Before submitting your draft to your audience, take time for one last, careful proofreading to correct any typographical errors or other slips, such as inconsistencies in spelling and punctuation. Remember that running the spell checker, while necessary, is not the equivalent of thorough proofreading.

To proofread most effectively, read through the copy aloud, making sure that you have used punctuation marks correctly and consistently, that all sentences are complete, and that no words are missing. Then go through the copy again, this time reading backward so that you can focus on each word and its spelling.

Student writing: Final draft (Emily Lesk)