Proofreading Resources
There are dozens of grammar tools out there, AI-powered or not. How do you find the proofreading tools that are right for you? I found out mostly through experimentation, but once you know what you’re looking for, there’s plenty of great tools out there.
Here’s three proofreading resources I use for my work.
Sorry if this gives you major flashbacks to your college Writing days, but your professors were right. AP isn’t a universal standard by any means, but it's a formidable stand-in for most journalism and media. If you’re a writer and you don’t know this thing front and back, you should keep a copy bookmarked. And I’m not trying to preach--just save you time. Where else can you find a compendium of absolutely everything related to formatting? Well, of course, any of the other style guides, but like I said, this is the one that’s most-used by journalists, media, and literary mags.
This came recommended to me by other writers, and I see why. Who doesn’t get stuck with a word on the tip of their tongue? You can easily search for definitions and similar words. You can also narrow down words by vibe or meaning, which is super useful when you’re not exactly sure what word it is you’re looking for. This is super helpful, especially when you’ve caught yourself in a repetitive loop.
Grammar.com Grammar checker
I love this tool at work because it’s so breezy and efficient to use. Copy and paste your work in, and quickly get grammar and spelling suggestions back out. Plus, if you happen to be copy-and-pasting your work around a bit, this doubles as an “on-deck” window to help stay organized.
A note on AI: I don’t use AI for my personal writing. That’s my choice, and it’s in part because I don’t want my creative ideas leaking out there into the World Wide Web. It’s also because I’m interested in writing as a process and don’t often create things without a personal connection. I prefer to edit in a way that’s constructive rather than prescriptive--something that doesn’t always jive with AI processes. I’m also concerned about the environmental impact of AI, so I limit my use to absolutely-necessary professional work.
Three Skills I’ve Honed While Working from Home:
It all begins with an idea.
1. Goal-setting
Is your goal at work today to communicate more efficiently with leadership? Is the goal related better with your peers? Are you seeking personal improvement in a specific area? When I work from home, I find it even easier to track and keep personal goals, especially those that pertain to work. I can proudly write my goals, expectations, and outlooks for myself clearly on the board by my desk -- and with no chance of lurking coworkers, I can be candid, vivid, and earnest in my goal-setting.
2. Organization
Before WFH, I had an easier time compartmentalizing work and home and two separate entities. Work became the place I personally emphasized. When I was there, I wanted to succeed. I would put myself out there, dress nicely, and show myself and others respect whenever I could. Which, what did that leave home to be?
Now that I’m here during the day, my house is now a busy, productive place instead of only existing as an external manifestation of my sense of rest-outside-of-work. It matters to me a lot more now that my house is clean, well-organized, and full of thoughtful, useful spaces. Which has allowed my work space to become super-organized as well -- no longer a desk jammed with all things that could be considered “work”, my home office is a well-refined, carefully-executed retreat that evokes a productive mindset.
3. Self-efficacy
Working from home, it’s a lot easier for me to distinguish what happens to me at work from what I do at work. For some people, work is simply a place you show up to in the morning. But not in the work from home environment. I have to track my goals extra tightly and be able to consistently communicate my progress clearly to stay on track. I work hard because I hold myself to it. That kind of self-moderation is a useful skill in a lot of facets of life, but especially work.