I’m not going to tell you anything you don’t already know. When composing their papers, many students skip or undervalue the proofreading part.
Writing a decent essay takes a lot of time and effort, and after you’ve spent time creating, restructuring, and refining your paragraphs and examples, it’s easy to become too bored of looking at your own work to want to proofread it. Isn’t it possible to just hand it in? Isn’t your instructor going to get it?
That’s a totally reasonable emotion to have, but it’s the wrong viewpoint. Proofreading is essential not for what it contributes to your essay, but for what it prevents.
Each proofreader is unique. However, you are likely to know exceptional essay editors who can swiftly and readily discover errors in writing and consistently produce error-free essays.
How do they manage to accomplish it? Do they use any special proofreading methods that you aren’t aware of?
Actually, there’s a good probability they do!
Many of the students you know who are turning in A-grade papers, whether they realize it or not, use some type of proofreading to iron out the flaws in their essays and ensure that their essay formatting is flawless.
We’re going to let you in with some of their secrets today by sharing some tried and tested proofreading techniques.
The Proofreading Techniques are as Follows-
1. Take a Break:
Take a well-earned break from whatever you’ve been working on before you do anything else. To properly proofread an essay, you must have a clear mind and be completely concentrated.
Go for a run, watch TV, listen to music anything other than staring at the paper. Allow yourself at least 1 hour, if not more, away from your writing.
When you return to your essay, you’ll notice that you have a whole new perspective on its flaws and all! The errors will become much more obvious, and editing your essay will become much easier.
2. Eliminate any Kinds of Distraction:
Cut off any distractions once you’ve taken a break and freed some time to focus on the subject at hand. Turn down the music, silence your phone, and inform your flat mates that your room is off limits for the next hour or so.
Concentrate on detecting those unpleasant errors while giving your article your entire attention.
3. Read it Aloud:
This is not something we advise doing when working on an essay in a crowded library. If you have access to a private space, sit down and read your essay aloud, word by word.
As you speak the words you’ve written aloud, you’ll be able to hear and see the errors. You’ll see where there are missing commas and flaws with the flow, in addition to giving yourself the time to focus on the sound of the words.
Read each page loudly and make adjustments until the words sound right.
4. Keep in Mind your Common Mistakes:
You must be aware of the usual errors that you make and devote greater attention to them. Look for and correct the common types of errors you make. Keep track of what you commonly make problems with and check for them before submitting your work.
You may quickly and simply note down any faults you see as you proofread each essay, and then use this list as your proofreading checklist the next time you proofread an essay.
5. Do not Completely Rely on Spell Checkers:
When you’ve finished the early draft of your essay, one of the first things you should do is run it through a spell and grammar checker. This will assist you in identifying some of the most severe spelling and punctuation errors.
However, automatic software should not be your sole method of proofreading.
Even the costliest grammar checkers may make mistakes. They just cannot comprehend the language in the context in which it is spoken. As a result, they can frequently lead you in the incorrect way or even cause you to get entirely confused.
Another difficulty with grammar checking software is that it requires a strong understanding of English grammar to determine what are actual grammatical problems; the program can only alert you to the possibility of a mistake.
Grammar checkers should never be relied upon completely. They are computer program that can make mistakes. Don’t put your faith in them in the wrong hands.
6. Proofread with Someone, Together:
Everyone understands how tough it is to proofread one’s own work… Instead, proofread someone else’s essay.
Make a deal with a friend to exchange papers and edit each other’s essays. Of course, you should pick your proofreading partner carefully and ensure that you are entrusting this crucial work to someone you can trust.
If you can, locate a friend who isn’t answering the same essay question as you; that way, you won’t have to worry about him or her stealing all of your brilliant ideas.
7. Proofread More than Two Times:
We know it’s annoying, but it’s quite improbable that you’ll spot every grammatical, punctuation, and spelling mistake on the first go.
The majority of editors and proofreaders go through each manuscript twice, if not three times.
8. Print it Out:
Print a copy of your work and begin reading it aloud. There is a significant difference between reading on paper and reading on a computer screen.
When you touch a real copy of your essay in your hands, you’ll notice that the errors stand out much more. When you utilize this strategy, you’ll be amazed at how many additional mistakes and ridiculous errors you’ll find.
9. Format Correctly:
Allow small formatting flaws to divert your attention away from the essential information.
Finish all of your proofreading passes before formatting your essay for publishing. It is very important to know how to format your essay correctly.
10. Get a Professional Proofreader:
If your essay is critical and you can’t afford to make any blunders, get the help of an expert. Are you aware of the distinction between an n-dash and an m-dash? Do you know when a semi-colon should be used?
You may have a good sense of what makes good written English, but that doesn’t guarantee you know how to proofread an essay. Proofreading will be nothing more than guessing if you don’t have a strong understanding of English grammar and punctuation rules.
Conclusion
If your essay is vital to you, use a professional proofreading service to guarantee that your writing is at its finest. Let our professional editors and proofreaders help you make your paper shine like a gem. If you want your essay to stand out from the rest in your class then try professional editors today!
-Isabell S.
