Be able to identify and correct data entry errors including transposed numbers, incorrect spelling, inconsistent character spacing, and inconsistent case.
Common Data Entry Errors
Transposed Numbers – e.g., 12 345 entered as 21 345.
Incorrect Spelling – e.g., “recieve” instead of “receive”.
Inconsistent Character Spacing – e.g., “New York” with an extra space.
Inconsistent Case – e.g., “john DOE” instead of “John Doe”.
Strategies for Proofing
Read the data aloud to catch oddities.
Use a two‑pass approach: first check for obvious errors, then verify consistency.
Apply formatting rules (e.g., title case for names, consistent decimal places).
Cross‑check with source documents or reference lists.
Use spell‑check tools but review manually for context‑specific terms.
Examples and Practice
Error Type
Incorrect Entry
Corrected Entry
Transposed Numbers
Invoice Total: 3 452.00
Invoice Total: 4 352.00
Incorrect Spelling
Customer: Acme Corp. (spelled “Acme Corg”)
Customer: Acme Corp.
Inconsistent Spacing
Address: 123 Main St.
Address: 123 Main St.
Inconsistent Case
Product Code: abc123
Product Code: ABC123
Self‑Assessment
Identify the error in the following entry: “Employee Name: sARAH jONES”.
Correct the transposed number in: “Total Sales: 9 876.54”.
Rewrite the following with consistent spacing: “Project Deadline: 31‑Dec‑2024”.