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7.23: Proofreading Guidelines and Techniques

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    Learning Objectives

    • Demonstrate ability to proofread

    The following video offers a set of starting guidelines for proofreading. (Note: this video has a jazzy soundtrack but no dialogue, so it can be viewed without sound.)

    watch a video

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "Proof Reading"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/wsl/?p=164

    The additional strategies below can also help you spot errors in your writing:

    Printer Print a hard copy of your document. Reading on paper is different from reading electronically, so you’ll catch errors on paper you hadn’t noticed before.
    Ruler Put a ruler under each line as you read through the document. This technique will isolate lines, making it easier to spot mistakes. Some writers also like to use a pencil to point at each word.
    Road SIgn Read through the paper backwards sentence by sentence. This reverse reading technique puts the focus on the words, sentences, and punctuation marks rather than on the ideas.
    Two sets of eyes; one red and one blue Ask a classmate or friend to read the document. Two sets of eyes are better than one.
    CC licensed content, Original
    • Proofreading Guidelines and Techniques. Authored by: Karen Forgette. Provided by: University of Mississippi. License: CC BY: Attribution
    CC licensed content, Shared previously

    7.23: Proofreading Guidelines and Techniques is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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