by Jasmine Paul

Created on: May 25, 2007

Unfortunately, the invention of Microsoft Word and Excel with automatic proofreading skills has kept people from conducting their own proofreading of papers. However, computer programs can only do so much, and they don't catch all errors. Therefore, it is important to conduct your own assessments of your work.

When proofreading your work, you should allow some time for a brief space between the initial completion of the draft. The works with the most errors are those done at the last minute. By waiting a day or two, the work will be less fresh in your mind, and the words that you often see there that aren't because you know what you meant to say will be noticed by you. If the computer program says there may be an error, check it very carefully. Read their definition, and if you are still not sure, ask for advice from another person.

After reading for glaring grammatical errors, go back and look for any possibilities that could be considered plagiarism or that need additional citations. One of the most common mistakes is not citing frequently enough or coming too close to the original quote. There are clear rules about what can be cited and how much of a work, so be sure you feel confident that you have not violated any of those rules.

To check spelling errors, it sometimes helps to read backwards. You may not understand the sentences, but looking backwards gives your mind a mental refresher course on words, and you are more likely to notice spelling errors.

Of you are interested in your spelling skills, pay attention to the words you read that you didn't know before. When you see a word that is useful in writing, take the time to memorize the spelling of the word by repeating it at least 7 times (what research shows to be the minimum number of repetitions for learning). If you are unsure of its exact meaning, by looking it up in the dictionary, you are seeing it in a new place while also learning its uses and other forms (plurals, conjugations, etc.).

Many colleges have writing centers or other places you can go for individual (and free) assessments of your writing. Utilizing such centers gives you even more practice with proofreading.

A final option is to offer to proofread other people's works. The more you practice, the better you will get. When you are less invested in the outcome, you will notice errors more frequently. This then gives you an idea of common mistakes to be aware of in the future. It may give you a fresh perspective on your own works as you read more and work on writing more even when it is for other people.

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