Download How to Proofread Your Paper

How to Proofread Your Paper
By Michael Pueppke
Edited by UWC staff
(© DBU University Writing Center)
Table of Contents
Tips for Proofing………………………………………slide 3
Grammar Checks……………………………….slides 4-10
Wordiness……………………………………………..slide 11
Formatting…………………………………………….slide 12
Organizational Questions to Ask When
Proofing……………………………………………..slide 13
Tips For Effective Proofreading
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While proofreading, limit distractions such as
listening to music, watching TV, and changing
the baby.
Go to a quiet place and read the paper out
loud!
Read the paper backwards (no, not the words in
reverse—the paragraphs. Start with the
conclusion and work to the introduction).
Find a friend to proofread your paper.
Be aware of the following areas of grammar:
Grammar Check: Type-os
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To manny mis takes are type-os.
Microsoft Word does not find and correct
all the errors.
Cheque each sent ence fortype-os.
Have a friend read throgh your papr to
help check for type-os.
Grammar Checks
Cheque Four Speling and Werd
Miss-usage Errers
Grammar Check: Agreement
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Verb tense agreement—
Ex: She was arranging flowers and talks
on her phone.
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What is wrong with this sentence? (The first
verb is past tense; the second is present.)
Plural/Singular verb/noun agreement—
Ex: The women shoots the basketball.
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What is wrong with this sentence? (Women is
a plural noun, but shoots is a singular verb.)
Grammar Check: Fragments
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Ask: Does every sentence have a subject and a
verb? If not, the sentence is a fragment.
If not (this applies mainly to creative writing), does
the sentence logically follow from the preceding
sentence or serve as a logical introduction?
Examples of effective fragments:
Does the bird fly slowly? Absolutely.
And now for something completely different.
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Do NOT use fragments in academic writing.
Grammar Check: Run-ons
Beware of linking two completed ideas with
one of the following conjunctive adverbs
without using a semicolon or a period
before the adverb.
Some examples of conjunctive adverbs:
consequently, finally, however, now,
moreover, suddenly, than, there, therefore
Grammar Check:
The Dreaded Comma
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Commas are tricky, but they can be very
efficient.
Always check, all the commas, because there
may be, too many in places, they do not belong.
Commas can also be underused like in this
sentence and because the thoughts are not
being effectively broken-up this can add
frustration.
For more help with commas, see our commas
workshop and handout.
Grammar Check: Pronouns
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In academic writing, I highly recommend
that you do NOT use first and second
person.
In other words, we cannot use you, your,
yours, I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, and
ours.
Eliminate any and all of these pronouns
from academic papers.
Wordiness
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If a sentence is longer than three lines and has
not been carefully structured, it is probably
wordy. Try for crisp, clean, and concise
thoughts, not “stream of consciousness”
rambling.
A good way to check for wordiness is logical
flow: if your sentences flow logically into each
other, you probably are not going to be overly
wordy, unless you write as well as Thomas
Jefferson, which I very much doubt.
Is the preceding sentence wordy?
Formatting
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Always check the formatting, whether
APA, MLA, or Turabian.
Remember to check…
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Margins
Headings and headers
Citations
Font and font size
Organizational Questions to Ask
When Proofreading
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Does the paper have a thesis statement?
Is the thesis statement developed and
supported?
Does each paragraph transition into the
next paragraph logically?
Does the conclusion “tie up the loose
ends” by revisiting the introduction?