PROOFREADING
For a writer, proofreading is a must. Even if the written product is only a 250-word essay, the
writer must be able to reread it and spot any errors. Proofreading is an acquired skill, not an
innate ability.
Here are some hints for proofreading more effectively:
If you are writing rather than typing:
1. Write on every other line. This may help you see mistakes, and it provides room for
corrections.
2. Write on one side of the paper. If you do, the letters look clearer and neater.
In general:
3. When proofreading, read slowly and carefully. Make sure you read what is actually
written there, not what you think you wrote. Also, if you are in a place where you can
read aloud, do it. If you are writing an out-of-class assignment, find someone who spells
well to proofread for you.
4. If at all possible, do not proofread something as soon as you write it; let it “rest” for one
or two days first.
5. Try reading the essay backwards. This technique forces you to look for each word
individually.
6. If you are proofreading a rough draft, make the spelling corrections in a different color of
ink.
7. You might find it necessary to proofread at least two times—once for content and the
second for grammar.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Proofreading Your Papers:
1. Did I stop to soon and place a period where I didn’t need one?
2. Is every group of words between a capital letter and a period a complete sentence?
3. Did I use a comma where I really needed to stop the sentence and use a period?
4. Did I forget to use a period to separate two sentences that are running into each other?
5. If the subject of my sentence is singular and the verb that goes with it is in the present
tense, did I remember to add s to the verb?
6. Did I forget to add s or es or ies to the regular plural nouns?
7. Did I forget to add ed to the regular verbs that are supposed to be in the past tense?
8. Do the pronouns that I used agree with the nouns they refer to?
9. When I was trying to show possession, did I add ‘ or ‘s as needed?
10. Did I ever leave the reader waiting for more explanation?
PROOFREADING EXERCISE 1
Introduction to Your Own Eye Span
1. a. Take an index card or sheet in your hand and cover the slogan below. Quickly
uncover it and glance at it at once.
b. Now glance at one line at a time, do you notice any errors?
EVERYBODY
IS SUPPORTING THE
THE MORATORIUM
2. This pyramid is made up of letters of the alphabet in normal order:
a b c d e, etc. Each line has two more letters than the line before. Read down, using your card to
expose one line at a time, finding out how many letters you can take in one eye fixation.
a
abc
abcde
abcfdeg
abcdefghij
Now proofread each line, are there any errors?
3. Here is a pyramid of numbers in normal order. Follow the same directions.
1
123
12345
1243567
123457689
4. Here is a word pyramid. Try again.
a
it
top
bird
smile
indeed
anxeity
complete
newspaper
PROOFREADING EXERCISE # 2
Some of the following sentences contain spelling errors; others do not. No sentence contains more than
one mistake.
When you find an error, print the word, correctly spelled, in the “W” column. If you find no errors, leave
the “W” column blank. If you are doubtful of your choice, put a check mark in the “D” column.
W
1. W.C. Fields said that no man who hated children
and dogs could be all bad.
D
_____________________
______
2. We were suprised when snow fell in July.
_____________________
______
3. The cowboy rode down the canyon trial into the
sunset.
_____________________
______
4. When I open my books and start studing, I tend
to fall asleep.
_____________________
______
5. My father is a rancher, but my brother wants to
study diary farming.
_____________________
______
6. I’d rather sleep ten hours tonight then go to
the concert.
_____________________
______
7. He found his boots on the kiteken floor among the
empty bottles.
_____________________
______
8. Running across campus, he tripped anb broke his
ankle.
_____________________
______
9. The lecturer seemed indifferent to his students’
feelings.
_____________________
______
10. He gamble his fortune on the cards, and lost
everthing he had saved.
_____________________
______
11. If there were more trash csns around, the campus
might be neater.
_____________________
______
12. The only good thing about cold weather is the
chance to go skating and sking.
_____________________
______
13. Ancient scholars used to argue about how many
angels could dance on the point of a pin.
_____________________
______
W
D
14. If we don’t hang separately, we shall hang
togeather.
_____________________
______
15. The boy threw the ball though the window.
_____________________
______
16. It’s not the exams I mind so much as the
prepartion.
_____________________
______
17. It’s hard to remember the differecs between
“exceed” and “accede.”
_____________________
______
18. Proofreading is a difficult but pratical skill.
_____________________
______
19. I find it hard to maintain an interest in Botany.
_____________________
______
20. Proofreading is harder than writting.
_____________________
______
21. She returned from Florida gorgeonsly tanned.
_____________________
______
22. Does any faculty member at the university
know all of his students individally?
_____________________
______
23. I keep hoping I’ll fall in love.
_____________________
______
24. I find Chemistry throughly confusing.
_____________________
______
25. It’s better to participate in events than to stand
their looking on.
_____________________
______
PROOFREADING EXERCISE # 3
The directions are the same as for Exercise 2.
Caution: In some of the following sentences a word may be omitted or repeated. In that case there will
be no spelling errors in the sentence.
If you find any omissions or repetitions, make an appropriate note in the “W” column.
W
D
Example: John fell off bicycle on his way to
the supermarket.
_____________________
______
1. The linebacker suffered an injury to his
soldier muscles.
_____________________
______
2. There are many ways of measuring educational
achievement, but it is an unfortunate truth that
that none is particularly successful.
_____________________
______
3. Subtracting wrong answers from right answers
on multiple-choice test is known as “overcorrection for chance.”
_____________________
______
4. These are the times that try men’s soula.
_____________________
______
5. English contains many words, which were
borrowed form Latin and Greek.
_____________________
______
6. Some methods of instrution are considerably
more successful than others.
_____________________
______
7. For instance, it has been proved that teaching
grammar has little or no effect the quality of
writing.
_____________________
______
8. The worst prisoners make the best guards.
_____________________
______
10. Perhaps there are eighteen mistakes in this
exercise, but I thing there are only fifteen.
_____________________
______
11. When he gets though college, he plans to go to
graduate school.
_____________________
______
9. Thorough preparation is essential for success
on examinations.
W
D
12. When you finish listening to tape, turn off
tape recorder.
_____________________
______
13. The girl complained that her roommate ate
peanuts all night.
_____________________
______
14. When the football game was over, the bleachers
ware littered with pop bottles.
_____________________
______
15. Never accept anything from “the friendly strager.”
_____________________
______
16. He lost his balance and fell from the scaffolding.
_____________________
______
17. The population explosion will probaly bring mass
starvation in its wake.
_____________________
______
18. All the shows were solde out.
_____________________
______
19. Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like hone.
_____________________
______
20. The trouble with lectures is that the listener’s mind
words faster than the speaker can talk.
_____________________
______
21. I can’t possible go to the movies tonight.
_____________________
______
22. Research into methods of teaching composition
reveals that there is no one universally successful
method of instruction.
_____________________
______
23. Spelling becomes more understandable when you
learn to tell the differences between stressed and
unstressed syllables.
_____________________
______
24. “Privilege” is among the forty words most
commonly mispelled by college students.
_____________________
______
25. An increased sense of doubt lead to a decreased
number spelling errors.
_____________________
______
PROOFREADING EXERCISE # 4
Directions: In the following paragraph, locate, circle, and correct the spelling errors you find.
Being the cheif historian in a large organization is a real challenge. The recuests to
compile the momentos collected throughout the year are usualy made very late in the year, but,
amazingly enough, those who make incredable demands expect nothing less then perfeccion.
After the peices of “scraps” are collected for a scrapbook, there is no one around to help out.
However, those who didnt work are the first to pass judgement on the final product. The
quickest way known to man to become knowledgeable about the art of cutting and glueing is to
become a historian.