get the idea. Typos and misspellings ARE common in “personal” emails. 

But I’m not into the fake-authenticity thing. 

When you see typos and misspellings in my emails…

…they’re the real thing.

Take yesterday’s email. 

I wrote about my great-great-grandfather Joseph and his incredible journey from an impoverished village in Russia to a prosperous life in the USA. 

I noted that Russian soldiers used to raid Jewish villages like Joseph’s.  

“Historians call these violent raids progroms.” I wrote. “Joseph wanted to escape this place and the progroms. He wanted to go to America.”

The first reply came five minutes after I sent the email. 

Subject line: “Programs?” 

Message text: “I think you meant POgrom.” 

Ugh! Yes, I meant “pogrom.”

The second email landed 45 minutes later.

Message text: “Historians call these violent raids programs” ??? No they don’t.”

Charmless, but true.

How did this happen!?!

I don’t have an excuse. 

But I have a writing process. 

I write most of my daily(ish) emails on the morning I send them. 

Why? Because the emails I write “on the fly” are usually better than the ones I write in advance. 

I roll out of bed, do my morning routine (meditation, journaling, etc.), and then I sit at my computer and start to write.

Editing Tip #1:
Do NOT edit as you write the first draft. 

I plow ahead until I’m “finished.” If I edit as I write, I overthink it. It takes too long. And the copy isn’t as good. 

After I finish the first draft, I read it from top-to-bottom and revise as necessary. 

Editing Tip #2:
Don’t worry about “proofreading”
during first-round edits. 

There’s a difference between editing and proofreading. Editing is about the big picture, not the fine details. 

Does the copy flow? Is the tone right? Did I leave anything out? Is there anything I can cut? 

When editing, I don’t go through the copy with a fine-tooth comb looking for misspellings and typos. 

That’s a different process, and it distracts from the big-picture editing. 

If I catch a typo or misspelling or typo while editing, I fix it. But some slip through. 

Editing Tip #3: 
Read it aloud.

After revising my first draft, I rinse and repeat. But this time, I read my draft aloud. 

The questions are the same: Does the copy flow? Is the tone right? Did I leave anything out? Is there anything I can cut? 

It’s amazing how much reading aloud reveals. 

I revise as necessary.

Then I send the email. 

Proofreading tip: 
Do it when it matters MOST
and ask for help. 

When I’m writing copy for a client, drafting content for my website or book, or working on a proposal, I proofread with a fine-tooth comb.

This is NOT fun for me. It’s a slog.

And even when I do it slowly and carefully, I miss things. 

So I usually enlist a second proofreader. That extra set of eyes catches things I might miss. 

Could I do this with my daily(ish) emails?

Sure. But I don’t bother. That would add unnecessary complexity, time, and cost to the process. 

I like to get those emails out the door as quickly as possible. 

And I’ve never had a subscriber opt-out because of a misspelling or typo (at least not one who has told me so).

Different story with web copy, books, proposals, etc… Precision matters more in those cases. 

So when you see a typo or misspelling in my emails, please know it’s an honest mistake — not a marketing trick.

And let me know about it…

…preferably in a charming, constructive way.