Proofreading is a very important part of the writing process as it
involves English experts to check the document so that the grammar,
punctuation, and spelling and vocabulary errors can be identified and rectified.
Good writing always involves modification and revision, and proofreading is the
fundamental part of the process. Proofreading is the final quality check
performing with the intention of detecting and eliminating errors such as
typographical and grammatical inaccuracies. English
proofreading has a process through which it is done
strategically.
Before starting the process, the revision of the larger aspects of
the texts is a must. Corrections should not be made at the sentence and word
level if still one needs to work on the focus, organisation, and development of
the whole paper of the sections, or of paragraphs. Set the text aside for a
while (15 minutes, a day, a week) between writing and proofing. Some distance
from the text will help to see mistakes more easily. The unnecessary words are
to be eliminated before looking for mistakes. From the comments of the
professors or a writing centre instructor on past papers, make a list of
mistakes need to watch for. Soon after these necessary steps, the process of
proofreading starts. It will be more convenient to work from a print out rather
than computer screen. Reading out the document loud, this especially helps
spotting run-on sentences. More problems can also be heard if not read
silently.
Proofread for one error at a time, because if one attempts to
identify and correct all errors at one sitting there is a risk of losing focus.
Reading each word slowly forces one to voice every single word and involves the
auditory senses in the process. Breaking the texts into manageable chunks provides
with more manageable tasks. One of the most effective methods is the circling
punctuation marks for spotting punctuation mistakes.
The proofreading method is helpful for identification of the
spelling mistakes as it forces to concentrate on each and every word on isolation. Many proofreaders recommend reading sentence
by sentence, paper backwards. On a regular basis, proofreading writing helps in
the identification of own strengths and weaknesses. Using the search function
of the computer to find mistakes likely to make is preferable. If one tends to
make many mistakes, check separately for each kind of error, moving from the
least to the most important. Ends with a spelling check by using a computer
spelling checker or reading backwards word by word. Proofreading services provides a piece of work that’s grammatically correct,
accurate and makes sense.
Proofreading is the
very last step in the writing process. However, just because it comes last,
doesn’t mean that it is the least important. Proofreading ensures that the
document is completely free of errors and polished to a high standard.
Professional proofreaders take the roles they have pretty seriously and many of
them will be completing various ‘’passes’’ through a paper so as to ensure that
all the typographical errors, spelling mistakes, incorrect punctuation, and
inaccurate words are found and corrected.