Some people are confused about editing and proofreading. To clarify this, editing starts while you are still working on your first draft. It has something to do with correcting the logistics of the paper. Compared to surface-level errors and grammars. While proofreading occurs when editing is done. It focuses on surface-level errors like grammar errors and misspelling.
What is Proofreading?
Proofreading written material is the last and final step that must be done. Before a document is considered complete. It is necessary to carefully proofread before printing or submitting a research paper. The memo, essay, email, or other written document. When you’re proofreading a document, you should read it slowly and loudly. To identify whether it conveys your desired messages. You might want to rewrite some parts of your paper if the title or the introductory paragraph. Do not deliver the intent of the paper. And if the paragraph doesn’t flow naturally from the introduction. You have to conduct further research or ask for help from proofreading services.
Proofreading is an essential part of the writing process that includes English experts. To rectify and identify punctuation, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary errors. Good writing always involves revision and modification. Proofreading is the last step between the writer and the reader. That is why it is very important to take the time needed to make sure that what you’re writing is accurate. Easily understood and clear. Proofreading assists you to check what is needed to be included in any piece of writing. It gives you the chance to review your work, and add anything if there’s any that missed out.
Effective Tips and Techniques for Proofreading:
- Focus and concentration are key
– You have to concentrate once you spot any mistakes. This means getting rid of potential interruptions and distractions. Stay away from anything that will disturb you, switch off your cell phone and turn off the television.
- Put it on paper
– people read differently on paper and on-screen. So you have to print out a copy of your writing. Your ear might catch some errors while you read aloud that your eye may have missed.
- Watch out for Homonyms
- Homonyms are words that have the same pronunciations and spelling. So you have to pay attention to them. Yet they have different meanings.
- Watch out for Apostrophes and Contractions
- A similar mistake can hurt the credibility of your text. Also, understand that the apostrophe is never used to form plurals.
- Check the Punctuation
- Giving more attention to the words is good, yet do not forget or neglect the punctuation. Pay attention to missing or extra commas and capitalized words. Periods that are used incorrectly and so many more.
- Read it Backwards
- When you’re writing, there is a great possibility that you get blind to your mistakes. Since the brain instantly corrects mistaken words inside sentences. You can read the text backward, to break this pattern, word by word.
- Check the numbers
- Make sure that you write the numbers accordingly. It will be a different thing once you have input an incorrect value. It will affect the credibility of the information you are writing.
- Get an opinion from someone to proofread it
- After having checked all the mentioned points. You must consider getting a friend to proofread it for you. A second person will be a great help to identify some of your mistakes, they will be in a better position to check. Whether the sentences are correct or something is missing.
You must understand that proofreading is not just about errors. You want to ensure your sentences are on point. Making them clear, interesting, and smooth. Be careful with very long sentences, they may be unclear to the reader. More direct sentences are better. Search for irrelevant phrases, awkward spots, and repetition. Though there are a lot of proofreading techniques that will help you. The above-mentioned will also make sure that you have a good strategy. Whoever is doing the process of proofreading will remain efficient and consistent.