A Human or AI for Proofreading?

AH (A Human) or AI? Which is the best option for proofreading?

Most of us by now are only too aware of how AI is making a major impact in almost all aspects of our lives, especially in the world of work and in technology. Worrying to some of our creative business clients is the way that AI appears to be taking over their skills and their jobs - if you can create it yourself using an AI programme, is it worth hiring a human expert, is the question that sets human experts trembling.

However, there are still some tasks that humans are simply better at than machines, and proofreading is one of them. Here is why we think that is:

1. Humans have a much better understanding of context.

We (humans) don’t just read words on a page or screen; we also consider the context in which they appear. We are able to look at the whole piece, at what the writer is aiming to achieve, at the meaning they want to convey, and this allows us to identify errors that might not be immediately obvious. In English it is often the case that there are a number of words that can mean more or less the same thing, but which one you select to use depends on the meaning of that particular sentence or even paragraph; select the wrong word and while the sentence might be grammatically correct, it simply doesn’t make sense in the context of that paragraph. AI may eventually achieve this, but it is not quite ready to do so yet, and is therefore more likely to miss errors of this type. It can make all the difference to the success of a manuscript.

2. Humans have a better understanding of language.

Let’s face it, we humans have been evolving language for hundreds of thousands of years. We are experts in language, verbal and non-verbal. We have a natural affinity for words and the way that words create meaning that AI does not match. From birth we have learned to use and manipulate words to convey different meanings, and we know how to structure sentences and paragraphs to create clear and concise text. AI is still so young, still learning how to use language and a good proofreader will find errors that AI does not quite catch.

3. Humans are better at spotting errors in formatting and layout.

Then there is the issue of formatting and text layout. A good proofreader will not just check for spelling and grammar errors; proofreading is also about making sure that the text is laid out correctly for the purpose for which it is written and that it is formatted properly. Formatting and layout can support understanding and this is a vital part of writing to convey meaning: just ask a poet! Margins need to be correct and fonts consistent, images properly aligned. AI does not yet manage to do this as well as humans, partly because a human will also have a much better understanding of the full context of the piece that is being proofread.

4. Humans are more creative.

Yes, AI advocates claim loudly and proudly that AI can create music, art, write books and more, and it can to an extent, depending on what your definition of art is. But proofreading is not a robotic task that sets out to find errors; it is also about making the whole written piece better. This can involve making creative changes to the text, such as completely rewording sentences, or adding transitions, perhaps breaking up overly long paragraphs, and more. AI cannot do this quite as well as humans yet, so AI produced text or proofread texts can sound stilted and unnatural - never mind that AI voices are improving, the scripts they are speaking also needs to sound human!

Conclusion

AI has definitely made huge leaps forward in recent years, and it will develop further and further still. But it is not yet as good at proofreading as humans. This is because humans have a better understanding of context, language, formatting, and layout. Humans are more creative and can apply this creativity to improve the text. Without a doubt, humans are the best choice for a properly proofread document.

Do you need some of your most important documents proofread? Athena Services can help and right now, we are offering a 20% discount on our proofreading fees over the spring break. Contact us before 30th April for further information and take advantage of this offer!