Quick Fix- Editing Checklist

Grammar, Spelling, Word Choice Corrections

Editing Checklist Examples and Details

□ I have eliminated the vast majority of contractions in my paper.

o Don’t do noto Can’t cannoto They’re, it’s, isn’t, AND ALL OTHERS are gone

□ I sound sophisticated and am making scholarly word choices.

o I don’t use vague words like big, small, good, bad, and so forth.▪ Like such as OR for example▪ Many several

o I don’t use absolutes unless they’re actually true▪ All most or many▪ No one very few people or a small minority of people▪ Every time in the majority of cases

□ When I create a list (three or more items), I use parallelism.

o Parallelism is when all the parts of the list are the same part of speech.

o Incorrect: In order to fix the achievement gap we must raise the standards of becoming a teacher, require early childhood education, and giving money to the schools.

o Correct: In order to fix the achievement gap we must raise the standards of becoming a teacher, require early childhood education, and redistribute money to the schools

□ Self Editing (aloud) o Choose two or three paragraphs and read them aloud. Is there a good flow? Do they sound completely correct? Am I missing words or word endings? Do I sound formal and scholarly? Do I sound confident? You can partner with someone to read aloud if that helps.

□ Circle the first word of every sentence.

o Within a paragraph, no two sentences should start with the same word. Change them if they do.

o No two paragraphs in your essay should start with the same word, change them if they do.

□ Sentence fragments – check the ENTIRE paper

o Every sentence must have a subject and a verb.o If Microsoft word is underlining your sentence in squiggly green,

it’s a fragment.o Fragment: International gang violence that affects the whole

world.o Fixed: International gang violence affects the whole world.

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□ Commonly confused/misused words

o It’s vs. its▪ It’s = it is▪ Its is possessive – something belongs to it. Ex: the luggage

broke its wheel.o They’re, there, their

▪ They’re = they are▪ There = location. Ex: Over there▪ Their = possessive, belongs to them. Ex: they lost their

passports.o Too, two, to

▪ Too = excess Ex. Too much or too many▪ Two = 2▪ To = infinitive of verbs or mark of location Ex: I love to shop. I

go to the mall.o Affect (verb) vs. Effect (noun)o Lay/Lieo Choose/Choseo Less/Fewero Every day/everydayo Than/theno Who/whom

□ Passive versus active voice – each paragraph has more active verbs than passive.

o Active: Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales. (Person does action)

o Passive: The Canterbury Tales were written by Chaucer. (Object receives action)

□ Transitions between ideas, sentences, evidence and paragraphs are the key to good writing. Use connecting words often and mix up your transitions to guide your reader through your argument.

o Paragraph starters – First, next, then, In additiono Internal paragraph transitions – for example, therefore, howevero Use more dynamic transitions by linking between paragraphso Show addition: Also, furthermore, moreover, indeed, in facto As examples: for instance, specifically, consider, as an illustrationo To elaborate: actually, in other words, ultimately, in shorto To compare: likewise, similarly, in the same wayo To contrast: on the other hand, despite, conversely, neverthelesso To show cause and effect: hence, accordingly, consequentlyo Concession: admittedly, granted, naturally, although it is trueo Conclusion: as a result, in sum, thus, to summarize, to sum up

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