How to Proofread Your How to Proofread Your PaperPaper

By Michael PueppkeBy Michael PueppkeEdited by UWC staffEdited by UWC staff

(© DBU University Writing (© DBU University Writing Center)Center)

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Tips for Proofing………………………………………slide 3Tips for Proofing………………………………………slide 3

Grammar Checks……………………………….slides 4-10Grammar Checks……………………………….slides 4-10

Wordiness……………………………………………..slide 11Wordiness……………………………………………..slide 11

Formatting…………………………………………….slide 12Formatting…………………………………………….slide 12

Organizational Questions to Ask When Organizational Questions to Ask When Proofing……………………………………………..slide 13Proofing……………………………………………..slide 13

Tips For Effective Tips For Effective ProofreadingProofreading

o While proofreading, While proofreading, limit distractions limit distractions such as such as listening to music, watching TV, and listening to music, watching TV, and changing the baby.changing the baby.

o Go to a quiet place and Go to a quiet place and read the paper out read the paper out loudloud!!

o Read the paper Read the paper backwardsbackwards (no, not the words (no, not the words in reverse—the paragraphs. Start with the in reverse—the paragraphs. Start with the conclusion and work to the introduction).conclusion and work to the introduction).

o Find a Find a friendfriend to proofread your paper. to proofread your paper.o Be aware of the following areas of grammar:Be aware of the following areas of grammar:

Grammar Check: Type-osGrammar Check: Type-os

o To manny mis takes are type-os. To manny mis takes are type-os. Microsoft Word does Microsoft Word does notnot find and find and correct all the errors. correct all the errors.

o Cheque each sent ence fortype-os. Cheque each sent ence fortype-os. o Have a friend read throgh your papr Have a friend read throgh your papr

to help check for type-os. to help check for type-os.

Grammar ChecksGrammar Checks

Cheque Four Speling and Cheque Four Speling and Werd Miss-usage ErrersWerd Miss-usage Errers

Grammar Check: Grammar Check: AgreementAgreement

o Verb tense agreement— Verb tense agreement— Ex: She Ex: She waswas arrangingarranging flowers and flowers and talkstalks on on her phone. her phone. o What is wrong with this sentence? (The first What is wrong with this sentence? (The first

verb is verb is pastpast tense; the second is tense; the second is presentpresent.).)

o Plural/Singular verb/noun agreement—Plural/Singular verb/noun agreement—Ex: The Ex: The women shootswomen shoots the basketball. the basketball. o What is wrong with this sentence? (What is wrong with this sentence? (WomenWomen is a is a

plural noun, but plural noun, but shootsshoots is a singular verb.) is a singular verb.)

Grammar Check: FragmentsGrammar Check: Fragmentso Ask: Does every sentence have a Ask: Does every sentence have a subject subject and a and a

verbverb? If not, the sentence is a ? If not, the sentence is a fragmentfragment. .

o If not (this applies mainly to creative writing), If not (this applies mainly to creative writing), does the sentence does the sentence logically follow logically follow from the from the preceding sentence or serve as a preceding sentence or serve as a logical logical introductionintroduction??Examples of effective fragments: Examples of effective fragments:

Does the bird fly slowly? Absolutely.Does the bird fly slowly? Absolutely.And now for something completely different.And now for something completely different.

o Do Do NOTNOT use fragments in academic writing. use fragments in academic writing.

Grammar Check: Run-onsGrammar Check: Run-ons

Beware of linking two completed ideas Beware of linking two completed ideas with one of the following with one of the following conjunctive conjunctive adverbsadverbs without using a without using a semicolonsemicolon or a or a periodperiod before the adverb. before the adverb.

Some examples of conjunctive adverbs:Some examples of conjunctive adverbs:

consequently, finally, however, now, consequently, finally, however, now, moreover, suddenly, than, there, moreover, suddenly, than, there, thereforetherefore

Grammar Check: Grammar Check: The Dreaded CommaThe Dreaded Comma

o Commas are tricky, but they can be very Commas are tricky, but they can be very efficient. efficient.

o Always check, all the commas, because there Always check, all the commas, because there may be, too many in places, they do not belong. may be, too many in places, they do not belong.

o Commas can also be underused like in this Commas can also be underused like in this sentence and because the thoughts are not sentence and because the thoughts are not being effectively broken-up this can add being effectively broken-up this can add frustration. frustration.

o For more help with commas, see our commas For more help with commas, see our commas workshop and handout. workshop and handout.

Grammar Check: PronounsGrammar Check: Pronouns

o In academic writing, I highly In academic writing, I highly recommend that you do recommend that you do NOTNOT use first use first and second person.and second person.

o In other words, we cannot use In other words, we cannot use youyou, , youryour, , yoursyours, , II, , meme, , mymy, , minemine, , wewe, , usus,, ourour, and , and oursours. .

o Eliminate any and all of these Eliminate any and all of these pronouns from academic papers. pronouns from academic papers.

WordinessWordiness

o If a sentence is longer than If a sentence is longer than three lines three lines and and has not been has not been carefully structuredcarefully structured, it is , it is probably wordy. Try for crisp, clean, and probably wordy. Try for crisp, clean, and concise thoughts, not “stream of concise thoughts, not “stream of consciousness” rambling.consciousness” rambling.

o A good way to check for wordiness is A good way to check for wordiness is logical logical flowflow: if your sentences flow logically into : if your sentences flow logically into each other, you probably are not going to be each other, you probably are not going to be overly wordy, unless you write as well as overly wordy, unless you write as well as Thomas Jefferson, which I very much doubt. Thomas Jefferson, which I very much doubt.

o Is the preceding sentence wordy?Is the preceding sentence wordy?

FormattingFormatting

o Always check the formatting, Always check the formatting, whether whether APAAPA, , MLAMLA, or , or TurabianTurabian. .

o Remember to check…Remember to check…o MarginsMarginso Headings and headersHeadings and headerso CitationsCitationso Font and font sizeFont and font size

Organizational Questions to Organizational Questions to Ask When ProofreadingAsk When Proofreading

o Does the paper have a Does the paper have a thesis thesis statementstatement??

o Is the thesis statement Is the thesis statement developeddeveloped and and supportedsupported??

o Does each paragraph Does each paragraph transitiontransition into into the next paragraph logically?the next paragraph logically?

o Does the conclusion “Does the conclusion “tie up the loose tie up the loose endsends” by revisiting the introduction?” by revisiting the introduction?