1. WRITER’S INC PG. 75-79 Editing & proofreading

2. When? Once you’ve completed major revisions-adding, cutting, rewriting, or rearranging the ideas Once you’ve made a clean copy of your revised writing; and Once you’ve set your writing aside for a day or two (if time permits)

3. The big picture Sentence style: rewrite any sentences that disrupt the fluency of your writing. Vary sentence beginnings and lengths. Word choice: replace any words or phrases that get in the way of your message or set the wrong tone. Also replace any overused words, words that are not specific enough, and so on Correct, accurate copy: make sure that your writing follows the basic standards of spelling, punctuation, mechanics, grammar, and usage

4. Avoiding sentence problems Short, choppy sentences: combine any short, choppy sentences, following the examples and guidelines in the handbook (pg. 91) Incorrect sentences: check carefully for fragments, run-ons, and rambling sentences and correct them accordingly (pg. 83-84) Unclear sentences: rewrite any sentences that unclear wording, misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers, or incomplete comparisons (pg. 85-86) Unacceptable sentences: change any sentences that include nonstandard language, double negatives, or unparallel constructions (pg. 89-90) Unnatural, flowery sentences: simplify any sentences that contain flowery language, deadwood, or cliches (pg. 87-88)

5. Avoiding problems with word choice Redundancy: words or phrases that are used together but mean the same thing, or close to the same thing. (repeat again, red in color, refer back) Repetition: words that are unnecessarily repeated in a series of sentences. (The man looked as if he was in his late seventies. The man was dressed in an old, blue suit. I soon realized that the man was….) Usage errors: words used incorrectly. (you’re vs. your, there vs. their, effect vs. affect)

6. Avoiding word choice problems cont’d General nouns & verbs: instances where nouns and verbs are used instead of specific ones. (The girl moved to the end of the bench vs. Rosie slid to the end of the bench) Vague modifiers: overuse of vague words. (nice, neat, good, great, funny, big vs. sympathetic, intricate, sleek) Technical terms: check for words that are not explained. (As the capillaries bleed, platelets work with fibrinogens to form a clot.)

7. Checklist Sentence structure (pg. 81-94)  Did I write clear and complete sentences? Do my sentences flow smoothly? Did I use sentences of varied length and beginning? Word choice & usage (pg. 130-131, 481-500)  Did I avoid redundancy and unnecessary repetition? Did I use the correct word? Did I use specific nouns, vivid, verbs, and colorful modifiers? Punctuation (pg. 455-474)  Does each sentence have the correct end punctuation? Did I use commas and apostrophes correctly? Did I punctuate dialogue?

8. Checklist cont’d Capitalization (pg. 475-477)  Did I start all of my sentences with capital letters? Did I capitalize the proper names of people, places, things, and ideas? Grammar (pg. 518-531)  Do the subjects and verbs agree in all my sentences? Do the pronouns agree with their antecedents? Did I use the correct verb tenses? Spelling (pg. 484-490)  Did I check for spelling errors (including those the spell checker may have missed?)