National Proofreading Day

National Proofreading Day is an annual American holiday devoted to proofreading texts. The ability to write without error is useful in life—you can increase the speed of writing without fear of making a mistake, freely fill out important documentation, and so on. The holiday is celebrated on March 8.

History

The importance of proper writing has been recognized since ancient times when chroniclers had to write large amounts of text flawlessly, as it was meant for future generations. Chroniclers were responsible for their work, and there was no chance for correction—only rewriting everything again.

Today, many people’s grammar skills suffer greatly. While computers have built-in programs that highlight misspelled words or missing commas, when writing on paper, you must rely on your knowledge and skills. That is why it is so important to learn the rules of grammar and be able to use them in practice.

Interesting Facts

• In today’s world, there is even a position of proofreader/editor. They usually check written articles/documents and correct mistakes.
• At least 60% of all mistakes are made through inattention when a person is constantly distracted from writing.
• There are online services for checking literacy now, but you can’t trust them 100%. Often they see mistakes where there are none, and they don’t notice existing ones.

How to Celebrate

On National Proofreading Day, review the basic rules of grammar. Try to rewrite texts by hand, making sure there are no mistakes or blunders. Such training will be very useful.

Spread the word on social media. Ask other users how often they make mistakes in writing by hand or on the computer.

When is National Proofreading Day in 2025?

National Proofreading Day is observed on March 8 each year.

Observations