Written by Purpose Plus 

Proofreading your grant applications before submission is an essential part of the grant writing process. Often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity, proofreading to ensure consistency of language, terminology and message is a vital element of the application process to safeguard a successful grant application submission. Here are five proofreading tips for grant writers to make checking your draft grant application easier.  

 

Set your language to English (Australia)  

Avoid being seen as lazy in the eyes of assessors. Applications submitted in Australia should use Australian spelling. By setting this as the system default, the spellcheck function will be more efficient, however always search for ‘ize’ and replace with ‘ise’ at a minimum.  

 

Eliminate distractions and slow down

Proofreading takes time and focus, which is often not recognised in the overall grant writing process. Skimming an application is not proofreading, so make sure enough time is allowed to read the document properly. By removing distractions, you will be able to efficiently concentrate on the task at hand. 

 

Read out loud

Sounds odd, but if you want to improve the readability of your responses, reading it aloud (or backwards!) helps to identify any issues. 

 

Find and spell out acronyms

Many organisations use acronyms in their day-to-day operations and in grant writing, acronyms can seem like a sensible option to help reduce word counts. However, to assessors, acronyms can come across as jargon and if not well-defined, can weaken your narrative. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes – will someone who does not know your organisation or initiative know what the acronym is? If you have any doubts, spell it out. When proofreading, look for acronyms used. A great grant writer will spell each one out at least once in the first instance of each response. This makes it much easier for assessors and avoids misunderstanding. 

 

Check word or character limits

Word limits in grant applications are tight for a reason. The funder is expecting an informative and succinct response. Most online grant portals will not allow you to include responses that exceed the limit. Many grant writers have made the mistake of drafting responses that are too long, and don’t realise it until they transfer the copy into the portal. This can cause a last-minute scramble that could completely undermine your hard work. If you need to reduce copy, remember that every sentence should add value and directly support your case. You should eliminate redundant or off-topic words. Strong, focused writing makes a deeper impression than unnecessary detail. 

Whether you are new to grant writing, grant reviewing or proofreading, or simply looking to hone your existing skills and practices, we hope that these tips have been helpful.