Many people use the words proofreading
and revising interchangeably, but in reality they are
both very different steps in the writing process.
usually occurs after the first draft is written. It
focuses on the “big picture” (organization, tone,
clarity, support, etc.) of your paper.
is probably most effective when performed towards the
end of the writing process. It is the time when you
check for things like grammar, spelling, mechanics, word
choice, punctuation, etc.
During revising you should be asking
yourself these sorts of questions:
√ Is my thesis clear?
√ Is there a logical
structure/organization from paragraph to paragraph? Do
into each other while still reverting
back to my original main idea?
√ Does the structure inside my
paragraphs (sentence to sentence) make sense?
√ Do I develop my ideas clearly
throughout the paper?
√ Is the tone that is used throughout
the paper the right one for the intended
√ Does my introduction help give readers
an idea of what is to come in the paper and
entice them to keep reading?
√ Does my conclusion show that my paper
is significant? Does it make connections to
an even larger picture or relate the
paper to everyday life?
√ Do I fulfill the assignment I was
given by my professor?
√ Are there sections where I can expand
without padding the text? Will it make my
paper better if I add more examples or
explain an idea further, etc.?
√ Are there any ideas or words repeated
unnecessarily? Can I remove them without
compromising the clarity of what I’m
Don’t be afraid to make changes on your
draft. It is only a draft and
it can only improve when examined closely.
Before you begin proofreading, make
sure you’ve revised so that things like your
content, organization, and style are how you want
them to be.
By revising first and proofreading
second you can save a lot of time because you are
improving ideas that you know will remain in your
final paper, as opposed to correcting sections that
be deleted in the future
Some hints for proofreading:
√ Spell check and grammar check are
not always right and do not correct
everything. Your computer does not know the
difference between “here” and “hear,” and grammar check
is not sophisticated enough to solve most punctuation
√ Have someone else read your paper over
for you. After working on a paper for a long time, it is
sometimes difficult to see mistakes that can be obvious
to someone who is reading it for the first time.
√ Schedule a consultation at the writing
center. The consultants are there to offer you feedback
and support at any step in your writing.
√ Read your work slowly or even aloud.
This can help you hear everything that you have written.
Some mistakes will jump out at you that you didn’t see
while reading silently. If you’re embarrassed to read
your work aloud, you can pick up the phone and pretend
like you’re talking to someone as you read your work.
√ Mix up your pages so they’re out of
order and read each one. This will help you focus on
details like grammar and word choice, as opposed to the
content of your paper.
√ Read your paper backwards starting
with your last sentence, then second to last sentence,
third to last…etc. This helps you focus on each
individual sentence out of the context of the entire
√ Place you finger underneath each word
and read them slowly. This will help you focus on the
individual words and sentences
√ Use a sheet of scrap paper and place
it under each line of text. This way you are focused on
only one line at a time.
Visit the University Writing
Center soon to become a more flexible and expert writer!
For more information, call
410-543-6332 or visit us in GUC 206.