Lesson 15: Proofreading Tips

Hello again class! Now that we have discussed revising, let's move on to proofreading. Proofreading is different from revising in that you don't make as extensive changes to your document. Proofreading usually takes place just a few days before the paper is to be submitted. You are now looking for last minute mistakes. Content don't change much at this point either; at least it shouldn't if you have revised well. Things like formatting, grammar and mechanics, and flow is what you will focus on when you proofread a paper, either your own or another person's. Here's some tips to help you out:

1. Read the paper out loud: Read it slowly, paying special attention to whether the sentences flows and connects, how your ideas might come across to someone reading it, and if there are any left-over fluff previously missed. Reading your writing out loud will help you catch mistakes. Your ears will often hear what your eyes might have missed.

2. Read it out loud to someone else: When you do this, ask them what the point/thesis of your document was. Ask them to restate the main points of what you wrote. If they can't figure it out or gave you the wrong answer, you didn't communicate your ideas effectively. Fixing this problem may take a little more work, so make sure you don't leave proofreading to the last couple hours before the paper is due.

3. Have someone read your paper to you: This method is just another variation to the previous tips. Some people find this way of proofreading to be more effective for them because they can focus on listening. Sometimes when you have the words on the page in front of you, you get ahead of yourself and skim ahead, thus getting distracted. When you have someone read to you, do the same things mentioned in tips 1 and 2.

Well class, this will be all for now. Try each of these different ways of proofreading and see what works for you. But don't worry if you don't find any of these tips all that effective for you because more tips are on the way!