P ROOFREADING Lucy Sefton

A IMS AND OBJECTIVES Aim : Practice proofreading skills Objectives:  Take part in discussions regarding proofreading  Proofread own work  Punctuate the Dear Jack  Make a list of your proofreading skills

P ROOFREADING This is VERY important Remember 30 – 40% of the question will be marked on spelling, punctuation and grammar

T HE H UMAN M IND … I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod autacliy uesdnatnrd what I was rdnieag. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mind. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabridge Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

P ROOFREADING S KILLS Proofreading is difficult! But it’s a skill which can be acquired Use proofreading strategies Take a break S l o w d o w n Read with a cover

P ROOFREADING S KILLS 2 Read aloud Read from the end of your work to the beginning Work with a partner Understand the limitations of the spell checker

Eye halve a spelling chequer It came with my pea sea It plainly marques four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the weigh My chequer tolled me sew.

P ERSONALISE YOUR PROOFREADING Know your problem areas Make a list of specific errors marked frequently in previous pieces of work Order them with most frequently occurring at the top Learn concepts Write Concentrate on your ideas and proofread at the end

W HAT TO LOOK FOR Sentence length Vary the length of sentences in each paragraph Consider breaking long ones into shorter units Spelling errors Homophones – there/their/they’re

W HAT TO LOOK FOR Text speak – will i c u 2nite? i’m Left out words Check for clear meaning Punctuation Commas, apostrophes, semicolons

P UNCTUATE THIS ! Dear Jack I want a man who knows what love is all about you are generous kind thoughtful people who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior you have ruined me for other men I yearn for you I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart I can be forever happy will you let me be yours Jill

C OULD BE : Dear Jack I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours? Jill

OR:OR: Dear Jack I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I yearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours, Jill

H AVE A GO ! Using these methods Proofread your work Swap with a partner to proofread When you are completely happy hand it in to be marked