subject: Valuable online resources for business proofreading and editing [print this page] Valuable online resources for business proofreading and editing
The Internet provides many approaches for outsourcing your online editing needs. Totally free companies, inexpensive websites and skilled editing services will be discussed. This article will investigate common Internet sites that are helpful for editing . There is a vital caveat here, however. Don't download software unless you're certain the webpage is virus-free and spyware-free. A website that is useful in making that decision is: http://www.wikihow.com/Know-when-It-Is-Safe-to-Download-Something.
The first websites to visit are those that provide your word processing program. Two examples include Microsoft Office at http://office.microsoft.com and Open Office at http://www.sun.com/software/openoffice/index.jsp. All of these Internet sites provide templates for publishing newsletters, resumes, slide presentations, marketing and advertising, and tips for making use of the application.
Should you need particular style guides as part of your project, check out the official Internet sites to learn formatting needs and to answer specific questions. These websites are:
1. APA American Psychological Association, the official website is http://apa.org/.
2. MLA Modern Language Association, at http://www.mla.org/style.
3. Chicago Manual of Style, at http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html.
4. The Purdue University On the Web Writing Lab is one of all the most handy websites I utilize when I have questions about style use or need specific examples: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/are
5. You will find also totally free software program websites and totally free websites that provide expert help in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and use of creating styles (e.g., APA, MLA). You can also find free on the web numerous websites for assistance with spelling, grammar, and proper formatting. Here are a few of my favorites:
Wikipedia - common misspellings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonly_misspelled_words
Grammar Girl - includes a searchable website for grammar help - http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/
The Blue E-book of Grammar - http://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asp
Manuscript Writing - Chicago Style. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools.html
These are just examples. Use a search engine to locate other websites that may prove useful for your writing and editing needs. Use these words as a starting point to find Internet sites that offer totally free editing and proofreading sources: free technical editing, medical editing, proofreading novels, dialogue, punctuation. Evaluate these Internet sites for ease of use and the quality of their search engines.
There will be times when free services and websites cannot meet your needs, and at that point you might want to consider a professional editor such as Firstediting.com. The best way to determine this is to do a web search for professional editors/proofreaders for your specific needs: business, fiction and non-fiction books, technical creating, screen plays and film scripts.
Submit samples to professional editing services which produce a free editing sample so that your and your family can consider the cost and whether it is worth it to you. Then compare the proofreading and editing against a few of the free online programs before deciding. FirstEditing.com is an example of an expert editing service that provides free sample edits and also a cost estimate (and within just 24 hours; often sooner). Also look for companies that specify expertise within your unique area of writing, whether s it's an academic paper or thesis or even a mystery novel or even a promotional pamphlet.
Totally free resources are abundant online and you can find many sites that will help you answer certain editing issues, for example, which or that, lie or lay, utilization of em-dash or ellipses, and when to utilize commas or hyphenated phrases. But skilled experts also provide a useful service and can strengthen your product. Editing and proofreading done right is worth the extra expense, as it can make the difference in the success of your business, completing a thesis, or publishing an e-book.
Visit FirstEditing for Editing services http://www.FirstEditing.com
