Proofreading practice - Three Needles in a Haystack

Many proofreading practice make the mistake of confronting the student proof reader with errors in abundance. Every other line contains a spelling error, grammatical gaffe or stylistic slip-up. In reality, however, you're unlikely to find more than two or three errors in any document, particularly if said document has been produced by expert page make-up artists or seasoned typesetters. These overloaded proofreading exercises give the nascent proof reader a false anticipation when they start their careers; when they don't find themselves pinpointing ten to twenty errors per page, they think they must have missed something and self-doubt begins to set in.

Proofreading practice - Three Needles in a Haystack

Proofreading practice - Three Needles in a Haystack

---

Proofreading practice - Three Needles in a Haystack

Proofreading practice - Three Needles in a Haystack

So, the following piece of copy contains just three errors. As with any proofreading exercise, you may find the occasional grammatically intuit clause or a phrase that makes you a wee queasy. However, it's important to remember that your job as a proof reader is to find literal errors and eradicate any lack of clarity, not to indulge in hair-splitting over the occasional split infinitive or dangling modifier.

Allow yourself no more than ten minutes to perfect this exercise.

The Proofreading Exercise

Keep Your Pet Safe from the Dangers of Heatstroke

It is now, thankfully, a widely recognised fact that dogs left alone in cars can come to be the tragic victims of the kind of weather that commonly has most of us rejoicing. Agreeing to up-to-date evidence, when the external temperature is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature within a car can rise to as much as 117 degrees Fahrenheit in just one hour. For this reason, all responsible dog owners plan ahead, to make sure wherever there going provides enough provision for their favorite pet.

However, the emphasis on the dangers presented by leaving dogs in cars has lulled many pet owners into a false sense of safety when it comes to protecting their pet from the hazards of hot weather. There is now, unfortunately, a normal consensus that our pets are safe in hot weather, just so long as they are not confined to a vehicle.

Nothing could be added from the truth. Either or not your dog is in a car, they are vulnerable to heatstroke if they are unable to effectively cool down. Some dogs are more prone than others. For example,

• dogs with long hair

• thick-set and heavily muscled dogs

• very young dogs

• very old dogs

Dogs who are suffering from a singular medical complaint or are receiving prescription medication may also be more at risk. However, it is a fact that all dogs can be potential victims of heatstroke. Luckily, there are a amount of very easy things you can do to cut the risk to you're pet. Avoid taking your dog out in hot weather at all, if you can. Restrict their practice time to the early morning or later in the evening, when it tends to be cooler.

If you do have to take your dog out in the heat, and you find you have to leave them in a singular spot for any reason, make sure there is fullness of shade, and leave a large bowl of drinking water. Make sure the bowl has a heavy base, so that it is less likely to be accidentally spilled or knocked over entirely.

When out walking with your dog in hot weather, carry a large bottle of water with you. Periodically, you can give this water to your dog. wee and often is the key here, retention dehydration well and truly at bay. Make sure your dog is well-groomed to reMove surplus hair. You wouldn't go out in the heat wearing an overcoat, would you?

If, for whatever reason, your dog has come to be exposed to inordinate heat and you are concerned they may be suffering from heatstroke, here are the symptoms you need to be on the lookout for: abnormally heavy panting, inordinate salivation, vividly red gums and tongue and, in very severe cases, diarrhoea and vomiting. If you encounter any of these symptoms you need to seek veterinary aid immediately, whilst cooling your pet as much as potential with cool water (never use very cold water, as this may induce shock). But, as always, stoppage is good then cure. Keep your pet out of the heat wherever possible.

The Proofreading Exercise, Solution

Did you spot our three howlers?

That's right, the first mistake was in the opening paragraph. The sentence that reads, 'For this reason, all responsible dog owners plan ahead, to make sure wherever there going provides enough provisions for their favorite pet', should read, 'For this reason, all responsible dog owners plan ahead, to make sure wherever they're going provides enough provisions for their favorite pet'.

The second mistake is tucked away in the seventh paragraph. 'Luckily, there are a amount of very easy things you can do to cut the risk to you're pet' should read 'Luckily, there are a amount of very easy things you can do to cut the risk to your pet'.

And I've deliberately concealed the third error in the final paragraph. Were you starting to think you'd missed it? 'But, as always, stoppage is good then cure. Keep your pet out of the heat wherever possible' should, of course, read, 'But, as always, stoppage is good than cure. Keep your pet out of the heat wherever possible'. If you successfully completed this proofreading exercise, congratulations! You may have what it takes to come to be a proof reader.

Proofreading practice - Three Needles in a Haystack