Spell-Checking Your E-Book Carefully
However good your spelling is, always check for misspelled words. Everyone makes these occasional typos, and they arenât always obvious at a glance.
Your first step is to run an automatic spell checker. Your word processing software should come with one built in, and it may well underline words in red automatically. (While I was working on an early draft of my novel Lycopolis in Microsoft Word, a pop-up message alerted me that spelling mistakes would no longer be shown because Iâd made so many. Donât reach that point!)
If a word is underlined in red (or green for a grammar correction), check the suggestion first. Donât blindly accept it â spell checkers are far from infallible. If you realize that the correction is indeed correct, accept it. If youâre not sure, consult a dictionary, or ask a writer friend.
After youâve fixed any typos and mistakes picked up by your spell checker, read the manuscript yourself. Many mistakes wonât be spotted because you may have typed a legitimate word or phrase, even if it isnât what you intended. And as anyone who has ever accidentally typed the word public without the l can tell you, certain undetected spelling mistakes can be embarrassing!
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