How can you decide if a proofreader is competent enough to proofread your writing when you aren't aware of the mistakes you're making? You're not a native English speaker—how can you determine if an English proofreader is qualified? This post outlines some strategies you can use so you'll feel more confident hiring a proofreader.
Transitioning to an English copywriter in Korea got off on the wrong foot
Changing careers is never easy and things rarely go as planned. And things were no different for me. My first actual gig as an English copywriter in Korea got off to a pretty rough start.
How many words can you gloss over and still understand something?
Foreign language learners wonder when they'll be able to read and listen to that language and understand everything. But even native speakers don't comprehend everything they read or hear. What percent of words do we need to understand in order to comprehend a written or oral passage?
Is holding non-native speakers to a higher standard than native speakers unfair?
When native speakers make an error, it's usually labelled a typo or a simple mistake. But non-native speakers are not extended the same courtesy. Instead, it is assumed they were ignorant of the rules. Regardless of the reason, too many errors in your writing is never good.
How poor copy destroys trust and costs you customers—[with examples]
Error-free copy alone isn't enough to be effective. Neither is engaging copy full of typos. You need engaging, error-free copy to establish trust, keep people reading, and have them follow your call to action. I use English and Korean examples to demonstrate this point.
9 months in and this English copywriter in Korea thing is working out
I always believed in my ability to switch careers and had confidence that I'd make a good go of it. I couldn't have predicted that my transition to being an English copywriter in Korea would've gone so smoothly—or happened so quickly.
Google is clearly superior—so why is Office 365 so popular?
Office 365 has long been the 'go-to' option for offices around the world, but after using Google exclusively for almost a year, it has become painfully obvious to me that Google is far superior to Office 365—so much so that I don't understand why Office 365 is still an option.
Why do I need an English proofreader? I don’t make that many mistakes!
As an English copywriter, I always strive to deliver error-free copy to my clients. Despite working as an English proofreader, the occasional error sneaks through. This post examines why this happens and how we can minimize typos in our writing.
Wanted: Unicorn—must have three horns, six legs, and stripes
Trying to transition from an English instructor to an English copywriter and proofreader in Korea, was challenging at times, especially after looking at hundreds of job ads. Many job ads looking for an English copywriter or proofreader are actually looking for something else.
Certain your poor English won’t get your email flagged as spam? Guess again.
Getting people to open your emails is challenging. Once opened, the chances they'll click on your call to action (CTA) decrease with every red flag—from suspicious email addresses to poor grammar and punctuation.
How could an English proofreader in Korea have been so careless? I screwed up!
What happens when an English proofreader in Korea, who rails against people for not consulting native speakers to assist with proofreading, doesn't follow his own advice? He gets a wake-up call!
5 free tools every blogger needs in their arsenal to boost clicks
As a blogger, you have lots of tools at your disposal to make your writing more easily digestible and appealing to readers. This post examines the top 5 tools I use when writing blogs.
How can you help make this my second most popular post ever?
Pushing 50, I'm trying to switch careers, part of which involves trying to gain a presence on social media and attract more followers. Social media may be a young person's game, but at its most basic, there's one thing driving it.
Train hard, dream big—Could proofreading have avoided an Olympic incident?
It's kind of funny for an English copywriter and proofreader to be commenting on an error made in Korean, but that's precisely what I'm doing. This post attempts to demonstrate how English errors jump out at native English speakers using a Korean example.
Where did my fascination with funny signs come from?
It wasn't until I did some real thinking about where my fascination for funny signs came from. Even I didn't realize how far back my interest in these signs extended.
My workspace may not be fancy, but it just got some upgrades
Usually content to make do with what I have, sometimes spending a few bucks to get the right tools isn't such a bad thing. A detailed look at my new wireless keyboard and mouse, and a new web browser.
Part II—How to increase comprehension using words you already know
Part II—A practical examination of why you should spend your time learning different meanings of words you already know, rather than trying to improve your comprehension by learning more words.
How can I increase my vocabulary? Size doesn’t always matter!
Learning more words is rarely the solution to comprehension troubles. How well do you know the 2,000 most frequently used words? Even if you have no interest in language learning, this post clearly demonstrates how challenging English can be—even when only using simple words.
Is it time to quit after six months of playing English copywriter?
This week is officially six months since I decided to switch careers and become a freelance English copywriter. The freelance lifestyle can be tough. Is it time to end this experiment?
Dying to know how a freelance English copywriter spends his day? Wonder no more!
I glimpse behind the curtain at the magical and exciting life of a freelance English copywriter / content writer.