Proofreading
From the Research:
|
Prewriting |
Drafting |
Revising |
Editing |
|
| Beginning College Writers |
10% |
80% |
-- |
10% |
| Professional Writers |
50% |
10% |
20% |
20% |
Proofreading:
Proofreading comes after revising and editing, but before you are ready to prepare the final manuscript; it is "the final and most important step in manuscript preparation."
"Proofreading is a slow and careful reading in search of typos and other obvious mistakes."
"Proofreading is a special kind of reading: a slow and methodical search for misspellings, typographical mistakes, and omitted words or word endings. Such errors can be difficult to spot in your own work because you may read what you intended to write, not what it actually on the page."
"Look closely for distracting punctuation and mechanical errors."
"Concentrate on details related to manuscript preparation, such as typographical errors, missing words, and irregular spacing, as well as errors in punctuation [and mechanics]."
"Try proofreading out loud, articulating each word as it is actually written."
"Although proofreading may be dull, it is crucial. Errors strewn throughout an essay are distracting and annoying. If the writer doesn't care about this piece of writing, thinks the reader, who should I? A carefully proofread essay, however, sends a positive message: It shows that you value your writing and respect your readers."