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When was the last time you gave your website a thorough check-up? A website health check (or audit) is essential to ensure everything is working smoothly, looks professional, and gives visitors the best experience. Here are some key areas you should focus on during a website audit. 1. Content & Copy Typos, outdated information, and inconsistent tone can hurt your credibility. Check all your content - headlines, body text, calls-to-action, and even captions. Your message needs to be clear, concise, and free of errors. 2. Links & Navigation All links - especially your Buy Now or Contact buttons - must lead to the correct pages. Check for broken links and ensure your site's navigation is easy to follow. A user-friendly experience keeps visitors engaged. 3. Visuals & Design Check for proper image placement, load times, and consistent formatting. A well-designed site is more than just attractive - it needs to be easy to read and navigate on both desktop and mobile devices. Test your site on different browsers and devices to ensure responsiveness. 4. Speed & Performance Nobody likes a slow website. Check how quickly your pages load and ensure they're optimised for both desktop and mobile users. Slow load times can drive visitors away before they even see your content. 5. SEO & Analytics Make sure your website is optimised for search engines with proper meta tags, alt text for images, and keyword use. Also, check if your site is integrated with analytics tools so you can track visitors and improve over time. A full website health check can make the difference between a visitor bouncing or sticking around. If you’d like help ensuring your site is in top shape, feel free to reach out here. 
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 As we communicate more on a global scale, understanding the differences between various types of English is becoming increasingly important, especially in writing. For those of us in New Zealand, it can be helpful to know how our version of English differs from others. Spelling Differences New Zealand English follows British English in terms of spelling, with words like “colour,” “organisation,” and “theatre.” In contrast, American English opts for simplified versions like “color,” “organization,” and “theater.” Vocabulary While New Zealand shares a lot of vocabulary with British and Australian English, we also have unique terms. For example, in New Zealand, we say “dairy” for a convenience store, while Americans use “corner store,” and Brits say “newsagent.” These variations extend to everyday items like “jandals” (flip-flops) and “togs” (swimsuit). Grammar and Punctuation Like British English, New Zealand English typically uses single quotation marks (‘like this’), whereas American English prefers double quotation marks (“like this”). We also follow British conventions for grammar, like treating collective nouns as plural. For example, “The team are playing well” is standard here, whereas American English would use “The team is playing well.” For proofreaders like me it is important to know which version my clients prefer or need in their writing. Interesting, isn't it?
There's no foolproof formula for perfect proofreading every time. As Mark Twain realized, it's just too tempting to see what we meant to write rather than the words that actually appear on the page or screen. The following tips should help you see your errors before anybody else does.
Author E.S. Gaffney once confessed that when she worked for the U.S. Department of Energy, she had to submit a proposal to a man with the last name of Prono. Without her authorization, her computer corrected that name to… well, you guessed it...
Here are things I could help you with:
Contact me now! There's no foolproof formula for perfect proofreading every time. As Mark Twain realized, it's just too tempting to see what we meant to write rather than the words that actually appear on the page or screen. The following tips should help you see your errors before anybody else does.
Author E.S. Gaffney once confessed that when she worked for the U.S. Department of Energy, she had to submit a proposal to a man with the last name of Prono. Without her authorization, her computer corrected that name to… well, you guessed it! Trust your dictionary Your spellchecker can tell you only if a word is a word, not if it's the right word. For instance, if you're not sure whether sand is in a desert or a dessert, visit the dictionary. Ask for help Invite someone else to proofread your text after you have reviewed it. A new set of eyes may immediately spot errors that you've overlooked. Here are two things I could help you with:
Contact me now! Readers are appalled when they spot a typo that seems to them careless or ridiculous. Most of the time though, it’s not habitual sloppiness or lack of effort leading to the errors. Instead, situations crop up where even meticulous writers or editors find it tough to catch mistakes. Headlines Imagine those unbelievable goofs in newspaper headlines, such as referring to “Mayor Michael Bloobmerg” (it should have been “Bloomberg”) or the unintended slapstick in “One-armed man applauds the kindness of strangers”! As proofreaders we sometimes, for whatever reason, not look much at the wording in the biggest font on the page when we’re proofreading. But we SHOULD! Numbers and specifications Few readers would know that “15 grams” should be “15 milligrams” or a lawn mower labelled as model A77134 should be A71134. The only way to check accuracy in such matters is to compare them with an authoritative source. That’s a proofreader’s job to make sure all the numbers and measurements are what they’re supposed to be. Company or brand names Is it “Phillippe,” “Philippe,” or “Phillipe”? It’s all too easy to get this wrong. Confusion like this happened when someone listed an 1852 bottle of Allsopp’s Arctic Ale on eBay as “Allsop’s Arctic Ale,” with only one “p.” The winning bid was $304. However, the buyer noticed the typo and relisted it on eBay. With the correct company spelling, and therefore getting picked up in online searches, this antique item quickly resold with a winning bid of more than half a million dollars. What a lucky buyer (the first one!). Here are two things I could help you with:
Contact me now! Readers are taken aback when they spot a typo that seems careless or ridiculous to them. Sometimes it’s not habitual sloppiness or lack of effort leading to those errors. Instead, situations crop up where even meticulous writers or editors find it tough to catch mistakes. Updates Imagine that you want to rerun a seasonal sale announcement that has worked well the previous year. Most businesses simply find last year’s message and change the relevant dates. And then they forget to change the day of the week in the announcement, and even if they reread it before posting, they overlook the discrepancy. Every time you reuse and update previous copy, check it thoroughly. Make sure you’ve looked at every element that needs to be changed. Quick fixes Ever tinkered at the last moment with what you wrote? Before you post or send it? You make a small change and relax, not noticing that changing two words knock the rest of the sentence out of whack. This last-minute timing of fiddling makes it harder to spot errors that you would otherwise have seen. Here are two things I could help you with:
A staff manual, or at least written down procedures, can provide much-needed clarity. Step by step your staff can learn what to do when and how. When you employ a new staff member, they have the same instructions as everyone else, therefore quality standards and expectations are the same. If your employees are unsure about the next step; the why of a step; the overall picture of a task or process, they can look up the staff manual and find the answers there - most of the time without the need to bother you! Even if you only have five staff members, it pays to have certain processes written down. Think of it as the 'bus syndrome' - If you or your staff member gets run over by a bus, someone else needs to do the job, and if they don't know what to do, then what? When I create a staff manual I am in the person’s shoes. I do the task, then write it down, next step, write down, and so on. It makes me question some of the steps, it makes me think about the step, does it make sense, can it be made simpler, streamlined? Once the process is written down completely I let it sit and then look at it with fresh eyes. When I am satisfied I read and do the task according to the manual. That provides the chance to find little inconsistencies or hick-ups. Once I’m satisfied the manual is clear, I ask someone else to follow the steps and do the tasks, to see if it is understandable and makes sense. Here are three things I could help you with:
AI or HI? (Artificial Intelligence or Human Intelligence) By now we’ve all heard about AI and its growth in all aspects of our lives. Chatbots have the ability to retrieve and repackage information at speeds that are well beyond normal human capabilities, and digital assistance apps are set to revolutionise productivity in many workplaces and change the tech landscape. One of those apps, ChatGPT, is making writing much easier for the general population by assisting with tasks like composing daily emails up to higher-level tasks like composing essays. Some experts warn these tools are far from perfect. Although chatbots seem to answer any question confidently, they aren’t always correct and sometimes don’t include basic facts. Which leads to the question: what are the implications of AI apps for editing and proofreading? Research shows that AI tools are great for identifying potential issues. Human editors though have vastly superior capacities for making relevant style changes and explaining why they were necessary. Apps like Chat GPT can detect technical errors and inconsistencies, however, they can also tend to standardise the English language.
The human touch is needed to retain language diversity, tone, and style nuances and to avoid potentially embarrassing mistakes.
I am a human, you can contact me for your editing and proofreading needs! The secret to writing effective proposals, emails, and more :-) Being clear, concise, correct, and considerate is as important in the written word as it is in the spoken word. It’s helpful to keep the needs of your reader in mind. Here are some more tips for your business writing.  Adopt the "you attitude" Look at the topic from your reader’s point of view: Example: I have requested that your order be sent out today. Revision: You will receive your order by Wednesday. Focus on the real subject Don't bury a key word into a long sentence. Example: The implementation of the new marketing campaign will begin on April 1. Revision: The new marketing campaign will begin on April 1. Write actively, not passively Active voice is generally easier on the eye (and brain) than passive voice. Example: Your proposal was reviewed at our meeting on April 1, and it was immediately submitted to the developers. Revision: We reviewed your proposal on April 1 and immediately submitted it to the developers. Cut unnecessary words and phrases Example: I am writing this note because I want to thank you very much for organizing the open home that was held last Monday. Revision: Thank you very much for organizing last Monday’s open home. Don't forget your manners Saying thank you and please is not only considerate in conversation, but also in emails and letters. Example: Send me the jargon report before you head home. Revision: Please send me the jargon report before you head home. Don't leave out key words Sometimes it’s necessary to add some words, so we can be clear and concise. Example: The storage shed is the first step. Revision: Unlocking the storage shed is the first step. Put a cap on the vogue words and buzzwords Just sound like a human! Example: At the end of the day the bottom line is that we should facilitate opportunities for employees to provide input on best practices. Revision: Let's encourage people to make suggestions. Avoid outdated expressions Don’t use words and phrases you wouldn’t use in a conversation, i.e. “attached herewith," "this is to advise you," "as per your request." Example: Attached herewith for your reference is a duplicated version of the aforementioned deed. Revision: I have enclosed a copy of the deed.  Proofread
Always check your work before hitting the send button. Example: When you're in a hurry, it's very easy to leave words. Revision: When you're in a hurry, it's very easy to leave out words. If you need help with any of these issues in your business life, then please Contact me now! Please avoid the following words and/or phrases:
1. alot Alot (one word) is a common misspelling of a lot (two words). "[W]e all may write alot one day," says The American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage (2005), but for now "keep in mind that alot is still considered an error in print." 2. and etc. Because the abbreviation etc. (from the Latin et cetera) means "and so on," and etc. is redundant. In any case, avoid using etc. in your essays: often it gives the impression that you simply can't think of anything else to add to a list. 3. anywheres Huckleberry Finn can get away with saying, "There warn't a sound anywheres," but on formal occasions drop the terminal s. If anywheres appears anywhere in your dictionary, it's probably labeled "nonstandard" or "dialectal." 4. could of (arrrrgh!) Don't confuse this nonstandard form with the contraction could've. Could of (along with should of and would of) can and should be replaced by could have (and should have and would have). 5. hisself This alternative form of the reflexive pronoun himself is commonly heard in certain dialects, but in formal writing steer clear of hisself (and theirself as well—though both were regarded as good usage in Middle and Early-Modern English). 6. furtherest The comparative form of far is farther or further. The superlative form is farthest or furthest. Nothing's gained by combining the two forms. 7. irregardless This double negative (ir- at the beginning and -less at the end) may not deserve Bryan Garner's label of "semiliterate . . . barbarism," but he's probably right that in print it "should have been stamped out long ago" (Garner's Modern American Usage, 2009). Use regardless instead. 8. its' Its is a possessive pronoun (like his or her). It's is a contraction of it is or it has. That leaves nothing for its' to do—so toss it. 9. let's us Let's us means "let us." To avoid repetition, write lets ("She lets us play in her yard"), let's ("Let's play in her yard"), or let us ("Let us pray"). 10. nohow If you have the know-how to write, you don't need to be told to avoid nohow. Instead, use in no way or not at all. So, do you use any of these? Contact me, if you need help with your writing! |
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April 2025
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