ELI 100
Tremblay
Editing Checklist
For each sentence in your paper, answer the following questions:
Content:
1. Is your sentence clear to the reader? Would it be clear to a reader who does not know anything
about your topic?
2. Is the information expressed in a logical way? Is there any way you can improve the wording?
3. Is there any redundant information in your sentence? If so, how can you change your sentence to
eliminate redundancy?
4. Are any of the words you use too informal? How can you make them more formal?
5. Do you use a transition word in your sentence? If so, is it appropriate? Does it reflect the correct
relationship between two ideas? Is it necessary to have this transition in this sentence or is it
superfluous? Should you add a transition? Should you eliminate the one you have?
Using Quotes and Citing:
6. Are the ideas, facts, data, etc., in your sentence your own? If not, do you provide the reference
for them? If so, do you provide evidence for what you are saying? If not, do you express them in a
“non-factual” way by using expressions such as it seems, it is possible, may, might, can, could,
perhaps, etc.?
7. Are the words your own? If not, do you use quotation marks (“ “)? If you quote, do you provide the
name of the author AND the page number?
8. Are your quotes necessary? Is it true that you could not rephrase it better yourself and that it is
essential that the reader read such quotes? If not, paraphrase it in your own words and cite the
source.
9. Do your citations and quotes follow the MLA/APA format? Is your quote/citation punctuated
correctly?
Grammar:
10. Does your sentence have a subject and a verb?
11. Does the verb agree with the subject? Beware of 3rd person singular s!
12. Does your sentence have only one main verb? If it has more than one main verb, are the two
clauses linked by a conjunction (and, or, but, etc.) or a subordinating word (because, since, in
spite of, etc.)? Beware of run-on sentences!
13. If your sentence starts with a subordinating word (because, since, in spite of, etc.), does it have at
least two verbs (one verb in the subordinating clause and one verb in the main clause)? Beware
of fragments!
14. Is your verb tense appropriate? Is it appropriate in relation to your preceding and following
sentence? Note: When you say what other author said, always use the present tense.
15. Are your infinitives/gerunds (-ing) used correctly?
16. Are your nouns singular or plural? If singular, should they be plural? Note: if you talk about people
in general, it’s better to use the plural form (e.g., students, experts, researchers, etc.) If your
nouns are plural, do they have an s at the end? Beware of plural s.
17. Is the first letter of your nouns capitalized? If not, should it be? If so, should it be?
18. Is your use of definite and indefinite articles (the, a) correct? If you do not use articles, should you
insert one?
19. Do your pronouns match the appropriate referent (pronoun agreement)? For example, does they
refer to a plural referent?
20. Are your prepositions appropriate/correct? Are they missing?
21. Do you use the genetive ‘s? Is it appropriate to use it? If you don’t, should you use it?
22. Is your punctuation appropriate? Is there a comma between a subordinate clause and a main
clause? Is there a comma after a transition word when it is sentence-initial?
Format and Bibliography:
23. Does your paper follow the MLA/APA format? Double check: one-inch margins; left orientation of
the text; headings and subheadings; headers and page numbers (top right corner); cover page (if
present).
24. Does your bibliography follow the MLA/APA format in detail? Does it have the appropriate title
(references vs. words cited)? For each citation, double check: appropriate punctuation;
appropriate capitalization; all the information is provided; references are organized in an
alphabetical order; MLA/APA format is followed IN DETAIL.