By Michael Pueppke
Edited by UWC staff
(© DBU University Writing Center)

Tips for Proofing………………………………………slide 3
Grammar Checks……………………………….slides 4-10
Wordiness……………………………………………..slide 11
Formatting…………………………………………….slide 12
Organizational Questions to Ask When
Proofing……………………………………………..slide 13

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While proofreading, limit distractions such as listening to music, watching TV, and changing the baby.
Go to a quiet place and read the paper out
loud!
Read the paper backwards (no, not the words in reverse—the paragraphs. Start with the conclusion and work to the introduction).
Find a friend to proofread your paper.
Be aware of the following areas of grammar:

o o o
To manny mis takes are type-os.
Microsoft Word does not find and correct all the errors.
Cheque each sent ence fortype-os.
Have a friend read throgh your papr to help check for type-os.

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Verb tense agreement—
Ex: She was arranging on her phone. flowers and talks o
What is wrong with this sentence? (The first verb is past tense; the second is present .) o
Plural/Singular verb/noun agreement—
Ex: The women shoots the basketball. o
What is wrong with this sentence? ( a plural noun, but
Women is shoots is a singular verb.)

o
Ask: Does every sentence have a subject and a verb ? If not, the sentence is a fragment . o
If not (this applies mainly to creative writing), does the sentence logically follow sentence or serve as a from the preceding logical introduction ?
Examples of effective fragments:
Does the bird fly slowly? Absolutely.
And now for something completely different.
o
Do NOT use fragments in academic writing.

Beware of linking two completed ideas with one of the following without using a before the adverb.
conjunctive adverbs semicolon or a period
Some examples of conjunctive adverbs: consequently, finally, however, now, moreover, suddenly, than, there, therefore

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Commas are tricky, but they can be very efficient.
Always check, all the commas, because there may be, too many in places, they do not belong.
Commas can also be underused like in this sentence and because the thoughts are not being effectively broken-up this can add frustration.
For more help with commas, see our commas workshop and handout.

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In academic writing, I highly recommend that you do NOT use first and second person.
In other words, we cannot use you , your , yours , I , me , my , mine , we , us , our , and ours .
Eliminate any and all of these pronouns from academic papers.

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If a sentence is longer than three lines and has not been carefully structured , it is probably wordy. Try for crisp, clean, and concise thoughts, not “stream of consciousness” rambling.
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A good way to check for wordiness is logical flow : if your sentences flow logically into each other, you probably are not going to be overly wordy, unless you write as well as Thomas
Jefferson, which I very much doubt. o
Is the preceding sentence wordy?

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Always check the formatting, whether
APA , MLA , or Turabian .
Remember to check… o o o o
Margins
Headings and headers
Citations
Font and font size

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Does the paper have a thesis statement ?
Is the thesis statement developed and supported ?
Does each paragraph transition into the next paragraph logically?
Does the conclusion “ tie up the loose ends ” by revisiting the introduction?