Proofreading an essay involves more than just using a spelling and grammar checker. After taking a break, the writer should read the essay multiple times, focusing on spelling errors, punctuation and formatting errors, and content. The last reading should ensure that the essay has a clear structure and all arguments are expressed clearly.
Once an essay draft is written, the writer will need to do some proofreading to identify spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and so on. Many people make the mistake of simply using the spelling and grammar checker on a word processing software; While this is a good first step when proofreading, the process shouldn’t stop there. It can help the writer to take a break after finishing the essay to relax and let his mind recover. Once the break has been taken, the writer can begin proofreading an essay by reading it over and over looking for certain types of errors each time.
The first time a writer reads the document while proofreading, they should look exclusively for spelling errors. This process should include looking for misspelled words, but it should also include looking for words that are spelled correctly but not necessarily used correctly. Spelling and grammar checkers on word processing programs may, for example, make corrections that are not in line with the author’s original intent. The writer may accidentally change the word “done” to “crazy,” even if the writer intended the word to be “done.” Proofreading an essay should include looking for such errors.
The next time the writer reads the essay, they should look for any punctuation and formatting errors. This can include misplaced commas or periods, or it can include extra spaces between words or paragraphs. The writer should ensure that the title is formatted correctly and that page numbers are added if applicable. Margins should be set to whatever specification an instructor or editor outlines, and line spacing should be consistent throughout the document.
The last reading when proofreading an essay should focus on the content of the essay. The writer will have to read carefully to make sure that all sentences are complete – they should have both a subject and a predicate – and that the paragraphs flow correctly. The topics that the writer has outlined should all be present in the essay and the paragraphs should be easy to read. All arguments should be clearly expressed so that the reader can understand them easily. It may be helpful to analyze whether the essay has a distinct introduction with thesis statement, supporting paragraphs and also the conclusion.
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