Spellcheck is a useful first step, but it’s far from the final one. While it can catch many typos, it can’t recognize context, continuity, character consistency, or the subtle issues that affect a reader’s experience. That’s why polishing a manuscript takes more than running your document through a spelling and grammar checker.
In this guest post, professional copy editor and proofreader Tracy Finistrella explains what spellcheck misses and why human editing still plays an essential role in preparing a novel for publication. Her practical examples show why the strongest manuscripts benefit from both technology and a careful human eye.
By Tracy Finistrella
If I had a dollar for every time a romance author has said to me, “Don’t worry, I ran spellcheck,” I’d have a bookshelf full of special-edition romance hardcovers by now.
Don’t get me wrong; spellcheck can be helpful. You can do a quick scan to check for errors, but you should only think of it as a safety net or a tiny digital pat on the shoulder when your fingers move faster than your brain. But…here’s the truth every romance (fiction) author eventually learns:
Spellcheck is not an editor. It’s not even close to being one. Many authors assume that running spellcheck is the final step before publication, but the reality is that spellcheck vs proofreading isn’t much of a contest.
Spellcheck can catch typos and the occasional missing letter, but it can’t understand your story, your characters, your tone, or your intention. It doesn’t know when a sentence is technically correct but emotionally flat. It doesn’t know when your hero’s eyes changed color or when your pacing slips.
That’s where human editing comes in. Proofreading and copyediting catch the mistakes that can damage a reader’s experience.
Below are a few of the biggest things spellcheck misses, along with some reasons copyediting and proofreading matter so much for romance authors.
Real Words Used Wrong: Common Editing Mistakes Writers Miss
Spellcheck only flags words that don’t exist. So if you type “angle” instead of “angel” or “breath” instead of “breathe,” it will smile politely at you and let you publish your work without a care.
And homophones? Spellcheck doesn’t stand a chance. There are many words in the English language that sound alike, but they are spelled differently and have different meanings. Spellcheck won’t know that James was supposed to peek through the keyhole, not peak. It won’t know that they’re house is really their house.
These are some of the most common editing mistakes in novels because the words are technically spelled correctly. A human editor reads for meaning and context, not just spelling. A human editor will catch errors like these immediately.
Missing, Misplaced, or Repeated Words Spellcheck Overlooks
Spellcheck rarely catches dropped words, doubled words, words in the wrong order, or sentences that trail off after revisions. These mistakes fool spellcheck because the words themselves are all spelled correctly. They’re just not the right words.
This usually happens during rewrites. You cut a sentence, restructure a paragraph, or move a scene, and BOOM! somewhere in the shuffle, a word gets left behind or duplicated. Your brain, already familiar with what you meant to write, fills in the gap automatically. You can read the same passage ten times and never notice the error.
This is one reason authors who rely only on spellcheck often overlook errors that a professional proofreader would notice immediately.
A human editor with fresh eyes doesn’t have that same mental shortcut. They see what’s actually on the page, not what you intended to put there. That’s a distinction no automated tool can replicate.
Continuity Errors Spellcheck Misses
Spellcheck doesn’t track your story world. It doesn’t know your hero’s eyes were green in chapter two and blue in chapter 8. It doesn’t know that a side character’s name is spelled three different ways in three different chapters. And it certainly doesn’t know if you switch from past tense to present tense in the middle of chapter 4 and don’t go back to past tense until near the end of chapter 6.
Continuity is one of the biggest immersion killers in fiction. And it’s one of the most common issues I fix for romance authors.
Tone, Voice, and Emotional Accuracy
Automated tools like spellcheck don’t understand when a sentence sounds unintentionally formal. This is one of the biggest differences between a human editor vs spellcheck. Software can identify patterns, but it can’t evaluate emotional impact. It also doesn’t know if dialogue feels stiff or when pacing undercuts tension. And it certainly can’t tell when a phrase doesn’t match a character’s personality.
Romance readers connect deeply with voice.
A human editor helps you keep that voice consistent, warm, and emotionally resonant.
Why Romance Authors Need More Than Spellcheck
Many writers ask, “Do authors need an editor if they’ve already used spellcheck and grammar software?” The answer depends on their goals, but authors who want a professional-quality manuscript usually benefit from copyediting, proofreading, or both.
Romance readers are loyal, passionate, and detail-oriented. They notice when something feels off. Even if they can’t articulate why.
A polished manuscript builds trust. It keeps readers immersed in the story instead of distracted by errors.
Spellcheck is a tool.
Copyediting is a craft.
Proofreading is the final polish that makes your story shine.
That’s why the question isn’t whether spellcheck works. It’s whether spellcheck is enough. For most authors, especially those preparing a book for publication, spellcheck vs editing isn’t an either/or decision. The strongest manuscripts benefit from both technology and human expertise.
When all three work together, your book becomes the best version of itself.
Tracy Finistrella, a professional copy editor and proofreader who explains spellcheck vs proofreading.
About the Author
Tracy Finistrella is a professional copy editor and proofreader who works with indie romance authors across a wide range of subgenres. She helps independent authors polish their manuscripts with clarity, consistency, and technical precision while preserving each writer’s unique voice.
Her primary services are copyediting and proofreading, and she offers a free sample edit of the first three chapters of your manuscript. She also provides blurb and newsletter polishing, author bio refinement, and light social media marketing support for indie authors who want their online presence to feel as polished as their books.
Originally from Central New York, Tracy is now based in the western U.S. She brings a thoughtful, detail-driven approach to every project—but when she isn’t knee-deep in a manuscript, you’ll find her on the couch with a hot mug of coffee and her new favorite book.
FAQS
Can spellcheck replace a proofreader?
No. Spellcheck catches many typos but cannot identify context, continuity issues, tone problems, or incorrectly used real words.
What does spellcheck miss?
Spellcheck often misses:
Homophones
Repeated words
Missing words
Continuity errors
Character inconsistencies
Voice and tone issues
Do romance authors need a professional copyeditor or proofreader?
Most romance authors benefit from these services because readers notice inconsistencies, pacing issues, and technical errors that automated tools can’t detect.
What’s the difference between copyediting and proofreading?
Copyediting improves clarity, consistency, grammar, and style, while proofreading catches final errors before publication.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Finishing a novel is a huge milestone, but what happens when your word count spirals far beyond industry expectations? If you’ve ever typed “The End” only to realize your manuscript is too long, you’ll relate to this “Behind the Rewrite” guest post from Bruce Conord. Many writers struggle with cutting words without cutting the heart out of their story.
Bruce shares how he trimmed his thriller without sacrificing tension, voice, or impact. If you’re ready to tighten your manuscript and improve pacing at the same time, you’ll find actionable strategies you can apply right away.
By Bruce Conord
I read the news in horror. I’d just finished writing a thriller novel of 126,000 words when I learned literary agents were unlikely to be interested in a debut novel by a rookie writer if it’s over 100,000. Even worse, their sweet spot was between 85 and 90,000 words. Yikes!
Was there a GLP-1 for losing 30,000 words? Alas, no such pill existed, and my manuscript had already been edited three times! Although my story might be bloated, it was good bloat, and I hated to part with any of it. So, to tackle the problem of runaway words, the first step was to set aside my ego and acknowledge that trimming fat would only improve the novel.
I started with the first page of each chapter. Too many began by building atmosphere, such as describing the ominous weather, perhaps a little backstory, what my character wore, or what a room looked like.
All well-written, I must admit, but did they pass the tests of: “Do all these beginnings add relevant depth to my character (s)? Did they move the plot further along in a meaningful way?” Not so much.
Was there a better place to begin? You bet—85% of the time I cut words, sentences, and paragraphs, and then found an action scene to begin with. And by action, I mean physical movement and dialogue, just not passive writing. Use action verbs to get readers to invest their time in your story.
Next, I applied the same mindset to descriptions. Now I love writers who paint pictures with words, but anything too flowery or unnecessary became ripe for the guillotine. In one case, I even nixed an entire chapter in which my character encounters a corrupt policeman. It decided it was extraneous to the plot, so out came the axe. My thriller novel’s reliance on action highlighted its slower moments, making it easier to cut.
I went to the last paragraph of every chapter to make sure the ending was punchy, short, and dangling—with an ending that left the reader with no choice but to keep going to see what happens. If it didn’t do that, I fixed it. By the time I had finished, the novel was right in the middle of the “sweet spot” word count. And better for it.
About the Book
Come and Get Her:The cartel kidnapped his daughter for ransom. He would make them pay.
Former Special Forces operative Jesse Arroyo thought he’d left the war behind. Then the phone rings—his teenage daughter is missing in Mexico. Within hours, Arroyo is pulled into a brutal world of cartel violence, corrupt power players, and blood-soaked secrets.
To bring her home, he must resurrect the man he swore he’d buried: the relentless warrior who never quits and never forgives. Teamed with a widowed journalist driven by her own desire for justice, Arroyo plunges across the border in a desperate race to save her.
Bruce Conord, an award-winning author of a dozen nonfiction titles, received a Pushcart Prize nomination for his short fiction. He lives in Princeton, NJ, when he’s not in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. His terrorist-themed thriller, Death Watch, will be released later this spring, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
In this Behind the Rewrite post, Jann Everard shares her experience revising a short story for inclusion in her short fiction collection. Despite the story’s previous publications, Jann saw an opportunity to strengthen the piece further. Below, she reflects on why she chose to revisit a published story and how those edits ultimately improved the narrative.
Prior to being included in my short fiction collection Blue Runaways (Stonehewer Books, 2024), The Bus Stops Here had been published in Canadian journal The Fiddlehead and an anthology entitled Best New Writing 2015. Yet it still underwent the most line editing/revision of the twelve stories in the collection—making it crisper and more consistent with the quality and themes of the other stories.
Openness to editing a story that has been previously published can be a challenge. The published version might be fixed in the writer’s mind. Distance from the story helps to see it with fresh eyes, as does reading it within the context of the surrounding stories and carrying a mental checklist of revision tactics from one story to another.
Edits included:
✅Using one word instead of two, e.g., thought about became considered.
✅Deleting words and phrases to stay on point. The character is focused on her hygiene after a long bus ride. The references to eating in fast food joints distracted from that and could be deleted.
✅Letting the reader make their own connections. Spelling out what a shower does (e.g., “… to wash away the mustiness”) wasn’t necessary. Nor was it necessary to say the character is backpacking, given her actions. Delete, delete, delete.
✅Taking advantage of a previously missed opportunity to hint at the character’s backstory and why she cares so little about her nighttime routine. Having “anxious thoughts” was vague, while being ambivalent about taking a birth control pill is more specific.
Original
It took only five minutes to unroll and inflate my sleeping pad, pull my sleeping bag from its compression sack and fold my fleece into a makeshift pillow. I thought about going back to the lodge to brush my teeth, but really, what did it matter? I wouldn’t be kissing anyone tonight. Or anytime soon, for that matter.
I’d been denying this fact for days. On the bus, I’d slept, and mechanically followed the others off the bus into rest stops with grimy bathrooms and greasy fast food joints. I’d sat near my fellow travellers, parroting their actions as I put food in my mouth, chewed and swallowed. I’d tied my greasy hair back into an unflattering ponytail, applied my deodorant stick layer over layer—no shower in between to wash away the mustiness.
Now, lying flat on my back in the dark, specks of mould on the tepee’s white canvas like a reverse palette of the night sky above me, reality set in. I had no one to soothe away my anxious thoughts. I was on this backpacking trip alone.
Final Version
It took only five minutes to unroll and inflate my sleeping pad, pull my sleeping bag from its compression sack and fold my fleece into a makeshift pillow. I considered going back to the lodge to brush my teeth. On the bus, I’d mechanically followed the others into rest stops with grimy bathrooms. Chipped porcelain and discoloured mirrors. Beside my fellow travellers, I’d tied my greasy hair back into an unflattering ponytail, applied my deodorant stick layer over layer instead of showering. At the top of my backpack was a zippered bag holding individually-wrapped face wipes, travel-sized bottles of lotion, a blister pack that held my pills. It didn’t seem to matter anymore if I took one at the usual time or not.
Now, lying flat on my back in the dark, specks of mould on the tepee’s white canvas like a reverse palette of the night sky above me, reality set in. No one but me would notice whether my face was washed or my rough elbows softened with lotion. No one else would share my tube of toothpaste. I was alone.
About Blue Runaways
Some of the women in Blue Runaways are grieving. Some are looking for a second chance. All are at a turning point. From Iceland to Bali, from Canada’s cities to its wild and expansive backcountry, the characters in this collection face the most human of fears: that dear ones die, love is a risk, and no promise is certain.
As diverse in situation as it is controlled in theme, this collection serves as a multifaceted exploration of loss, love, and what it takes to move on. With a keen eye for landscape and an uncanny knack for inhabiting hearts and minds, Everard ventures into her character’s darkest days. By confronting the sorrow of being alive, Blue Runaways reveals the joy of knowing we are not alone.
Jann Everard is an award-winning writer whose stories have been published in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand in journals including: The Malahat Review, The Fiddlehead, The New Quarterly, Prairie Fire, Grain, The Humber Literary Review, EVENT Magazine, Room Magazine, and The Dalhousie Review. Born in Halifax, Jann settled in Toronto, where she worked in health administration and raised two sons. A life-long traveller and outdoorswoman, she now makes her home on Vancouver Island — hiking, kayaking, writing, and being inspired by nature.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
If you’re an author seeking inspiration, skill-building, and a toolbox of writing craft tips, then I have what you need. The new guide for authors, LAUNCH PAD: The Countdown to Writing Your Book, is scheduled for release on Feb. 28, 2023 and this eagerly anticipated book is a literal Launch Pad for your writing career.
I have a chapter included on the most common grammar and punctuation mistakes I see as a freelance developmental editor. This chapter covers everything from the proper use of the Oxford Comma, colons, and semicolons to ellipses and beyond.
But that’s not all. As a special bonus, you can download a handy, free, pdf that offers my ten grammar tips for cleaning up your novel. And to celebrate the book’s imminent release, one of the book’s editors, Emma Dhesi, has hosted a panel discussion featuring contributors.
In the discussion, we shared why we contributed to the book, the subject of our chapters, and what we hope readers will gain from our insights.
Watch the replay of this panel discussion with Kat Caldwell, Lewis Jorstad, Samantha Skal, Janyre Tromp, Grace Sammon, and myself – you’ll get tons of tips about outlining, creating characters, grammar, and much more!
You can also watch Emma interview contributing authors Susanne Dunlap, Linda Rosen, Joe Bunting, Meredith R. Stoddard, Carol Van Den Hende, and Heather Davis in a second panel discussion below.
Find out more about this essential guide for authors here.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
This guest post on how to improve your writing flow was written by Asha Caldwell.
There’s no single best way to define what writing “flow” looks like, but the Writing Center at the University of Carolina explains that writing that “flows” is a piece that can be read smoothly from beginning to end. Readers should be able to easily establish connections between ideas without stopping or having to reread. To put it simply, it’s writing that’s easy to digest and follow. To make your writing flow seamlessly, it has to be cohesive and well-written.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Tip #1: Sentence and Word Variety
Vary the types of sentences you use. You should mix up the length of the sentences to create a natural rhythm for your readers. This ensures that they are carried from one sentence to the next, enabling them to move easily through the prose. Additionally, you should also make sure that you don’t keep repeating the same words. If writing fiction, there are some words that should be used sparingly, with the most infamous ones being “look” and “said.” Check out our ‘Reduce Overused Emotion Words In Your Book’ post for tips on how to conquer crutch words.
Tip #2: Brevity
World famous author Stephen King in On Writing highlighted the need to always be looking to eliminate unnecessary words and phrases as a crucial step in writing. King relates how some of the best advice given to him was to always look to take things out during the rewrite. He emphasizes how simple writing delivers without the need to over-explain. For example, a sentence with too many descriptive words or unnecessary articles can detract readers from understanding what you want to convey.
Tip #3: Structure
The structure of an article or e-book is fundamental in terms of flow. A reader should be able to easily follow the prose as it moves from one topic to the next. If the writing lacks a cohesive through-line the reader can easily get distracted or lost. When writing an article, you should outline the key points in the introduction and continually refer back to them throughout the article.
Tip #4: Old-to-New
An old-to-new approach to writing means you don’t presume that readers are familiar with the subject matter. Instead, writing experts at the University of Arizona recommend that you consider anything already mentioned in the piece to be old and all concepts and ideas written for the first time to be new. This lets you build a solid foundation for your readers that they can easily follow. Anything you’ve already put in writing can serve as a springboard for future paragraphs and sections. Writing this way reduces the likelihood of readers needing time to pause and do additional research on the topic, which hinders them from reading the material as intended.
Tip #5: Inspiration
Writing should be inspirational, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. Put simply, there has to be a purpose behind your writing. There has to be an end goal. For fiction writers, outline the story’s key points so you know what the ideas are leading up to. Similarly, nonfiction writers should have a thesis statement or a definite opinion on which everything hinges. This helps you streamline your piece and keep everything in a cohesive flow.
Just as everyone has their own writing style, each writer has their own way to make their writing flow. That being said, these tips are excellent starting points for finding your unique flow.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Too many writers are making a big mistake. They’re not giving their manuscript the rehabilitation it needs, even though it’s suffering from the literary equivalent of bursitis, sciatica, an ACL tear, and plantar fasciitis.
Ouch!
Some writers believe their manuscript is much stronger than it really is because let’s face it, no one teaches you how to write a book in high school. Others aren’t sure what to do next, so they tinker without a strategy. Eventually, they might send the book to a freelance editor, and only then do they realize that one round of editing won’t be enough by a longshot.
Just like a single physical therapy visit won’t suffice for a person coping with bursitis, sciatica, an ACL tear, or plantar fasciitis—let alone ALL of those ailments at the same time.
Unfortunately, if you’re like most writers, your manuscript is a minefield of injuries and weak spots. It needs a comprehensive rehab plan and lots of TLC.
Free Book Editing Masterclass
If you are someone with a desire to help your book reach its full potential and give your story the chance it deserves, then I want to invite you to watch an on-demand recording of my FREE training: How to Create Your Editing Game Plan and Fast-Track Your Book: 3 Costly Mistakes to Avoid.
After this class, you will be able to identify the:
4 stages of editing
Types of editors and what they do
Average costs of publishing a book
You’ll also walk away knowing:
Why hiring an editor too early can be a costly mistake
The differences between high-level and low-level edits so that you can aim high
The basics of the self-editing framework I’ve taught to hundreds of authors
Intrigued? Sign up for this free book editing masterclass right here.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Welcome to Justin Doyle who gave us a sneak peek behind the rewrite of his YA space opera, Embargo on Hope. Here are five areas that Justin focused on while editing his science fiction book.
Embargo on Hopetook me over fifteen years from first words on paper to publish. I worked on it sporadically until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I knew it was time to finally meet that lifelong goal of getting published.
I had never had anyone other than friends and family read it and provide feedback, so my line editor had some work to do. The manuscript was greatly improved by the changes below, and even better, now I know to look out for these things in my future novels (like the sequel, Assassination of Hope, coming this summer!)
This change was a major change suggested by my editor, but it made a huge difference. I had some stilted conversations where I was trying to expose details of the world that added depth and foreshadowed conflict. That included some of the “butler-and-maid” dialogue where characters were sharing things they already knew.
I was also limited by my 16-year-old protagonist’s first person perspective. There were simply things he just didn’t know or understand, so there wasn’t an easy way to introduce it into the narrative.
Finally, this allowed me to keep the story moving along. There were places where the main character was in the middle of something, but I spent a paragraph or two detracting from that thing before getting back. It really broke the flow of the novel.
Change #2: Breaking Up Action With Introspection
I had a lot of go-go-go, where one action scene would lead directly into another. My editor encouraged me to add scenes where the POV character reflected on what happened, how it affected him, and how it affected his goals. The introspection scenes not only gave the reader a chance to “take a breath,” but it helped each action scene mean more while adding depth to my character. Without the introspection, the action scenes seemed to be there more just for the sake of action.
Change #3: Several Chapters or Chapter Breaks Began With the POV Character Waking Up
When I was first writing, I was getting too hung up on “this happened, then this happened, then this happened,” even if the “this” in the middle wasn’t relevant or interesting. A great example of this is I had several chapters or chapter breaks where the character would start by waking up. It’s unnecessary and honestly a little boring. Just start your chapters a little later where things started happening. I think it was Dan Brown’s Masterclass where he said “start chapters as late as possible.” He was talking specifically about writing thrillers, but honestly I think it applies to most kinds of modern writing.
Change #4: Added Some Light-hearted/Bonding Scenes
Related to #2, I had so many action/fight scenes, which made each a little less meaningful and didn’t allow the characters to build relationships (except in the heat of battle). Adding light-hearted scenes allowed me to show different facets of all of the characters’ personalities while allowing them to build rapport, and even a love interest relationship. I was also able to use these scenes to write different settings and build some depth in the world.
Change #5: Making Sure Other Main Characters Had Their Own Goals
I think authors fall into a common trap of the character serving one or more plotlines or just the main character’s interests. My editor encouraged me to make sure not only did the other main characters have their own goals, but that I made them clear in the text. That can be difficult in a first person novel, but it can be used as a growth point for your main character, e.g. realizing the world doesn’t revolve around them. It helps explain their motivations and makes them feel more authentic. It can also help with twists – at first, something may seem “out of character” but when the reader examines their goals more closely, they realize that it made perfect sense.
5 Stars – This action-packed adventure will fully immerse the reader… any fan of science fiction or action-adventure would enjoy this book.” – Reader’s Favorite
“…a gifted story that is exceptionally compelling.” – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Even gods have secrets…
On planet Vastire, worth is set by the sins of one’s ancestors. Good families rise to the elite and the wicked fall into poverty. Unfortunately for sixteen-year-old Darynn Mark, his father incited a revolution. Now, Darynn scrounges his way through life in the slums. When Vastire is surrounded by an embargo, it gets even harder to survive.
That all changes when an alien ship slips through the embargo, seeking Darynn with an offer: finish the revolution and the embargo ends. He might have a chance thanks to mysterious magic powers, and his two companions: clairvoyant crush Fyra and soldierly alien Kaylaa. Cutthroat killers, mystical beasts, Vampires, power-hungry priests and lords, and self-serving spies stand in their way. If the three of them can crack his father’s secret, maybe they can end the embargo and save the poor. If not, another poor orphan will be added to the growing piles of dead.
More About Justin
Justin was born in Galveston, TX and raised in the Houston area. In middle school, he fell in love with two life-long pursuits: space and writing. He knew he wanted to work at NASA and write science fiction/fantasy on the side, and lo and behold, that’s exactly what he ended up doing. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and an M.S. in Systems Engineering. He now works for Barrios Technology as a project engineer on the Gateway program. He lives in the Houston area with his wife, daughter, and various small mammals.
Check out his website starmarked.mailchimpsites.com for more information on him, bonus material in the Star Marked universe, and upcoming releases.
Are you an author interested in writing a Behind the Rewrite guest blog post? Get the guidelines here.
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Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
If grammar is your nemesis as a writer, then let me introduce you to Ellen Sue Feld, the creator/instructor of online grammar refresher courses at grammar-lion.com and the author of Comma Sense: Your Guide to Grammar Victory. Below, Ellen offers valuable advice on building a good grammar habit.
Because I teach grammar, people assume I believe good grammar is the key to good writing. But I don’t believe that, not for one second. Here’s what I do believe: Your creative process is the most important part of your writing. Checking for good grammar comes later. Good grammar doesn’t make good writing, but good writing demands good grammar.
So how do we make good grammar a natural part of our writing process? By developing good grammar habits!
Recently, I listened to a podcast about the new science of habit building. (The good news is that we don’t have to harness anything magical or elusive, like willpower.) We can build good grammar habits using the same strategies that work for building any new habit.
Here’s the current thinking:
Desire the habit.
Start small.
Attach the new habit to an existing habit.
Make it fun.
Do it with consistency.
Create accountability and/or support.
Whew! That may sound like a lot. But don’t worry. While developing good grammar habits, you don’t need to employ all the strategies above. Sometimes just a few will do the trick.
I’m going to add a couple of my own that have proved true in my experience as an instructor and writer:
Expand what you know (i.e., remain open to learning).
Listen selectively to what others have to say; be discerning in your research.
Commit to reviewing your work before sharing or submitting it.
Let’s make this real with some common grammar problems you’ll want to consider:
run-on sentences
lack of subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement
homophones
random commas and lack of commas
ambiguous pronouns
wordiness
shifts in person and tense
dangling and misplaced modifiers
punctuation with quotation marks
punctuation with conjunctive adverbs
capitalization
We all come to grammar at our own starting place. Cross off what you don’t need to work on, and add more topics as you think of them.
Building Good Grammar Habits
Now let’s use habit building to turn around these grammar problems in our writing. For our example, we’ll use homophones as our target good grammar habit.
Desire the habit. If the desire isn’t there, you’re unlikely to develop a good new habit. So what might motivate you as a writer? Consider this: Your writing is a reflection of who you are, and you want the best possible reflection. In other words, you don’t want anything to detract from the overall picture of the wonderful writer you are. Good grammar will enhance your writer’s image.
Resolve: I want my writing to be polished and professional. And I want to have confidence in my writing whenever I share it with someone else.
Start small. You don’t have to know everything. Begin with one, two, or three points of grammar to master. You can always challenge yourself later with additional topics.
Resolve: I want to be sure I’m using the right homophone. I’m aware I sometimes mix up their, there, and they’re even though I know the differences. I’ll pay more attention to this.
Attach the new habit to an existing habit. You’re already set because you’ve attached the habit of using good grammar to your existing habit of writing and editing. One of the great things about grammar is that you get to practice your skills every time you write. Practice is naturally built in to the process!
Resolve: When I’ve finished writing, I’ll review my work and look for their/there/they’re to make sure I’ve used them correctly. I’m also going to start a list of homophones I mix up. I’ll check my writing against that list.
Make it fun. Reward yourself. Use what’s positive for you. Here are a few ideas for adding pleasure to your grammar-check process: Eat a jellybean when you catch an error. Play your own special grammar-check music in the background. Compile a list of the errors you catch so that your pride in recognition will grow as your list grows.
Resolve: I love numbers and puzzles as much as I love words, so I’ll enjoy solving a sudoku after I do a grammar check.
Do it with consistency. This may feel hard. We’re often pressed for time. But try your best to factor in time for a grammar check. It’s a vital part of your writing process.
Resolve: I’ll look for homophone errors in all my writing, including emails and texts.
Create accountability. If you thrive on community support, go ahead and tell someone about your new plan to build good grammar habits. Keep them updated on your progress. And if you like to work solo, that’s fine, too. You can be accountable to yourself.
Resolve: This is a pact I’m making with myself.
Be open to ongoing learning. You’re learning every time you look up something online, go to a dictionary, take a course, or ask another writer a question. Every little bit you learn and put to use contributes to big changes in your writing.
Resolve: A writer friend just mentioned whet/wet to me in the expression “whet your appetite.” I always thought it was “wet your appetite”! Though I’m aware of a few other homophones I misuse, I’m going to have some fun perusing lists.
Be discerning. There’s a lot of information out there. You know not all of it is legit. Some well-meaning people can inadvertently spread misinformation. Vet your sources. For example, if a grammar information site is connected to a university, it’s more likely than a random site to be trustworthy.
Resolve: I just found a comprehensive online grammar resource. It’s a writing lab that’s part of a public university, and it’s available to everyone. It’s easy to use, and I can trust what I learn there.
Review your work before submitting. When you’ve finished writing, take a break. Walk away. Distance will help you spot errors when you come back. Then read through your work in an unhurried way. Because we get accustomed to our own words, it’s easy to overlook errors. Reading aloud can help. Another useful technique is reading your work from the bottom up, paragraph by paragraph. If you can, read from a print version instead of on the screen.
Resolve: I’m going to factor in a few minutes of grammar review time for every thousand words. This will allow me be methodical and relaxed.
You may be wondering how long it takes to build a new habit. It depends on how complex the habit is and how often and how much you get to practice. The more consistent you are—as in doing a grammar check and making corrections every time you write—the quicker you’ll develop the habit. But this isn’t a race. Good grammar habits are for the long term, for as long as you are a writer.
Come join us at Grammar Lion of Facebook (@grammarlion). We’re a diverse, international, nonjudgmental group of learners who aim to let no grammar question go unanswered. Everyone is welcome!
Comma Sense: Your Guide to Grammar Victory– Learn the rules of adverbs, punctuation, abbreviations, prepositions, and much more. Ellen covers topics such as em dashes, parentheticals and parallelism, diction and logic, run-on sentences and sentence fragments, and more. Become a master of capitalization and punctuation, subjects and predicates, and contractions and possessives. After every chapter, take a quiz to practice your new grammatical skills in this great grammar workbook. At the end of the book, a comprehensive test allows you to utilize all you have learned. At 512 pages, there is lots of content in this book! Readers who enjoyed The Elements of Style; Actually, the Comma Goes Here; The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation; or The Perfect English Grammar Workbook will love Comma Sense: A Guide to Grammar Victory.
“In her new book, Comma Sense, Ellen Sue Feld demystifies grammar with clarity, conciseness, and empathy.” —Anu Garg, author and founder of Wordsmith.org
“If you really want to go deep into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of grammar, then Comma Sense is for you. Ellen covers the basics like a pro and delivers practical examples to help you learn. You’ll never mess up ‘lie’ and ‘lay’ again!” —Lisa Lepki, CMO at ProWritingAid
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Today’s Behind the Rewrite meant a lot to me as author C.E. Flores made her revisions after taking my free editing class, Line Editing Made Simple: 5 Days to More Polished Pages. If you haven’t gone through the course, be sure to sign up. And if you took it a long time ago, sign up again as it now has an online classroom component and interactive quiz. But first, read this informative post from C.E. Flores as she gives a behind the scenes glimpse into polishing up her nonfiction book on herbal remedies.
Recently I published Volume 2 in my Mexican Herbal Remedy series. Since I needed to update the back matter to include information about the second book, I decided to use this opportunity to make some changes to Volume 1. Stacy Juba’s free course, Line Editing Made Simple: 5 Days to More Polished Pages, helped my editing processes tremendously.
First, I searched through my writing for crutch words as instructed in Lesson 1. Since my non-fiction book focuses on the medicinal uses of certain herbs, would you be surprised to learn that the word “use” was entirely overused? I found it in various forms (used, use, using, useful), at least five to ten times per chapter. I rewrote almost all of those sentences using synonyms such as remedy, treatment, therapy, and so on.
Then, from Lesson 3, I went through the book again, looking for the five common offenders (some, that, very, as, just). I found entirely too many instances of “some,” “that,” and “just” plus my personal nemesis “so.” Those sentences received a little tightening up. Additionally, I took a leaf out of Lesson 5’s book and checked my prepositions. “In order to” was there almost as many times as “use” had been. Wordy phrases–be gone!
Lesson 4 had me go back through for dangling modifiers that disrupt the meaning of the sentence. I was guilty there as well. Some of the sentences needed complete rewrites. I took this opportunity to reduce passive voice use as well. I most certainly want to say what I mean and mean what I say when writing about these fascinating herbs and be clear about it.
I took to heart Stacy’s comment, “Your job is to finish your manuscript and to make it your best work, a professional book that will stand out from the competition and attract positive attention.”
Since I was on a roll, I made a few additional changes. The herb book was initially designed to record my own experiences with Mexican remedies. After completing Volume 2, I felt like I had a better idea of what I wanted to accomplish and what would appeal more to my readers. So, in my editing process for Volume 1, I took out several personal anecdotes about the herbs and added a bit more history in some cases and scientific support in others.
Then I switched out most of the images with better quality ones. After all, part of learning about the traditional use of these herbs was proper plant identification. A higher resolution image will aid herbalists interested in foraging their own supply. I also changed the cover so that it was more similar to other herb books on the market. With a much-improved manuscript, I republished Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico: An Introduction to Natural Healing. Thanks for your guidance, Stacy!
More About The Book
Curanderos (healers) in Mexico still practice traditional herbal remedies learned centuries ago. It is only recently that scientists have begun to take these healing practices seriously. Study after study has validated the medicinal use of plants native to North America and those brought by the Spanish after the conquest. It’s time to reexamine the basic healing power in 34 common remedies used by traditional Mexican healers.
InExploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico: An Introduction to Natural Healing,you’ll discover:
34 traditional Mexican remedies
Effective herbal treatments for common ailments
Well-researched scientific support for herbal use
Accurate botanical identification of native Mexican plants
C.E. Flores was born in the Eastern United States and currently lives in central Mexico. She received her Bachelor’s in Education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and picked up her husband while attending there. She writes about her wild and crazy off-grid life in rural Mexico as well as references books for ex-pats, writers, bloggers, preppers, and herbalists.
Does the thought of editing your book seem overwhelming? If your manuscript could use trimming and polishing, sign up for this free mini course. It features bite-sized concepts and assignments to help you kick-start your line editing.
Here’s what you’ll learn inside this course, led by author and freelance editor Stacy Juba:
Lesson 1: The one thing that will jump-start your editing.
Lesson 2: Three mistakes you may be making and what to do instead.
Lesson 3: Five little words you need to start cutting now.
Lesson 4: The truth about editing.
Lesson 5: Struggling with wordy sentences? This will help.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
I’ve found some wonderful free grammar resources to share from my friend Ellen at Grammar Lion, which you’ll find listed below. As a freelance developmental editor and line editor, I work with a lot of writers. Many of them have problems with grammar and punctuation and I explain that they will definitely need to hire a copyeditor and proofreader for their final draft.
Some of my clients have grammar struggles due to learning disabilities, or maybe English isn’t their first language. For others, grammar doesn’t come as naturally to them as the creative part of writing a book. They might have errors in every line of the manuscript, or they may just need to brush up on certain rules such as when to use a comma and how to punctuate dialogue. For many of them, high school English class was a long time ago.
While I do light copyediting on my clients’ manuscripts, my focus is on developmental and line editing. There’s no sense fixing all the commas and run-on sentences when the manuscript needs structural rewrites as all those little changes will become obsolete. I will never specialize in copyediting or proofreading as in all honesty, I don’t like it. I find it tedious, and while I have a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style on my bookshelf, that is one monster of a book. It’s huge with small print, and I don’t enjoy hunting through it, trying to find the answer to small stylistic questions. I’d much rather brainstorm with the author on how to flesh out a character, or tinker with a sentence to make it more active and engaging.
When I work with a client who struggles with grammar and punctuation, my job as the developmental editor isn’t to fix the mistakes. Instead, my role is to point out the problems to make sure the writer is aware of it. I’ll give a few examples of how to make a sentence grammatically correct and point the client toward resources to help with their weaknesses.
Second, I recommend that these writers visit my friend Ellen Feld at Grammar Lion, the creator/instructor of online grammar refresher courses that have served over 44,000 students. She’s worn a variety of editorial hats, including newspaper reporter and copy chief, personal essayist, website reviewer, writing coach, and developmental editor. Ellen has a master’s degree in writing from the Johns Hopkins University and is the author of the children’s storybook Paragon and Jubilee.
You can find out more about her free grammar resources and paid grammar course below. While copyeditors and proofreaders may always be necessary for some authors, the more you can improve your grammar skills on your own, the better off you’ll be. Some copyeditors charge by the hour, so if you turn in a cleaner manuscript, it will lower your cost. Even if they charge a flat fee, that might be for one round of copyediting. I’ve seen manuscripts so riddled with errors that it would take multiple rounds of copyediting and proofreading to get it ready for publication. If you submit a more polished draft, you can reduce your expenses. Ellen’s courses are a great investment for writers who need to do a deep dive into grammar and punctuation or refresh their skills.
Free Grammar Resources
Grammar Lion: Comma Mini-Course(Free) – Master the comma and write more effectively starting today with this free mini-course. Don’t let this little punctuation mark slow you down. Stop random comma use and say goodbye to wasting time on comma decisions. In approximately thirty minutes, you’ll know when to say yes to a comma. You’ll also learn when to say no.
Grammar Lion Pretest(Free) – Grammar can be fun when you know the rules! Try the pretest to gauge your grammar know-how. Challenge yourself with thirty-three grammar questions.
Grammar Lion: A Grammar Refresher – (Paid) This comprehensive online course will help you navigate the linguistic twists and turns of American English grammar. Take your time and enjoy twelve weeks of learning. I have gone through the course myself, and love how Ellen includes quizzes to assess your skills and determine whether you need to continue reviewing a topic. She gives lots of examples and makes the intimidating world of grammar much easier to navigate.
If you need to review your grammar skills, start with the free comma mini-course and the pretest. You’ll be on your way to mastering grammar and punctuation in no time.
Please note that affiliate links are included in this post, so I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase, however, I’m only an affiliate for products that I recommend.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Do you know you need editing, but are worried about how you’re going to afford it? Would you love to do a lot of it yourself, but know you have blinders on when it comes to your own work and that self-editing may not be your strong suit? Never fear! Recently, my friend Liesel Hill interviewed me on The Prolific Author Podcast. The topic was self-editing tips for the indie author. You can also find the interview at the bottom of this post.
I’m an author herself, and as someone who also does a lot of editing for other indie authors and has created a self-editing online course, I have a unique perspective. Give the interview a listen to learn some self-editing tips and find out how you can improve your revision and rewriting skills. You just might save yourself tons of time and expense on editing!
If you haven’t listened to The Prolific Author Podcast before, you’re in for a treat. Liesel is a USA bestselling author and Story Clarity Coach, and her podcast is a wealth of information on everything from story craft to book marketing tips. Here is her description of the podcast:
Do you dream of making your living writing fiction, but don’t know where to start? Believe me, I understand. I worried and struggled over my writing for years, afraid it was cheesy and amateurish, and not TRULY resonating with readers. Meanwhile, at every turn, I was told I couldn’t make money this way. It takes too much time and hard work. It’s not a “real” job. I bet you can relate, right?
Well, I’m gonna let you in on a secret the traditional publishing industry—and let’s face it—most of society at large, don’t want you to know: it’s VERY possible to become a career author. To make your living writing stories full emotion, passion and morality.
With all the upheaval and negativity in our world, people NEED your stories more than ever before. Stories only you can bring to them. I created this podcast to show you how. And I promise it will take less time than you think. So, join the revolution of authors following their passion and changing lives, both their own, and those of their readers. WE…are prolific authors!
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
I love guesting on podcasts. It’s always so much fun chatting with the host about topics I love. Below are three recent interviews where I discussed everything from online course creation to writing and editing books to turning my hobby into a business. Check out their past episodes also. These are great podcasts to listen to while driving or working around the house.
The Course Creator’s MBA Podcast
Guesting on this podcast was a thrill for me as I’m such a fan girl. I found the podcast invaluable when I was developing my first online course, and I still listen to it regularly. On this episode, Destini Copp interviewed me about expanding my business from writing and editing books to creating online courses for writers. The episode is part of a series where Destini chats with course creators about their journey in their online course business, how they got started, the challenges they’ve experienced, and how they overcame them. My signature course, Book Editing Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Plan to Making Your Novels Publishable, empowers fiction writers to think like an editor so they can save time and money.
Destini and I chatted about how I educated herself on marketing, website development, and sales funnels which has led to success in my online course business.
Undercurrent Stories
I stumbled onto a new podcast favorite in Undercover Stories hosted by Bob Welles. The show explores the interests that people have and seeks to discover more on a wide variety of subjects. Each episode features a guest telling all about their interest, why they do it, and Bob uncovers some fascinating stories in the process.
At some point in their lives many people have thought about writing a book. This desire is sadly often thwarted due to fears about time, commitment, and the technical aspects of editing and publishing. Since I’ve faced all these challenges, I shared with Bob and his listeners how by breaking the writing process into steps, it is possible to both enjoy the creativity of writing and produce a publishable book.
Hustle Like Hannah Podcast
I also enjoyed talking with host Hannah Lockwood on another new favorite, the Hustle Like Hannah Podcast, your “how-to” guide and inspiration for turning your creative side into a business opportunity. Hannah, the owner of Hannah Danielle Dance, chats with inspiring people who have turned their creative hobby into a business, sharing their stories and tips to help listeners realize their potential.
Since the second novel in my Storybook Valley chick lit series, Prancing Around With Sleeping Beauty, features a dance teacher who dreams of opening her own studio, it was fun talking with Hannah, someone who has accomplished that goal. I shared about my passions for writing and publishing books, editing, and developing online courses for writers, and we discussed my journey toward making those dreams come true.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Tracy Finistrella, a professional copy editor and proofreader who explains spellcheck vs proofreading.
