-Check math. In economics stories especially, it's easy to drop a zero and even easier to duplicate somebody else's mistakes.

-Double check for double meanings. For example, following site description recently turned up in an ad for casinograpevine.com: "The Casino News Portal for Women that Men Can't Resist!" So it's a portal for women who are irresistible to opposite sex or... ?

-Keep an eagle eye open for little oopsy-daisies we all make. Typing "you" instead of "your" is a common one. So is using "that" instead of "who". Example: "All people THAT proofread their stories carefully win Pulitzer Prizes." If you need a grammar booster shot, visit any of these sites:

http://www.webgrammar.com http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ http://www.grammarlady.com/faq.html http://englishplus.com/grammar/

-Find out what style manual/guidelines are used by publication you're writing for and be sure your piece agrees with them.

-Now do first item on this list again. I can't tell you how many times I've caught my own bloopers or found a better way to phrase something on 15th or 20th pass!

So that's how, in an emergency, you can do your own editing. Sure, working without an editor can have its upside. It means never having to say, "You corrupted my work, you creep!" But downside is that you will probably overlook mistakes that "village" would have caught.

Whenever possible, get a talented friend or a professional editor or even an English major to lend an eyeball. Believe me, they aren't nearly as in love with your words as you are!

BONUS TIP: These types of subheads also work wonderfully for *sales letters* and *proposals*. Experiment next time you compose a long letter --- try looking at it both with and without subheads. You'll definitely see difference!

<< Subheads Rule on Net! >>

When you're writing copy to be posted online --- either in an e-mail or on a Web site --- it's even more crucial to use subheads! People don't like to spend a lot of time reading online --- it strains eyes. Subheads help readers skim over your main points and pick up your ideas quickly. And if they're looking for a particular piece of information, subheads help them locate it faster.

If you're writing an e-mail that's longer than one screen length, try inserting subheads every two or three paragraphs, if appropriate. It only takes a minute, it helps you organize your information, and your readers will love you for it!

<< Subheads Add Interest >>

Even if your document is a white paper that's about as exciting as white rice, don't be afraid of using "sum-it-all-up" subheads to retain reader's interest and break up copy. Remember, you want people to be drawn to reading your master- piece --- especially when it's a formal document!

Examples: "Great Forecasts for Next Quarter," "Improvements Needed in Management," and "30% Sales Increase Forecasted."

So consider subheads your new best friend --- whether you're writing an e-mail, Web copy, brochure, or report!

Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” Sign up for her FREE newsletter that shows e-zine publishers how to write irresistible content, promote their services and products, and gain thousands of subscribers quickly. Subscribe now via mailto:EzineQueen-On@lists.webvalence.com