| There are far too many proofreading exercises | | | | likely to take risks (which don't always pay off) |
| out there that make the mistake of presenting | | | | and they have a tendency to become bored |
| the proof reader with a surfeit of errors. There's | | | | easily. |
| at least one spelling mistakes in each sentence | | | | The Water Hand An elongated palm with long |
| and examples of appalling grammar in every | | | | fingers. The fingers are always tapered, |
| paragraph. Whilst this gives the novice proof | | | | sometimes very noticeably so, almost pointed. |
| reader plenty to do, it also leaves them with a | | | | Water Hand personality types are the most |
| very false impression of what it's like to | | | | sensitive of all the chierotypes. On the plus side, |
| proofread in the real world. | | | | this makes them extremely gentle, caring and |
| In the real world you are likely to be checking | | | | empathetic. Unfortunately, they are also very |
| proofs that are the culmination of great care and | | | | easy to upset. One careless word can have a |
| attention, not to mention a not inconsiderable | | | | devastating effect upon the Water Hand |
| amount of professional pride. In other words, you'll | | | | personality type. |
| find very few errors in the proofs you check. | | | | They are also the most artistic and imaginative of |
| The proofreading exercise that follows simulates | | | | cheirotypes, with a highly-developed asthetic |
| the kind of you are far more likely to be | | | | sense and a taste for the finer things. Unlike the |
| confronted with in an authentic publishing | | | | Fire Hand and Earth Hand personality types, they |
| environment. It contains only three errors. Be | | | | are not known for their ability to deal with the |
| warned, none of these errors is glaringly obvious. | | | | practicalities of everyday life. |
| You should be able to complete the following | | | | The Air Hand A small, square-ish palm, with long |
| exercise in approximately ten minutes. | | | | fingers, usually rounded at the tips but occasionally |
| The Proofreading Exercise | | | | spatulate. |
| What the Shape of Your Hand Says About You | | | | This hand is typically associated with intellectual |
| There are four fundamental hand shapes or, as | | | | and logical personalities. They are, in a sense, a |
| they are known in palmistry, cheirotypes. Just as | | | | combination of the practical and the imaginative, |
| your astrological star sign informs your | | | | able to apply their intelligence to solve even the |
| personality, so does your cheirotype. | | | | most challenging of problems. |
| The factors that help define each cheirotype are | | | | Unfortunately, this particular cheirotype can, in |
| palm shape and size, and finger shape and size. | | | | extreme cases, display an almost Spock-like |
| Each cheirotype is identified with one of the four | | | | personality, shining the cold, hard light of intellect |
| classical elements: Earth, Fire, Water and Air. | | | | into the realm of the emotions where it is likely to |
| The Earth Hand A small palm, with short fingers. | | | | prove intrusive, unhelpful and even destructive. |
| The fingers can be either rounded at the tips or | | | | The Proofreading Exercise, Solution |
| spatulate (square or flat) at the tips. | | | | Did you spot the three errors? |
| This hand is usually associated with the most | | | | That's right; the first error is in the fifth |
| practical personality types. These no-nonsense | | | | paragraph, we have "comparatively shot fingers" |
| people get things done. They're organised, realistic | | | | instead of "comparatively short fingers". |
| and hardworking. They don't have time for | | | | The second error is in the eighth paragraph, |
| daydreaming or for pondering what ifs and if | | | | where we have "most sensitive of all the |
| onlys. Pragmatic and sensible, the Earth Hand | | | | chierotypes" when we should have "most |
| personality is utterly dependable and makes a | | | | sensitive of all the cheirotypes". Tricky one, that, |
| great asset to any industrious enterprise. | | | | given the unfamiliarity of the word. |
| The Fire Hand An elongated palm with | | | | The third error is tucked away in the ninth |
| comparatively shot fingers. The fingers can be | | | | paragraph we have "a highly-developed asthetic |
| rounded or spatulate. | | | | sense" instead of "a highly-developed aesthetic |
| Fire Hand personality types, like Earth Hand | | | | sense". |
| personality types, are very practical. But they are | | | | If you successfully completed this proofreading |
| also full of energy and enthusiasm. This means | | | | exercise, good work! You may well have the |
| they not only get things done, they get things | | | | keen eye for detail necessary to become a proof |
| done quickly. On the down side, they are also | | | | reader. |