student services essential study skills – proofreading sue butler study support service, student...

Student Services Essential Study

Skills – Proofreading

Sue ButlerStudy Support Service,Student Services

www.anglia.ac.uk/studysupportservice

Created with MindGenius Business 2005Created with MindGenius Business 2005®®

Aims of this sessionAims of this session

To advise on strategies for To advise on strategies for proofreadingproofreading

To introduce you to available To introduce you to available resources on proofreadingresources on proofreading

To discuss any questions/concerns on To discuss any questions/concerns on proofreadingproofreading


Why proofread?Why proofread?

Could mean difference between pass/fail, or lower/higher grade.

Could increase mark by up to 10%. Important part of writing process -

build in time for it. Expect to spend at least an hour on a

2000 word essay.


Problem: I can’t see my mistakes!

Look at work afresh:Build in time lapse between writing and proofreadingPlan to finish writing a week ahead of deadlinePrint off a hard copyPut draft aside for a day or so


I can’t see my mistakes (cont.)

Read differently: Read in a different placeRead slowly; look at each word separatelyRead backwards – paragraph by paragraph or sentence by sentenceRead aloud


I can’t see my mistakes (cont.)

Look through your reader’s eyes - act as a critical reader

Engage help Have someone else read it aloud to

you


Problem: I don’t know where to start or what to

look for!Look systematically, moving from overall structure to detail:Edit for content, structureCheck if ideas clearly expressedLook for specific types of mistakes one by one, based on your commonly made errors


Edit for content, structure, clarity

Have you answered question/addressed learning outcomes?

Have you done what introduction said?

Is order logical? Have you signposted/linked ideas

coherently?


Editing (cont.)Editing (cont.)

Does every sentence make sense? Ideas expressed precisely? (any ambiguity,vagueness?)

Ideas expressed concisely? (any repetition, over wordiness?)

Style academic?Style academic? (any colloquialisms, cliches, sweeping/judgemental (any colloquialisms, cliches, sweeping/judgemental

statements?)statements?)


Know your own weaknesses - look for Know your own weaknesses - look for mistakes you commonly makemistakes you commonly make

Focus on a different aspect each time:Focus on a different aspect each time:Grammar, e.g. subject/verb agreement, tense changes, singular/plural mix upWrong use of wordsMissing words/word endings/letters


Proofread for detailsProofread for details (cont.) (cont.)

Punctuation: run on sentences, commas, apostrophes

SpellingSpelling Referencing Use of abbreviations Formatting – e.g. spacing between

words/paragraphs, consistency in fonts


Taking a closer lookTaking a closer look

Spelling

Use, but don’t rely on, spellchecker .Use AutoText and AutoCorrect in Microsoft WordBe aware of common spelling mistakes.Make sure you spell important subject-specific terms correctly.See our study guide Spelling Tips


Spelling (cont.)

Try online tools to help with spelling: On line dictionaries:On line dictionaries: www.yourdictionary.com www.dictionary.com

Use Use Google Google as spellchecker – type as spellchecker – type “define” in search box, then word “define” in search box, then word needed, then press returnneeded, then press return


Referencing

Check library referencing guide and video/audio guides

Check every citation in essay is also in reference list, and that each source in list is cited in text.

Pay attention to details in reference list: punctuation, capitalisation, use of italics.

Make sure dates are correct and consistent.


Proofreading – other useful Proofreading – other useful toolstools

Text Help Read and Write - - floating tool bar that reads text aloud.floating tool bar that reads text aloud.

Free 30 day trial availableFree 30 day trial available Word Talk Free plug inFree plug in Reads text aloud and highlights it as Reads text aloud and highlights it as

it goesit goes


Proofreading – useful tools Proofreading – useful tools (cont.)(cont.)

MyStudyBar – free floating toolbar to – free floating toolbar to support reading (including colour filter support reading (including colour filter and text reader) and writing . Can be and text reader) and writing . Can be used from USB stick or installed onto used from USB stick or installed onto desktop. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.desktop. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Windows 7 and Vista Windows 7 and Vista Accessibility optionsAccessibility options and and programmes e.g. Narratorprogrammes e.g. Narrator


Further guidance

Hull University’s guide to guide to proofreadingproofreading

The BBC’s The BBC’s ‘Skillswise’ writing sectionwriting section

Study Support Service study skills study skills guides and links to external websitesguides and links to external websites


Further guidance (cont.)

University of Leicester study guide on editing, includes 5 last stage, ‘proofreading’:

Purdue Online Writing Lab: tips on looking at details, looking for cohesion etc

Plain English Guide to general approaches to proof reading


Questions? Concerns?

student services essential study skills – proofreading sue butler study support service, student...

Documents

mindgenius business

proofreading slide

udysupportservice slide

fonts slide

wordsword endingsletters

closer look spelling

proofreading plan

apostrophes spelling