Proofreading

Why Is proofreading important?
It helps you find errors in your papers.
Helps the final copy show that the writer is thorough and organized.

Proof-reading
Revise your paper to your satisfaction.
You locate and correct all errors, mechanical and typographical.

When proofreading…
Make sure you check:
Paragraph structure
Sentence structure
Sentence error
Spelling
Typographical errors
Word choice and usage

Proofreading Tips
Spell checking programs:
Don’t rely on them.
Spell check doesn’t catch all problems.

Proofreading Tips
Check your punctuation.
Incorrect apostrophes
Period placement
Commas placement
Other punctuation errors

Proofreading Tips
Consistency
Check for it!
Important for the flow of your paper.
Check to make sure the paper flows easily for your reader.
Make sure your reader can understand what they read.

Proofreading Tips
Spelling of words.
Check for proper usage of nouns and verbs.
Watch for typos.

Proofreading Tips
Complete Sentences
Incomplete sentences can distract the reader.
Sentence fragments should only be used in fiction or creative writings.

Proofreading Tips
Connect your section properly.
Check to see whether or not it is coherent.
Check for weak points.
Do more research if necessary.

Proofreading Tips
Get a friend to read it.
They can catch things you can’t see.
This tip is rarely used in college.

Proofreading Techniques
A fresh perspective
Take breaks in between writing and reading your paper.
Ask someone to read the paper to you.
This technique can be used to catch distractions and places where you stumble.

Proofreading Techniques
Use a check list
This technique can be used to check editing.
To keep the check list up to date, you should modify it every time you get a paper back with mistakes.

Proofreading Techniques
Use a computer.
Print a draft just for proofreading.
Use large print to help catch the mistakes.
Use large spacing to give you room to write in corrections.