If you have any trouble understanding the title, you could probably benefit from hiring a proofreader. This question is asking about a sandwich; to whom does this sandwich belong? It must belong to one of the witches, but which one?
Using homographs correctly can be problematic. Sometimes we skip over the misspelled word because we are aware of what we are expecting and assume that is what is there. Other times our spell-checking program does not recognize this as a misspelled word, because it is spelled correctly, and we miss that it is used incorrectly because we are relying on AI instead of the human brain.
Check your manuscript
Sometimes this can be caught by reading out loud. We see and hear, and the use of both senses causes the brain to interact with what is actually in front of us, not just what we expect. Another way is to search for commonly misused words using the find-and-replace option in Word. Check each use of the word in question to see if a homograph is needed instead or if it is the correct spelling.
When a writer has spent weeks, or months, or even years, on their book, it can be overwhelming to think about going back through and looking for specific errors. The words are magical, they are the soul being poured out onto paper. How can this be reduced to mere rules of grammar and syntax? For the reader, however, this will only be a wondrous and enthralling experience if those rules are followed.
Imagine reading about the sandwich, but the question reads, “Witch ‘wich is which?” Would you assume that the first word is misspelled, or be totally confused? Would you understand why there is an apostrophe? Clarity and proper word usage are so important to comprehension. Proofreading can be done by the author, but many times it is best to lay aside the manuscript for a few weeks, yes, I mean weeks, before looking back through it for spelling, grammar, and formatting issues.
self-check, or proofreader?
It takes the brain a while to cool off, so to speak, after interacting with information. If you do not have that kind of time and leisure, to let it lay for a month or more, then hiring a proofreader will be in your best interest. As they say, “You get what you pay for.” A new proofreader may cost less, be quite fresh from a training course, and give you great service.
On the other hand, they may not have been trained well and just be starting out and miss quite a few things. A trained, practiced, and experienced proofreader may cost a bit more, but should have a portfolio of work to prove their value. If other authors have trusted them and their publications are excellent, then you can be confident that you will be receiving similar excellence.
It takes practice to become experienced; it only takes work and good resources to be excellent. Even a new proofreader can be excellent; check their references, their training, and ask questions. You never know when saving money hiring a new person could result in a long-term business relationship.
So, use good resources, take your time to research rules, or research proofreaders you might hire, and let your work be excellent!
Happy writing,
Liza the Bookworm