Essential for High-Quality Paper Editing: Three Tips to Efficient Spellchecks

Before submitting your paper, it is essential to check the spelling of words carefully, to avoid semantic ambiguity caused by spelling errors affecting the chances of publication. But sometimes, some minor spelling errors are not easy to detect, especially for non-native English writers. In this article, we will share three tips to check spelling comprehensively, hoping to help you improve your checking efficiency and facilitate successful publication. Let’s take a look! 

1. Double check the errors marked by the spellcheck tool¹

It is essential not to solely depend on the spellcheck tool and assume every flagged error or suggested change is accurate. For instance, spellcheck may overlook errors like homophones (“who’s” and “whose” or “you’re” and “your”), or it might offer incorrect alternatives for technical terms (e.g., suggesting “DAN” instead of “DNA”). 

As you conduct spellchecks regularly, you may notice recurring patterns in the errors you make. Once you identify these common mistakes, remain vigilant in spotting them during every spellcheck. If you use certain technical terms regularly that the spellcheck flags as errors, you can use the “Add to dictionary” option. This ensures that the term is not flagged by the spellcheck in future. 

2. Read the error in context¹

When using tools like Microsoft Word’s automatic spellcheck, it is advisable to read not only the sentence containing the error but also the sentences before and after it. This ensures that the error is evaluated within the correct context and any changes made align with the surrounding text. For instance, if correcting a noun to its plural form within a sentence, ensure that the verb agrees with the plural noun to maintain grammatical accuracy. 

3. Divide the manuscript into manageable sections and check one type of error at a time¹

It is advisable to run spellcheck in sections for large documents to maintain focus. Allocate time to thoroughly spellcheck. 

Dividing the spellcheck process into multiple rounds can also be an effective approach, as it allows you to focus on different types of errors in each round, thus reducing cognitive load. 

For instance, in the first round, concentrate solely on spelling and typographical errors. In the second round, shift attention to grammatical errors. Finally, in the third round, focus on refining writing for conciseness.  

Additionally, ensure consistency in the use of either British English or American English, as required. Professional editing services like Elsevier Language Services allow you to choose your preferred language style and edit accordingly, making the process hassle-free. 

Bottom Line

Spellchecks are a key step to create a high-quality paper which requires a lot of work and strong language proficiency. A precise control of language details can leave a good impression on the reviewers, and thus help increase the chances of publication. However, for some researchers, due to differences in language and cultural backgrounds, spelling errors are hard to avoid. In this case, you can consider seeking help from a professional paper polishing agency. 

Elsevier Language Services‘ editors are native English speakers with expertise in various disciplines. They rely on their 100+ academic backgrounds and rich experience in polishing and publishing to find out the spelling and grammar errors that are not easy to detect in the paper, and carefully adjust the consistency of language style. We control the quality in each paper to be at par with the standards of top journals, and we are willing to help you with your high-quality paper writing and its successful publication. 

Reference: 

1. Touro University. (n.d.). Seven effective ways to proofread writing. https://www.touro.edu/departments/writing-center/tutorials/seven-steps-to-effective-proofreading/