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 o While proofreading, limit distractions such as listening to music, watching TV, and changing the baby. o Go to a quiet place and read the paper out loud! o Read the paper backwards (no, not the words in reverse—the paragraphs. Start with the conclusion and work to the introduction). o Find a friend to proofread your paper. o Be aware of the following areas of grammar:

Grammar Check: Type-os o To manny mis takes are type-os. Microsoft Word does not find and correct all the errors. o Cheque each sent ence fortype-os. o 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 o Verb tense agreement— Ex: She was arranging flowers and talks on her phone. o What is wrong with this sentence? (The first verb is past tense; the second is present.) o Plural/Singular verb/noun agreement— Ex: The women shoots the basketball. o What is wrong with this sentence? (Women is a plural noun, but shoots is a singular verb.)

Grammar Check: Fragments o Ask: Does every sentence have a subject and a verb? If not, the sentence is a fragment. o 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. o 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 consequently, finally, however, now, moreover, suddenly, than, there, therefore

Grammar Check: The Dreaded Comma o Commas are tricky, but they can be very efficient. o Always check, all the commas, because there may be, too many in places, they do not belong. o Commas can also be underused like in this sentence and because the thoughts are not being effectively broken-up this can add frustration. o For more help with commas, see our commas workshop and handout.

Grammar Check: Pronouns o In academic writing, I highly recommend that you do NOT use first and second person. o In other words, we cannot use you, your, yours, I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, and ours. o Eliminate any and all of these pronouns from academic papers.

Wordiness o 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. o 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. o Is the preceding sentence wordy?

Formatting o Always check the formatting, whether APA, MLA, or Turabian. o Remember to check… o Margins o Headings and headers o Citations o Font and font size

Organizational Questions to Ask When Proofreading o Does the paper have a thesis statement? o Is the thesis statement developed and supported? o Does each paragraph transition into the next paragraph logically? o Does the conclusion “tie up the loose ends” by revisiting the introduction?