What’s harder to catch than a blue marlin? 🐟
Some proofreading mistakes — especially the ones hiding in plain sight.
Sure, you’re already catching typos and run-ons. But today, we’re going deeper. These three common errors trip up even seasoned writers, and they’re easier to fix once you know what to look for.
1. Mixing Up e.g. and i.e.
Let’s clear this one up for good.
- e.g. = for example (from Latin exempli gratia)
Use it to list a few examples of something you just mentioned.
✅ Coffee comes in many different roasts — e.g., breakfast blend, French, and decaf. - i.e. = in other words (from Latin id est)
Use it to clarify or rephrase.
✅ Training a puppy takes patience — i.e., you need to stay calm even when they chew your shoes.
📌 Pro tip: If you’re unsure which one to use, ask yourself: Am I listing examples or explaining what I mean?
2. Forgetting (or Misusing) Diacritical Marks
Accents matter — especially when you’re using words borrowed from a language other than English.
- An acute accent (´) points up and to the right.
- A grave accent (`) points down and to the left.
Both can change meaning or pronunciation — so if you’re using the word, use the mark.
✅ Cliché (with an acute)
✅ À la carte (with a grave)
📌 Pro tip: If you’re unsure, copy the word from a trusted source or check a dictionary.
3. Botched Idioms
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there… not a doggy dog world 🐶
Misheard idioms are everywhere — and they’re easy to overlook if you’re proofreading your own writing.
Here are a few common mix-ups:
- ❌ Doggy dog world → ✅ Dog-eat-dog world
- ❌ Escape goal → ✅ Scapegoat
- ❌ All intensive purposes → ✅ All intents and purposes
📌 Pro tip: If you’re unsure about an idiom, Google it with the word “idiom” afterward — it’ll clear things up fast.
Bonus Tip: One Space After a Period Is Enough
If you learned to type in the era of dial-up internet or floppy disks (no shame), you might still double-space after periods. But in modern publishing and digital formats, single spacing is the standard.
👀 Your Turn: What Did You Catch?
How many of these were already on your radar — and which ones surprised you?
You’re clearly leveling up your proofreading game, and I’d love to hear your go-to tricks or lesser-known tips. Drop them in the comments below 👇 Let’s sharpen those editing eyes together!
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