What is a common strategy for proofreading written work?

Reading aloud to catch errors is an effective proofreading strategy because it engages both the visual and auditory senses, allowing the writer to experience the text in a new way. This method helps in identifying awkward phrasing, grammatical mistakes, and punctuation errors that might be overlooked during silent reading. When you read aloud, you slow down the reading pace, which encourages more careful attention to each word and sentence structure. Additionally, hearing the text can reveal inconsistencies in tone or clarity that may not be evident when reading quietly.

While asking someone else to read it can provide valuable feedback and different perspectives, and using advanced grammar software can highlight potential errors, these options do not integrate the same sensory process that reading aloud offers. Checking for word count only focuses on the length of the document rather than its content and quality, making it an ineffective proofreading strategy.