For several years, I've worked on and off as a contract proofreader for a political direct mail company. Many of the pieces include the word public (public ... education, health, institutions, good ... you get the idea). So, one of our must-checks was to always be sure the word pubic did not appear in the place of the less-anatomical public. (I have never caught one of these instances, sadly.)

The image above is of a "present" my boyfriend brought home last night, from his job as a line cook. In a past life, however, he was a full-time proofreader, and I suppose it's hard to stop searching for errors, even when you're scrubbing pots.

And now, some really excellent proofreading tips from Ole Miss – where I took my favorite English class. Numbers 2 and 8 are especially helpful for me.

Source: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/writing_center/grproofreading.html

Proofreading Tips

1. Proofread the second half of the document first. That’s where the errors tend to crop up. Then proofread the first half.
2. Proofread backwards. Begin at the end and work back through the document surface elements rather than the meaning of the document.
3. Place a ruler under each line as you read it. This will give your eyes a manageable amount of text to read.
4. Know your own typical mistakes. Before you proofread, look over papers you have written in the past. Make a list of the errors you make repeatedly.
5. Proofread for one type of error at a time. If commas are your most frequent problem, go through the paper checking just that one problem. Then proofread again for the next most frequent problem.
6. Take a break between writing and proofreading. Set the document aside for at least 20 minutes, longer if possible.
7. Proofread at the time of day when you are most alert to spotting errors.
8. Proofread once aloud. This will slow you down and you will hear the difference between what you meant to write and what you actually wrote.
9. When you find an error, correct it and then reread the line.
10. Always triple-check numbers, headings, the first and last paragraphs, and the reader’s name.

(Scarlett, you look so sad! But you must have very strong thumbs.)

However, I hope (really, really hope) I would catch something like this before sending to print:

Now ... who wants a margarita?

(From the drink menu at Chili's. Photo taken Feb. 2010, Destin, Fla.)

Sort of like Myers-Briggs, but shorter and perhaps with more practical results.