Proofreading

All writers make mistakes as they put ideas on paper. Because the mind works faster than the pencil (or the computer), a moment’s break in concentration — when someone talks or your phone rings — can lead to errors. Making such mistakes isn’t bad — you simply need to take the time to find and correct them.

Proofreading does take patience but is a skill you can develop. For instance, when you simply glance at the spelling of environment, you may miss the second n. When you read normally, you usually see only the shells of words — the first and last letters. You fix your eyes on the print only three or four times per line or less. When you proofread, try to look at the letters in each word and the punctuation marks between words. Slow down and concentrate.

PROOFREADING CHECKLIST

  • Have you read your draft very slowly, looking at every word and letter? Have you tried to see what is actually written, not what you think is there?
  • Have you read your paper aloud so you can see and hear mistakes?
  • Have you read the essay backward so that you look at each word instead of getting caught up in the flow of ideas?
  • Have you read your essay several times, focusing each time on a specific area of difficulty? (For example, read once for spelling, once for punctuation, and once for a problem that recurs in your writing.)