What are some common mistakes you notice when proofreading and editing, and how do you address them without over-editing the content?

Clarity and precision are the KEYS to writing. Unfortunately, people often make the mistake to ignore this crucial detail. 

Let's walk through an example of editing a sentence to make it as clear and precise as possible:

• Original sentence: “The painting looked to be meticulously detailed.”
  • Comments on sentence: This sentence explains what’s happening and there are no grammatical errors. Improvements exist though.
• Version two:  “The painting was detailed.”
  • I delete “looked to be” or “meticulously.” “Looked to be” is unneeded — my writing becomes more precise by just saying “was.” The phrase also makes it seem like I’m not confident about my thoughts -- either the painting is or is not detailed. I deleted the word “meticulously” because the definition of “meticulously” includes the word “detail.” No need to repeat ourselves. This sentence, however, can still improve! 
• Final version : “I admired the detailed painting.”
  • This is a much better sentence than what we started with. Pay attention to how we have now brought the “I” back into the sentence, making what is happening more personal. Furthermore, instead of just stating a fact such as “the painting was detailed,” this final sentence now includes more of an action. We still know that the painting was detailed but now this sentences, unlike the previous one, demonstrates that you admired the painting.

Common proofreading and editing mistakes include grammar errors, inconsistent style, redundancy, lack of clarity, overloading with details, ignoring the audience, and structural issues. Address them by focusing on necessary corrections like improving readability, maintaining consistency, and enhancing flow. Avoid over-editing by preserving the author’s tone, prioritizing essential changes, and offering constructive feedback to empower the writer. This ensures a polished yet authentic final product.

Not Using the Non-breaking Space

Many people do not know about the non-breaking space, even though it is highly important. For example, if you have expressions like "1 km," you do not want to have the "1" in one line and "km" in the next line. The non-breaking space prevents this.

When proofreading and editing, one common mistake I often see is clients using machine translations and then asking me to proofread and edit the text. They try to save money by not providing a proper translation, or sometimes they get it done by someone with less experience. This often leads to a lot of typos and errors. Another issue is that people sometimes confuse languages like Dari and Persian, thinking they are the same. While they may look similar, they are actually different languages, and this can lead to mistakes in translation and meaning. When I edit, I make sure to correct these errors without changing the original message too much, keeping it clear and natural.

The most common mistake is that authors struggle with understanding the Oxford comma.

The Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma) is a punctuation mark used in a list of three or more items. It is placed before the "and" or "or" that connects the last two items in the list.

With Oxford Comma:

"I bought apples, bananas, and oranges."

Without Oxford Comma:

"I bought apples, bananas and oranges."

The main difference is that the Oxford comma adds an extra comma before the "and" (or "or") before the last item. Its use helps to clarify the meaning of sentences, particularly in complex lists.

Example of Potential Confusion Without the Oxford Comma:

"I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty."

Without the Oxford comma, this could imply that your parents are Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.

With the Oxford Comma:

"I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty."

This version clarifies that there are four distinct entities: your parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty.

The Oxford comma is often used in formal writing, such as academic papers and publications, but its use can vary depending on style guides. Some style guides, like the Associated Press (AP), recommend omitting it, while others, like the Oxford University Press, advocate for its use.

As an editor and proofreader specifically of American Business English, the most common mistakes I see by far are international clients not having a good grasp of American idioms, phrases, and jargon, specifically in a professional setting.

When writing for American customers, believe me when I tell you that they always want their products and services to come from a company that understands them. Using overly technical, overly formal, overly academic or, by contrast, out of touch terminology—which I see my clients doing often—can immediately scare off potential customers because they feel a disconnect between you and them. 
 

That’s why whenever I do a deep edit for client’s professional documents, whether they’re international or not, I use my master’s in business and my 15 years in professional business settings to determine how best to get the points across for my Buyers. I find out who my Buyer’s target audience is, and I utilize believable, relatable, approachable phrasing so that the Buyer’s client can feel comfortable with how they’re being communicated with. There are many different styles of English, and one must have a good grasp on them: professional, academic, casual, holistic, irreverent, and more.
 

At the end of the day, the American customer wants to be seen and heard. Using only the most believable American English can get the job done and lead to success in one’s business.

When proofreading and editing, I often notice grammar mistakes, awkward phrasing, overused words, and sentences that could be clearer. To fix these without over-editing, I focus on preserving the author's unique voice and making the text sound natural. Also, one particular mistake I often see is the alternating use of “Sie” and “du” when addressing someone. (Note: I proofread/edit German-language texts and "du" = informal and "Sie" = formal; both are translations of "you"). I make sure it is consistent.
Rather than rewriting large portions, I make small changes, suggest alternatives, or rearrange parts when it will truly improve the flow. My goal is to enhance what's there, not overshadow it.

When proofreading, I often catch common mistakes like wordiness, repetitive phrasing, and grammatical slips. An emerging edit is when someone has used AI-generated content—it often has a 'too-polished', very generic feel or repetitive structure. To address these without over-editing, I will focus the writer on clarity and flow, making small tweaks to improve readability while encouraging the writer's true voice to come through.