How to deal with doubt

We’ve all had doubt in one situation or another. However, how do you deal with doubt when you’re the person who others turn to for answers? Sometimes a writer asks me grammar questions that I know the answer to but have to look up just in case I’m remembering incorrectly. There are times when I don’t have the answer right away. My years of teaching Spanish and English prepared me for these situations though. It’s okay to not have all the answers. And a little doubt is okay as it shows that you care enough to really think about something before answering a question. But don’t let doubt overshadow your editing or proofreading knowledge. Believe me, I have grammar nightmares all the time (was that em dash correctly placed or should I have used a semicolon?). I still have dreams about a comma situation from my first week as a proofreader 12 years ago. It’s difficult to just let it go.

Here are a few tips that I use to help me when I am just unsure.

1. As mentioned above, a little doubt is okay. It’s your inner critic helping you to dialogue possibilities. This is especially important if you are working as an independent contractor and don’t have someone close by to just ask a quick question. This leads to the next point.
2. Have a list of a few people who you trust with grammatical puzzles. I have a list of people who I know are willing to offer me their opinions. I try to make sure that my list is populated with those who will not just agree with me. They are always straightforward in their opinions and sometimes offer otherwise unknown to me solutions.
3. Before I contact anyone though, I consult my list of grammatical references that I keep handy. I don’t want to ask my peers too many questions, especially ones that have ready answers available in a style guide. Here is my reference list.
4. If after consulting peers and/or your handy reference list doesn’t ease your grammatical angst, walk away. Get up and go for a quick walk. Or take care of a household chore. Let things stew for a little while. When you sit back down and confront the grammar in question, you may realize that you do know the answer or you were just in your own head too much.
5. The last bit of advice is to take a deep breath and have confidence in yourself. You know your grammar and vocabulary. You know what you’re doing, especially if you are experienced. And if you’re just beginning your grammatical journey, you still possess the knowledge to help you come to an answer. You can do it.

Do you have certain things you do when you’re feeling doubtful about a solution to a grammatical issue? Let me know in the comment section.