✍️ Unsure whether to use than or then / it’s or its?
Skim through your script for common words that cause errors like these.
Do online searches to help you decide if you’ve used the right word. Then find a friend who can double check for you.
If you’re still not sure, focus on your story.
If your story is on point, and people who have read it love it, a few wrong words or spelling errors shouldn’t cause you too much trouble.
✍️ Do your readers get confused over your characters and locations?
If you're working in Final Draft:
Once you’ve written your script, always click on ‘SmartType’ in the ‘Document’ menu.
A box will appear that allows you to ‘Rebuild’ both your character names and locations.
Once you’ve rebuilt these lists, you can then go to ‘Reports’ in the ‘Tools’ menu and generate a Cast report and Location report.
CAST REPORT
- Make sure you don’t have different spellings for the same character name, for example Alyssa, Alysa, Alisa.
- Make sure you don’t have a multitude of WOMAN 1, WOMAN 2 etc. Give the majority of these characters names to avoid confusion.
LOCATION REPORT
– Make sure you don’t have different ways of expressing the same location, for example Brad’s House, Brad’s Home, Brad’s Family Home, Brad’s Family House.
✍️ Overall, do whatever you can to make sure your spelling, grammar, word choice and flow are on point. It’s highly unlikely your script will be passed over because of a few spelling mistakes, as long as it’s still readable/understandable/bingeworthy.
Ultimately, your story is the key to your success. Strong spelling, grammar, and word choice are simply icing on what should, first and foremost, be an already solid, tasty cake.
✍️ Do you have any other #tipsandtricks for proofreading and editing scripts and screenplays?
Let me know in the comments!
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I just pay someone to proof. Fresh eyeballs. My person is also a script coordinator/tv writers room PA/Assistant- she reads & proofs pro scripts from pro writers.
Hire ppl who proof scripts for a living, and enjoy peace of mind.
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Hi Angela Gunn . Some great tips there I'm sure we could all use. Thanks so much for sharing. I know I'm always getting its an it's confused, especially when I'm furiously typing in order to get the fantastic idea I thought of, out of my head as quickly as possible and onto the screen. I also use an e-reader so I can hear another voice reading out my work. That helps me with pacing too, not sure if anyone else has used it?
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True Dan MaxXx - but not everyone can afford it. Plus, it's never a bad idea to improve your writing so you make less of these kinds of errors. It makes the feedback process for friends/family/your network easier seeing as proofreading should be the absolute last part of your process.
Phil - yes, that's another recommendation I make to screenwriters. Glad to hear it helps you!