This is a problem that can be corrected. Anyone can learn to be a better proofreader.

Here are some tips:

• Read the paper very slowly, and read aloud if possible. Read only one word at a time. By slowing down, your teen is more likely to catch errors. Reading aloud also helps in proofreading because it involves two senses instead of one. It is easier to hear a word that has been left out than to catch the error using only your eyes.

• Read what is actually on the page. (This is harder than you might think.) Our eyes tend to see what they want to see. They will fill in missing letters or even missing words.

• Proofread more than once. Some people even think it’s a good idea to read the paper from back to front.

• Get to know the kinds of errors you make. Double-check for those.

• Don’t get discouraged if you find mistakes. Remember that magazines and newspapers hire many editors to proofread their content, and they still have mistakes.
  

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