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Proofreading is the last of the steps in the writing process. It involves the identification and correction of errors in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and formatting. Even though the two previous steps in the process, revising and editing, sometimes involve proofreading tasks, this step is most effective when it is performed separately.
Remember, revising is re-envisioning and rethinking the ideas, organization, and structure of a written work; editing is improving style through word choice and sentence structure. Proofreading focuses on details that include punctuation and spelling, but it does not address the broader questions that are asked during the revising and editing steps.
During proofreading, check your work for (and correct) the following errors:
It's common for writers to proofread throughout the writing process. However, even writers who proofread as they go should include a final step in their process that is devoted exclusively to proofreading. This last step is necessary because, no matter how impressive the ideas presented in a written work may be, they are often not well received by editors, instructors, and other readers who encounter technical/mechanical errors.
Time spent proofreading, therefore, is critical to the success (or failure) of a written work. Even when you've carefully completed all of the previous steps in the writing process, your work may not accomplish your purpose if you don't take the time, and make the effort, to proofread.
As a result of its technical focus, proofreading is the one step in the writing process when you can allow another person to help you with your project. This approach is in some ways similar to using a spell- or grammar-check program to check your work. However, allowing another person to actually make changes to your work is a bad idea. If that person's changes impact any other part of the writing process, your work may be considered dishonest and, perhaps, plagiarized.
Instead, if you need help proofreading, ask a friend or tutor to identify and explain the errors they find. Based on their explanations, you can decide what to do about them (e.g., to make changes or not). By doing so, you'll avoid any dishonesty, including plagiarism. This approach can also be a good way to learn how to proofread so that you'll be confident enough to perform this step yourself on future projects.
Read the following paragraph and see if you can spot all of the typos and errors in punctuation, grammar, or syntax:
Did you find five problems? If not, don't worry. Like writing itself, proofreading takes lots of practice. Here is the version that resulted from proofreading. Note the bold parts, which correspond to the changes outlined below:
In the first sentence, the writer misused the word “humane,” so it was changed to “human,” which is clearly the word that was intended. An unnecessary comma was removed after “this” to begin the fourth sentence. The writer also failed to capitalize the “a” in “Athens” in the fifth sentence. The eighth sentence was a run-on sentence, so it was split into two sentences in order to flow more smoothly and logically. Finally, the writer forgot to add a period after “people” in the final sentence.
It's a good idea to proofread everything you write, even short paragraphs in which ideas are fairly well developed (like this one). By doing so, you'll reduce the possibility of passing along flawed content to readers, and perhaps spare yourself some embarrassment.
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