bedguide10e

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.

Let a paper sit several days, overnight, or at least a few hours before proofreading so that you allow time to gain perspective.
Budget enough time to proofread thoroughly. For a long essay or complex research paper with a list of sources, schedule several sessions.
Ask someone else to read your paper and tell you if it is free of errors. But take pride in your own work. Don’t let someone else do it for you.
Use a dictionary or a spell-checker, but remember that a spell-checker recognizes only correct spelling, not correct choices.
Keep a list of your habitual errors, especially those your instructor has already pointed out. Double-check for these errors (such as leaving off -s or -ed endings or putting in unnecessary commas).

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.)