Proofreading is the process of locating and correcting errors in your paper, such as spelling, punctuation, word usage errors, and paragraph and sentence structure errors. Proofreading is essential in good writing so that your readers don’t get distracted by careless mistakes.

Editing and Rewriting Process To check sentence structure and sentence errors To check sentence structure and sentence errors To check paragraph structure To check paragraph structure To check typographical errors To check typographical errors To check punctuation To check punctuation To check word choice and usage To check word choice and usage

Strategies Don’t rely on spell checkers. They have a limited dictionary. They have a limited dictionary. Read slowly and aloud. Read slowly and aloud. This helps you read every word that is on the page and not what you think is there. This helps you read every word that is on the page and not what you think is there. Read with a cover. Read with a cover. Having a blank sheet of paper sliding down the page as you read helps you make a line-by-line overview of your paper. Having a blank sheet of paper sliding down the page as you read helps you make a line-by-line overview of your paper. Note common mistakes. If you know you routinely misspell a word, learn how to spell it correctly. If you know you routinely misspell a word, learn how to spell it correctly. Proofread your work more than once. You will notice mistakes you missed the first time. You will notice mistakes you missed the first time. Have someone else proofread for you. Another set of eyes can locate errors our eyes may miss. Another set of eyes can locate errors our eyes may miss. Read your work backwards. Start with the final sentence, and then read the one before it, and then the one before that, etc. Do this process twice. Once for editing and once for proofreading. This will help you with your sentence structuring. Start with the final sentence, and then read the one before it, and then the one before that, etc. Do this process twice. Once for editing and once for proofreading. This will help you with your sentence structuring.

Editing Checklist Can you point to a Thesis Statement in the essay? Is it clearly stated? Does the text carry out the purpose of the thesis statement? If not, does the body of the paper need some paring down or elaboration or does the thesis statement need to be refined to reflect an improved text? Can you point to a Thesis Statement in the essay? Is it clearly stated? Does the text carry out the purpose of the thesis statement? If not, does the body of the paper need some paring down or elaboration or does the thesis statement need to be refined to reflect an improved text?Thesis StatementThesis Statement Are the ideas in the essay clearly ordered? If the reader had to, could he or she devise an Outline that would reveal the order of development in your argument? Is there any part of the essay that could be left out to good effect? (If so, could a revised organization "save" that part?) Are the ideas in the essay clearly ordered? If the reader had to, could he or she devise an Outline that would reveal the order of development in your argument? Is there any part of the essay that could be left out to good effect? (If so, could a revised organization "save" that part?)Outline Are there any serious fallacies in the Logic of your argument? Are there any serious fallacies in the Logic of your argument?Logic Are paragraphs adequately developed and is there a clear Transition from one idea to the next? Are paragraphs adequately developed and is there a clear Transition from one idea to the next?paragraphs adequately developedTransitionparagraphs adequately developedTransition Is the Introduction clear and adequately developed? Is the Introduction clear and adequately developed?Introduction Does the Conclusion do what you want it to? Does the conclusion remind us of what the Thesis Statement told us (but not too simplistically). Does the Conclusion do what you want it to? Does the conclusion remind us of what the Thesis Statement told us (but not too simplistically).Conclusion Is the Tone consistent and appropriate for the audience you want to reach and the subject you're treating? Have you avoided slang and being overly casual; at the other extreme, have you avoided sounding pretentious and stuffy? Is the Tone consistent and appropriate for the audience you want to reach and the subject you're treating? Have you avoided slang and being overly casual; at the other extreme, have you avoided sounding pretentious and stuffy?Tone

Personal Grammatical Issues Fragments Run-ons Comma Usage Other Punctuation Marks Articles Plurals and Possessives Pronouns Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement Modifier Misplacement Subject/Verb Agreement Tense Sequence Capitalization Italics and Underlining Using Numbers Wordiness Parallelism Confusion Spelling

Other Concerns Style Lack of clarity Lack of fluency Inappropriate vocabulary Diction Correct verb form/tense Subject/verb agreement Appropriate word choice Mechanics Spacing Capitalization Dash (not hyphen) Quotation marks Sentence Boundaries Fragments Run-ons/comma splices Awkward constructions Punctuation Comma use/misuse Semicolon/colon misuse Hyphens

The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile. --Robert Cormier

Works Cited Iten, Michelle. "General Stratagies for Editing and Proofreading." The Write Place. 28 Sept Jun "The Editing and Rewriting Process." The Guide to Grammar and Writing. Capital Community College. 29 June 2006.