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Assignment Writing: Proofreading and Editing

This guide will help you plan, research and write your written assignments.

Make sure you leave enough time to edit and proofread your work. When you're editing, you're looking at the content or information that you've included. When you're proofreading, you're looking at how it's written. Both are important. 

What is the Difference Between Editing and Proofreading (with examples)/Editing v/s Proofreading by Instant Assignment Help Australia

Checklist for editing your work

You won't just edit your assignment once. You might do it many times before you're finished. That's normal. 

When editing, look at what you've been asked to do and what you've done. Ask yourself the questions below to help you edit your work.

Content

Have I answered the assignment/brief question(s)?

Have I done what was asked? How do I know?

Have I answered all parts of the assignment/brief and given the correct weighting to each part of the assignment/brief?

Have I used the best sources of information and cited and referenced them correctly?

Structure

Is my writing well organised with a clear introduction, body and conclusion?

Have I written in paragraphs with ONE main idea in each paragraph?

Is the topic of each paragraph stated clearly in the first sentence of the paragraph?

Is the topic of the paragraph supported by evidence and examples?

Do my sentences and paragraphs link together well?

Does my conclusion summarise my argument and my information well? How do I know?

Format

Have I used an appropriate format for such things as line spacing and margins?

If appropriate, have I used section headings, diagrams, and a consistent layout to lead my reader through the document?

Are my headings and text in the right font?

Have I numbered the pages?

Grammar and Spelling

Have I read my work aloud or used another strategy to check for sentence structure and grammar?

Did I use the computer tools to check spelling, and grammar or used a programme such as Grammarly?

Referencing

Have I cited all my references and used APA 7 referencing correctly?

How am I sure I have not plagiarised?

Have I used correct APA 7 format in the text and in the reference list?

Tips for proofreading

Proofreading is when you look carefully at your writing to find and correct errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation and generally tidying it up. It's the final step before you hand in your assignment. 

Allow time for editing and proofreading
  • Plan your assignment process so that there are several days between writing your draft and proofreading.
Print your document
  • It's easier to see errors on the page than on the screen.
Use a reading ruler
  • Use a blank piece of paper to cover the lines below the one you're reading so you can proofread one line at a time. 
Read your document several times
  • Reading your assignment many times is very useful, especially if you know that you often make mistakes.
  • Check for one type of error each time you read through it.
    • For example, first check for punctuation, then check for verb tense (past or present), then check for spelling, etc.
Read it aloud
  • Often your ears will hear what your eyes no longer see.
    • This step will help you to notice errors like how sentences are joined together.
    • It will also help you notice incomplete sentences.
    • In addition, you'll notice other errors more easily.
Another pair of eyes
  • Ask someone to look at your assignment. Choose someone who has good writing skills.
Look for these common mistakes
  • Keep an eye out for errors with:
    • Spelling
    • Punctuation, such as commas, full stops, apostrophes
    • Verbs, in particular past or present tense
    • Sentence structure, such as subject-verb agreement
    • Incomplete sentence
Check your citations
  • Check that each citation in your assignment is also in your reference list.
  • Check again that you have spelt names correctly and that the year is correct.

The Proofreading Professor by Cyrus

Tips for checking spelling

You'll find and correct spelling errors as you write your drafts. However, you should check your spelling again when you proofread.

Tips for using the Spellchecker on your computer

  • Some words sound the same but have different spelling, for example, their and there. These similar words are called homophones.
  • Sometimes your computer gives you a list of suggestions to fix spelling mistakes. If you don't know which one is right, look the words up on a dictionary and find which word has the meaning that you want to use.
  • The computer won't understand many names of people or places. If a name comes up as an error, go back to the original source for check the correct spelling. 
  • After you've used your Spellchecker.

Tips for checking your spelling when proofreading

  • Slow down. Forget about the content of your writing. Think only about the spelling.
  • Put a blank piece of paper under the line you are reading so you can focus on the word in front of your eyes.
  • Read from the end of the line backwards, one word at a time. This way you will not think about the content of your writing.  

Image citation: Possessed Photography. (2019, September 8). Rerouting [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/0La7MwJhSyo