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How to catch typos before you hit send
You noticed it the second the email left: “Dear Mr Smtih”. Typos rarely come from not knowing the word. They come from typing fast and reading what you meant, not what is on the screen. A couple of settings and one habit catch many of them.
A checking routine, then spell check apps. A checker can suggest the wrong fix, especially for names and specialist words. Read the suggestion before you accept it, and be careful pasting private or work text into online checkers.
Fix the keyboard first
Add every language you write in to your keyboard so it stops “correcting” one into the other. Turn on spell check and autocorrect, then teach it the names you type often. Compare keyboards and checkers in spell check apps.
Check the important ones twice
A grammar checker catches missing words and wrong verb forms that spelling alone misses. For grammar you want to learn, not just fix, see how to improve your English grammar.
Trick your eyes
Reading out loud, or reading the last sentence first, slows you down enough to see the mistake. For long text, let the phone read it to you; see how to listen to articles with text-to-speech.
Build a pause into email
Many email apps can delay sending for a few seconds so you can undo. Turn it on. For a calmer inbox, see how to get your inbox under control.
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Keyboard spell check | for each language | red lines as you type |
| 2. Grammar checker | for important text | catches more than spelling |
| 3. Read it differently | aloud or backwards | see what is really there |
| 4. Pause | before client messages | a second look |
| 5. Your word list | the ones you miss | add to the dictionary |
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on spell check on my phone?
In your keyboard settings. Add each language you write in so it checks them all.
Why do I keep missing my own typos?
Your brain reads what you meant to write. Read aloud or out of order to see the text as it is.
Is it safe to paste work text into a grammar checker?
Check the tool’s privacy terms and your company’s rules first, especially for confidential text.