Proofing and Editing

So you've written your paper and revised it so many times that your eyes are about to fall out of your head. NOW WHAT? 

Before crossing the finish line, your paper must be polished to perfection. You must proofread and edit.

Proofreading:

Proofreading deals with presentation. You must look for mistakes that appear physically on the page.

What to look for when proofreading: 

• margins and page numbers- Do they appear in the right places?
• spacing and font style- Is the paper easily readable?
• citation- Does everything quoted have the proper citation?
• accuracy- Are your numbers, names, and dates correct?
• completeness- Have you omitted any necessary information?
• usage and grammar- Do your subjects and verbs agree? Have you followed all the basic rules of grammar?
• punctuation and spelling- Do you have any typos or spelling errors? Do your quotes, periods, and commas appear in the right places?

Tips for Proofreading: 

• Underline or circle everything that might need revision. Don't try to fix everything at once. Read through the paper several times. Search for different types of mistakes (like punctuation or citation) separately.
• Read the paper backwards, starting from the last sentence first. This helps you take the words at face value, rather than knowing what you expect to see on the page.

Editing:

Editing deals with the content of the paper. You must be sure that you have a clear and logical presentation of your thesis. 

What to look for when editing: 

• paragraph unity- Do your paragraphs move smoothly from one topic to the next?
• transitions- Do you jump from one topic to the next, or do you weave everything together with transitional statements or questions?
• topic development- Do you explain each topic and give details to illustrate your point?
• word choice- Does your language convey the precise meaning you are hoping to accomplish?
• clarity- Is the paper actually saying what you intended, and is it understandable?
• brevity- Is the paper wordy, or is your language clear and concise? (Get to the point!)
• coherence- Are all the elements you present related to each other in an understandable manner?

Tips for Editing:

• Underline the main idea of the paper, then underline the main idea of each paragraph. Do they all relate as you intended?
• Circle any technical or uncommon words or ideas. Make sure they are defined for your reader either implicitly or explicitly. Don't assume your reader knows what you are talking about. (See Semantic Field.)

Remember, proofreading and editing are a process. They require you to look at your paper again and again, rather than just checking it once and turning it in. It might be painful, but it's necessary.