Catching errors before others do.
WHY IT MATTERS
Errors damage credibility disproportionately.
WHAT TO CHECK FIRST
Names of people and organisations Figures Dates Links and attachments
WHY THOSE
They are the errors with consequences.
WHAT THE HARDEST ERRORS TO SEE ARE
Your own.
WHY
You read what you intended to write.
WHAT HELPS
Time between writing and checking Reading aloud
Changing the appearance: font, size, printing
Reading backwards, for spelling
WHAT TO DO ABOUT CRITICAL DOCUMENTS
Have someone else read them.
WHY
Fresh eyes find what yours cannot.
WHAT TO CHECK IN EMAILS SPECIFICALLY
The recipients The subject Whether attachments are attached
WHY ATTACHMENTS
Forgetting them is near-universal.
WHAT HELPS
Attaching first, writing second.
WHAT TO CHECK IN ANY DOCUMENT REUSED FROM A TEMPLATE
Every instance of the previous client or project name.
WHY
It is the most damaging error in proposals.
WHAT SPELLING TOOLS MISS
Correctly spelled wrong words Names Numbers
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE
Check them deliberately.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND AN ERROR AFTER SENDING
Correct it, briefly, without excessive apology.
