{"id":410,"date":"2016-03-31T17:59:20","date_gmt":"2016-03-31T17:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=410"},"modified":"2016-08-18T21:56:22","modified_gmt":"2016-08-18T21:56:22","slug":"outcome-proofreading","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-basicreadingwriting\/chapter\/outcome-proofreading\/","title":{"raw":"Proofreading","rendered":"Proofreading"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>identify lower order concerns for revision<\/li>\r\n \t<li>identify strategies for improving sentence clarity<\/li>\r\n \t<li>identify strategies for recognizing potential grammatical issues in a draft<\/li>\r\n \t<li>identify strategies for recognizing potential spelling issues in a draft<\/li>\r\n \t<li>identify strategies for recognizing potential punctuation issues in a draft<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nPr<img class=\"alignright wp-image-2062\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/06\/07181602\/Proofread-1.png\" alt=\"Graphic titled Proofread. Bullet list: grammar, sentence structure, formatting, punctuation, spelling, capitalization. All is in a mustard-yellow circle bordered by gray arrows.\" width=\"369\" height=\"350\" \/>oofreading is the final dust-and-polish pass-through of your writing. Though it's the last step of writing, it's what will make the first impression people have of your work.\r\n\r\nJohn Green, author of <em>The Fault in Our Stars<\/em>, walks through some of his favorite typos from\u00a0history in the video below. Each of these fundamentally changed the way people read the works in question. \u00a0Proofreading (or a lack thereof) can have lasting impact!\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/3LsZDunGF0s\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>Lower Order Concerns<\/h2>\r\n<h3><strong>What to Look for in the Later\u00a0Proofreading Pass(es): Lower-Order\u00a0Concerns<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nOnce you have fully addressed the higher-order concerns with an essay draft, you can\u00a0focus on more local fixes\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>lower-order concerns<\/strong>. Lower-order concerns include writing style, wording, typos, and grammar issues.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-699\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/04\/11144145\/grammar-389907_1280-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"magnifying glass held over the word &quot;grammar&quot; in a dictionary\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" \/>\r\n\r\nYes,\u00a0it\u2019s true: grammar is a lower-order concern! Even though students are often very concerned that their grammar needs to be fixed, it is actually more important to focus on the quality of your ideas and the logic of how they are presented first. \u00a0That\u2019s not to say you shouldn\u2019t worry about grammar; it\u2019s just that you shouldn\u2019t make\u00a0it a main focus until closer to the end of the writing process.\r\n\r\nSome typical lower-order concerns are listed below, along with some questions that can help you recognize aspects in need of revision:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Style<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Are you using an appropriate tone?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are you following the\u00a0conventions that are typical of your discipline?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are you using\u00a0the required style for formatting?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Wording<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Are you always picking the word that has the precise meaning you want?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are there any places where your wording is confusing or where your sentences are long and hard to follow?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are there any awkward phrases?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are you writing as simply and concisely as possible?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are there any redundant words or sentences that should be removed?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Grammar<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Do you have any sentence fragments or run-on sentences?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are your subjects and verbs in agreement?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are you handling your plurals and possessives correctly?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are\u00a0there any punctuation errors?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Typos<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Are there missing words?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are any words misspelled (be especially careful to watch out for words that spell-check won\u2019t catch, for example typing \u201ccan\u201d when you meant \u201cvan\u201d)?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are there any extra spaces that need to be removed?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nCleaning up these local issues is the final stage in the writing process. \u00a0Think of this as polishing up your writing, so that the quality of your prose matches the quality of your ideas.\r\n<h3><strong>Other Tips for Proofreading<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><img class=\"wp-image-2064 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/06\/07182453\/16792284082_43426d2cc1_z.jpg\" alt=\"Metal-headed pins arranged in a spiral sequence\" width=\"297\" height=\"298\" \/>Always read slowly and carefully when proofreading. \u00a0Don\u2019t rush! If you try to go too fast, you will probably miss errors you would otherwise catch.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Read your paper out loud. This can be very helpful for catching typos, missing words, awkward phrasings, and overly long or confusing sentences.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Pretend you are the reader, not the author of the paper. \u00a0Try to look at what you wrote from the perspective of someone who does not know all the things you know. \u00a0Would a reasonably intelligent audience be able to understand your prose and be convinced by your argument?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Keep track of any errors you consistently make (within a single paper or in multiple papers).<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Get feedback on your paper from your teacher, a classmate or friend, a tutor,\u00a0or all of the above.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>The Change-Up Method<\/h2>\r\nThe following video walks us\u00a0through a simple but effective way to proofread our\u00a0writing. It's helpful to see that even professional writers and editors make mistakes in their drafts that need to be corrected before sharing with the world.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/Tk0x6tEWXzs\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/oerfiles\/Composition\/Developmental\/Transcript+for+%22Proofread+Like+a+Pro+with+the+Change-Up+Method%22.docx\" target=\"_blank\">A transcript for this video can be downloaded here (.docx file)<\/a>.\r\n\r\nThe steps include\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>changing the font style and size<\/li>\r\n \t<li>making the line spacing bigger<\/li>\r\n \t<li>reading the text backwards, from last sentence to first sentence<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Proofreading Strategies<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Below, you'll see a long list of potential items to look for in the proofreading process. \u00a0Because everyone has a unique writing style, some of these items are much more likely to apply to you (and be helpful for you to consider) than others.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">As you continue to write papers and get feedback on them in college, make note of the concerns that show up in your writing again and again. \u00a0Make your own customized list of proofreading tips, to save time in the future.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Some suggestions to get you started--again, not all of these will apply to each paper, each time.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-709\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/04\/11152719\/8306655374_4ac4475ffd_z.jpg\" alt=\"Woman holding an orange typewriter, staring at the camera, while sheets of paper blow in the wind around her\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" \/><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Editing for Language<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">With language, the overall <span class=\"s2\">question<\/span> is whether you are using the most accurate language possible to describe your <span class=\"s2\">ideas<\/span>. Your reader will have an easier time understanding what you want to say if you're precise.\u00a0Be sure to check for the following.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li3\"><strong><span class=\"s3\"><span class=\"s4\">Pronoun<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"s5\"><strong> clarity<\/strong>: Make sure it's clear what each \"it,\" \"he,\" and \"she\" refers to.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Precise vocabulary<\/strong>: Make sure every word means what you intend it to mean. Use a <span class=\"s2\">dictionary<\/span> to confirm the meaning of any word about which you are unsure.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Defined terms<\/strong>: When using terms specific to your <span class=\"s2\">topic<\/span>, make sure you define them for your readers who may not be familiar with them. If that makes the <span class=\"s2\">paragraph<\/span> too bulky, consider using a different term.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Properly placed modifiers<\/strong>: Make sure your reader can clearly discern what each <span class=\"s2\">adjective<\/span> and <span class=\"s2\">adverb<\/span> is meant to describe.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Hyperbole<\/strong>: See if you can eradicate words like \"amazing\" and \"gigantic\" in favor of more precise descriptions. Also examine each use of the word \"very\" and see if you can find a more precise adjective that doesn't require its use.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Finally, pay attention to wordiness. Writing that is clean, precise, and simple will always sound best.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Editing for Sentence Construction<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">If you want to make everything easy for your <span class=\"s2\">audience<\/span> to read and understand, start by simplifying your sentences. If you think a sentence is too complicated, rephrase it so that it is easier to read, or break it into two sentences. Clear doesn't\u00a0have to\u00a0mean boring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-708\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/04\/11152314\/edit-1103599_1280-300x300.png\" alt=\"blue circle icon with a hammer and screwdriver crossed\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/>Consider how balanced your sentences are within a paragraph. You don't want every sentence to have identical length and structure or to begin the same way. Instead, vary your sentence style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">This is also the time to add transitions between <span class=\"s2\">phrases<\/span>\u00a0and sentences that aren't connected smoothly to each other. You don't need to introduce every sentence with \"then,\" \"however,\" or \"because.\" Using these words judiciously, though, will help your reader see logical connections between the different steps of your argument.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"p2\">Suggestions\u00a0While Proofreading<\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Remove unnecessary words such including <em>that<\/em>, <em>very<\/em>, <em>just<\/em>, <em>so<\/em>, and <em>actually<\/em>. <\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Avoid the passive voice. Rewrite sentences that include <em>am<\/em>, <em>is<\/em>, <em>was<\/em>, <em>were<\/em>, <em>be<\/em>, <em>being<\/em>, and <em>been<\/em> so that the sentence reads in the active voice. <\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Don\u2019t end sentences with a preposition. For example, don\u2019t end sentences with these words: <em>in<\/em>, <em>for<\/em>, <em>at<\/em>, <em>with<\/em>, <em>by<\/em>, and <em>from<\/em>. <\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Is the content in past, present, or future tense? Do a scan to make sure you use the same tense from start to finish. <\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Are you writing in first, second, or third person? Do a scan to make sure you use a consistent voice throughout. \u00a0Generally, avoid second\u00a0person pronouns--\"you\"--throughout an essay, unless you have specific reasons to in the assignment. \u00a0Use the \"find\" feature in your word processor to locate any that may have slipped in. \u00a0Likewise, only use first person pronouns--\"I,\" \"me,\" \"we,\" etc.,--if your assignment calls for it.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Have you used one space after each sentence or two spaces? Double check for consistency.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Run spell check, but also check for commonly misspelled words that your spell check might not pick up. Here\u2019s a quick list:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">To\/ Too\/ Two<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Than\/ Then<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Trail\/ Trial<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Were\/ Where\/ We\u2019re<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">It\u2019s\/ Its<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Lose\/ Loose<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Complement\/ Compliment<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">\u00a0Their\/ There\/ They\u2019re<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Compliant\/ Complaint<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">What words do you commonly misspell?<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"p1\">Eliminate words you overuse.\u00a0Keep a running list near your workspace that notes words you rely heavily on, and edit use the \"Find\" feature of your word processor to search for them while editing.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>Self-Check<\/h2>\r\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/1265","rendered":"<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>identify lower order concerns for revision<\/li>\n<li>identify strategies for improving sentence clarity<\/li>\n<li>identify strategies for recognizing potential grammatical issues in a draft<\/li>\n<li>identify strategies for recognizing potential spelling issues in a draft<\/li>\n<li>identify strategies for recognizing potential punctuation issues in a draft<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Pr<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-2062\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/06\/07181602\/Proofread-1.png\" alt=\"Graphic titled Proofread. Bullet list: grammar, sentence structure, formatting, punctuation, spelling, capitalization. All is in a mustard-yellow circle bordered by gray arrows.\" width=\"369\" height=\"350\" \/>oofreading is the final dust-and-polish pass-through of your writing. Though it&#8217;s the last step of writing, it&#8217;s what will make the first impression people have of your work.<\/p>\n<p>John Green, author of <em>The Fault in Our Stars<\/em>, walks through some of his favorite typos from\u00a0history in the video below. Each of these fundamentally changed the way people read the works in question. \u00a0Proofreading (or a lack thereof) can have lasting impact!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"5 Worst Typos of History\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3LsZDunGF0s?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Lower Order Concerns<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>What to Look for in the Later\u00a0Proofreading Pass(es): Lower-Order\u00a0Concerns<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Once you have fully addressed the higher-order concerns with an essay draft, you can\u00a0focus on more local fixes\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>lower-order concerns<\/strong>. Lower-order concerns include writing style, wording, typos, and grammar issues.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-699\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/04\/11144145\/grammar-389907_1280-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"magnifying glass held over the word &quot;grammar&quot; in a dictionary\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Yes,\u00a0it\u2019s true: grammar is a lower-order concern! Even though students are often very concerned that their grammar needs to be fixed, it is actually more important to focus on the quality of your ideas and the logic of how they are presented first. \u00a0That\u2019s not to say you shouldn\u2019t worry about grammar; it\u2019s just that you shouldn\u2019t make\u00a0it a main focus until closer to the end of the writing process.<\/p>\n<p>Some typical lower-order concerns are listed below, along with some questions that can help you recognize aspects in need of revision:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Style<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Are you using an appropriate tone?<\/li>\n<li>Are you following the\u00a0conventions that are typical of your discipline?<\/li>\n<li>Are you using\u00a0the required style for formatting?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wording<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Are you always picking the word that has the precise meaning you want?<\/li>\n<li>Are there any places where your wording is confusing or where your sentences are long and hard to follow?<\/li>\n<li>Are there any awkward phrases?<\/li>\n<li>Are you writing as simply and concisely as possible?<\/li>\n<li>Are there any redundant words or sentences that should be removed?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grammar<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Do you have any sentence fragments or run-on sentences?<\/li>\n<li>Are your subjects and verbs in agreement?<\/li>\n<li>Are you handling your plurals and possessives correctly?<\/li>\n<li>Are\u00a0there any punctuation errors?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Typos<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Are there missing words?<\/li>\n<li>Are any words misspelled (be especially careful to watch out for words that spell-check won\u2019t catch, for example typing \u201ccan\u201d when you meant \u201cvan\u201d)?<\/li>\n<li>Are there any extra spaces that need to be removed?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Cleaning up these local issues is the final stage in the writing process. \u00a0Think of this as polishing up your writing, so that the quality of your prose matches the quality of your ideas.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Other Tips for Proofreading<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2064 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/06\/07182453\/16792284082_43426d2cc1_z.jpg\" alt=\"Metal-headed pins arranged in a spiral sequence\" width=\"297\" height=\"298\" \/>Always read slowly and carefully when proofreading. \u00a0Don\u2019t rush! If you try to go too fast, you will probably miss errors you would otherwise catch.<\/li>\n<li>Read your paper out loud. This can be very helpful for catching typos, missing words, awkward phrasings, and overly long or confusing sentences.<\/li>\n<li>Pretend you are the reader, not the author of the paper. \u00a0Try to look at what you wrote from the perspective of someone who does not know all the things you know. \u00a0Would a reasonably intelligent audience be able to understand your prose and be convinced by your argument?<\/li>\n<li>Keep track of any errors you consistently make (within a single paper or in multiple papers).<\/li>\n<li>Get feedback on your paper from your teacher, a classmate or friend, a tutor,\u00a0or all of the above.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>The Change-Up Method<\/h2>\n<p>The following video walks us\u00a0through a simple but effective way to proofread our\u00a0writing. It&#8217;s helpful to see that even professional writers and editors make mistakes in their drafts that need to be corrected before sharing with the world.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tk0x6tEWXzs<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/oerfiles\/Composition\/Developmental\/Transcript+for+%22Proofread+Like+a+Pro+with+the+Change-Up+Method%22.docx\" target=\"_blank\">A transcript for this video can be downloaded here (.docx file)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The steps include<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>changing the font style and size<\/li>\n<li>making the line spacing bigger<\/li>\n<li>reading the text backwards, from last sentence to first sentence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Proofreading Strategies<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Below, you&#8217;ll see a long list of potential items to look for in the proofreading process. \u00a0Because everyone has a unique writing style, some of these items are much more likely to apply to you (and be helpful for you to consider) than others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">As you continue to write papers and get feedback on them in college, make note of the concerns that show up in your writing again and again. \u00a0Make your own customized list of proofreading tips, to save time in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Some suggestions to get you started&#8211;again, not all of these will apply to each paper, each time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-709\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/04\/11152719\/8306655374_4ac4475ffd_z.jpg\" alt=\"Woman holding an orange typewriter, staring at the camera, while sheets of paper blow in the wind around her\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Editing for Language<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">With language, the overall <span class=\"s2\">question<\/span> is whether you are using the most accurate language possible to describe your <span class=\"s2\">ideas<\/span>. Your reader will have an easier time understanding what you want to say if you&#8217;re precise.\u00a0Be sure to check for the following.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li3\"><strong><span class=\"s3\"><span class=\"s4\">Pronoun<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"s5\"><strong> clarity<\/strong>: Make sure it&#8217;s clear what each &#8220;it,&#8221; &#8220;he,&#8221; and &#8220;she&#8221; refers to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Precise vocabulary<\/strong>: Make sure every word means what you intend it to mean. Use a <span class=\"s2\">dictionary<\/span> to confirm the meaning of any word about which you are unsure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Defined terms<\/strong>: When using terms specific to your <span class=\"s2\">topic<\/span>, make sure you define them for your readers who may not be familiar with them. If that makes the <span class=\"s2\">paragraph<\/span> too bulky, consider using a different term.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Properly placed modifiers<\/strong>: Make sure your reader can clearly discern what each <span class=\"s2\">adjective<\/span> and <span class=\"s2\">adverb<\/span> is meant to describe.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s5\"><strong>Hyperbole<\/strong>: See if you can eradicate words like &#8220;amazing&#8221; and &#8220;gigantic&#8221; in favor of more precise descriptions. Also examine each use of the word &#8220;very&#8221; and see if you can find a more precise adjective that doesn&#8217;t require its use.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Finally, pay attention to wordiness. Writing that is clean, precise, and simple will always sound best.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Editing for Sentence Construction<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">If you want to make everything easy for your <span class=\"s2\">audience<\/span> to read and understand, start by simplifying your sentences. If you think a sentence is too complicated, rephrase it so that it is easier to read, or break it into two sentences. Clear doesn&#8217;t\u00a0have to\u00a0mean boring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-708\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2016\/04\/11152314\/edit-1103599_1280-300x300.png\" alt=\"blue circle icon with a hammer and screwdriver crossed\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/>Consider how balanced your sentences are within a paragraph. You don&#8217;t want every sentence to have identical length and structure or to begin the same way. Instead, vary your sentence style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">This is also the time to add transitions between <span class=\"s2\">phrases<\/span>\u00a0and sentences that aren&#8217;t connected smoothly to each other. You don&#8217;t need to introduce every sentence with &#8220;then,&#8221; &#8220;however,&#8221; or &#8220;because.&#8221; Using these words judiciously, though, will help your reader see logical connections between the different steps of your argument.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\">Suggestions\u00a0While Proofreading<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Remove unnecessary words such including <em>that<\/em>, <em>very<\/em>, <em>just<\/em>, <em>so<\/em>, and <em>actually<\/em>. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Avoid the passive voice. Rewrite sentences that include <em>am<\/em>, <em>is<\/em>, <em>was<\/em>, <em>were<\/em>, <em>be<\/em>, <em>being<\/em>, and <em>been<\/em> so that the sentence reads in the active voice. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Don\u2019t end sentences with a preposition. For example, don\u2019t end sentences with these words: <em>in<\/em>, <em>for<\/em>, <em>at<\/em>, <em>with<\/em>, <em>by<\/em>, and <em>from<\/em>. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Is the content in past, present, or future tense? Do a scan to make sure you use the same tense from start to finish. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Are you writing in first, second, or third person? Do a scan to make sure you use a consistent voice throughout. \u00a0Generally, avoid second\u00a0person pronouns&#8211;&#8220;you&#8221;&#8211;throughout an essay, unless you have specific reasons to in the assignment. \u00a0Use the &#8220;find&#8221; feature in your word processor to locate any that may have slipped in. \u00a0Likewise, only use first person pronouns&#8211;&#8220;I,&#8221; &#8220;me,&#8221; &#8220;we,&#8221; etc.,&#8211;if your assignment calls for it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Have you used one space after each sentence or two spaces? Double check for consistency.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Run spell check, but also check for commonly misspelled words that your spell check might not pick up. Here\u2019s a quick list:\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\">To\/ Too\/ Two<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Than\/ Then<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Trail\/ Trial<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Were\/ Where\/ We\u2019re<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">It\u2019s\/ Its<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Lose\/ Loose<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Complement\/ Compliment<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">\u00a0Their\/ There\/ They\u2019re<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Compliant\/ Complaint<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">What words do you commonly misspell?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Eliminate words you overuse.\u00a0Keep a running list near your workspace that notes words you rely heavily on, and edit use the &#8220;Find&#8221; feature of your word processor to search for them while editing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Self-Check<\/h2>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"lumen_assessment_1265\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/load?assessment_id=1265&#38;embed=1&#38;external_user_id=&#38;external_context_id=&#38;iframe_resize_id=lumen_assessment_1265\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:400px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-410\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Outcome: Proofreading. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of Proofread. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Kim Louie for Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Revision and Adaptation of Lower Order Concerns. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Revision and Adaptation of Proofreading Strategies. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Self-Check. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Image of grammar. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: PDPics. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/grammar-magnifier-magnifying-glass-389907\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/grammar-magnifier-magnifying-glass-389907\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Proofreading and Revising. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: CUNY School of Professional Studies. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bacwritingfellows.commons.gc.cuny.edu\/proofreading\/\">https:\/\/bacwritingfellows.commons.gc.cuny.edu\/proofreading\/<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Writing Fellows. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of pins. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: duncan c. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/rzSR2m\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/rzSR2m<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Editing and Proofreading. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Boundless. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/writing\/textbooks\/boundless-writing-textbook\/writing-an-effective-paper-235\/steps-of-writing-a-paper-237\/step-6-editing-and-proofreading-68-10294\/\">https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/writing\/textbooks\/boundless-writing-textbook\/writing-an-effective-paper-235\/steps-of-writing-a-paper-237\/step-6-editing-and-proofreading-68-10294\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Editing and Proofreading Checklist. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Sara Lancaster. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: No. 2 Pen. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.no2pen.com\/docs\/proofreading-editing-checklist.pdf\">http:\/\/www.no2pen.com\/docs\/proofreading-editing-checklist.pdf<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of construction icon. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: IO-Images. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/edit-settings-options-icon-1103599\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/edit-settings-options-icon-1103599\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of woman with typewriter. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Christian Gonzalez. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/dE2Mf7\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/dE2Mf7<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">All rights reserved content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>5 Worst Typos of History. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: vlogbrothers. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/3LsZDunGF0s\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/3LsZDunGF0s<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Standard YouTube License<\/li><li>Proofread Like a Pro with The Change-Up Method. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Paper Raven Editing. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tk0x6tEWXzs\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tk0x6tEWXzs<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Standard YouTube License<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":19,"menu_order":8,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"5 Worst Typos of History\",\"author\":\"vlogbrothers\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/3LsZDunGF0s\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"arr\",\"license_terms\":\"Standard YouTube License\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Outcome: Proofreading\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Image of Proofread\",\"author\":\"Kim Louie for Lumen 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