Proof Reading

Proof-reading: W hat to look out for when proof-reading Materials developed by the Learner Development Unit at the University of Bradford Learner Development Unit www.brad.ac.uk/developme

What You Will Learn:

Exactly what is meant by the term ‘proof-reading’.

It involves certain checks

Common spelling mistakes and issues with spell-checkers.

Tips for more effective proof-reading

The Plan…

What is proof-reading?

What to look for

Common errors in spelling

Proof-reading: tricks of the trade

Practise makes perfect

1. What is proof-reading?

Part of process of writing

Proof-reading is not an innate ability – you can acquire the skill

The more you do of it the better you will become

It means: attending to mistakes at the surface level of your writing

It is the final stage of the writing process

This means you should have redrafted your work before this stage to make revisions to organisation and content

2. What to look for 1. Appropriateness of argument 2. Grammar 3. Position of ideas 4. Punctuation 5. Level of Formality 6. Order of sections 7. Spelling and typographical errors 8. Word choice

2. What to look for 1. Appropriateness of argument  2. Grammar  3. Position of ideas  4. Punctuation  5. Level of Formality  6. Order of sections  7. Spelling and typographical errors  8. Word choice 

3. Common errors in spelling

I wasnt sure weather to laugh or cry.

My sister liked to make sure all her video’s where in alphabetical order.

Its so hot outside – it’s a good job I brought that suncream in the chemist yesterday.

Your requested to remove muddy footware before entering the lounge.

“ IT Advise will be available from 10-12pm”.

He's so competitive that I always pretend to loose so we don't have a row.

I'm sometimes too independant for my own good.

I would of thought that it was an easy mistake to make.

3. Common errors in spelling

I am to busy today to do it today.

The noise effected my concentration.

I put the letter threw the letterbox.

They say there cheque is in the post.

There is a draft coming thorough that window.

We did not no that an order had been sent.

I switched of the computer when I finished working.

I wanted to here what they said for definate.

There friend said she would be waiting over their near the bus stop.

I felt very feint and needed a glass of water.

Try to take a break between writing and proof-reading. Set the paper aside for the night - or even for twenty minutes.

Proof-read at the time of day when you know you concentrate best.

Proof-read backwards. Begin at the end and work back through the text paragraph by paragraph or even line by line. This will force you to look at the surface elements rather than the meaning of the paper.

Use resources. If you're not sure if you need that comma or whether to use "affect" or "effect," look it up in a grammar book. Make use of dictionaries to check spellings.

4. Proof-reading: tricks of the trade

Ask someone else to read over your text and help you to spot errors.

Know your own typical mistakes. Before you proof-read look over texts you have written in the past. Make a list of the errors you make repeatedly.

Place a ruler under each line as you read it. This will give your eyes a manageable amount of text to read.

Proof-read for one type of error at a time. If commas are your most frequent problem, go through the paper checking just that one problem. Then proof-read again for the next most frequent problem.

4. Proof-reading: tricks of the trade

Use the spell-checker on your computer, but use it carefully

Computer spell-checkers often make errors - they might suggest a word that isn't what you want at all, and they don't always know the difference between there, their, and they're, for example.

Spell-checkers