In the world of writing, there is one, teeny, tiny thing that can trigger utter shame and embarrassment for writers. It is the mighty typo.

Personally, typos have the ability to send me to the deep and dark recesses of my soul where I take the fetal position and suck my thumb.

It happens to the best of us. And if it has never happened to you, well, I hate you. Because no matter how many times I edit, use Grammerly, or how much time I leave between drafts and final copy, I will inevitably find an error.

And I hate it.

Alas, good news fellow writers and copywriters, I have proof it does indeed happen to the finest among us. I spied not one – but TWO typos on this major university’s webpage when investigating football tailgate options.

Let me tell you I have never felt more superior in my life! Because here’s the truth; none of us are infallible, mistakes happen and the English language is tough.

So students, teachers, and writers how can you avoid typos in your work? I don’t know of any guarantees but here is my method for eliminating typos in my work.

1. Gramerly. While I have found the Chrome extension very helpful, Gramerly.com offers more in-depth feedback – yes! even with the free version.
2. Copy and Paste. When I am near the “final” version of my document I copy the text and paste it into a Word or Google Doc or Wordtune.com to reread. Other spell checkers have caught errors missed by Grammerly and I find this extra step helpful.
3. Wait. Unless I am running against a deadline I prefer to leave 12-24 hours between my copy and turning it in. I inevitably find a compound sentence or two that needs clarity.
4. Print. If possible I print my text for triple-checking. There is just something about seeing the words in print that helps identify errors.
5. Invite. If you are lucky enough to have a friend or family member whom you trust (and who shows interest in your work) allow them to read your text. If something doesn’t make sense an extra set of eyes will find it.

Lastly, I have learned how important it is for a perfectionist like me to be gentle with oneself when finding errors. No one is perfect, not even AI copy sites (although I have found them incredibly accurate). Errors are inevitable. When you find them, edit them and move on. Stay out of the caves. You don’t belong in the dark ages, and neither do I. We’ve come so far, baby.

Core Communication provides writing services. When you need a not perfect, but darn close, hardworking writer for your social media posts, blogs, and emails … or if you have any words that need to be written, Core Communication and Consulting is available to help you! Email our team at corecommunicationllc@gmail.com and ask about our writing services.

How do you avoid typos in your work? What methods or services do you use in the writing process?