Writing:

Proofreading

By reading the document backwards, sentence by sentence, you are able to focus only on the words and sentence structure with less attention to the context or content.

Placing a ruler or a blank sheet of paper under each line as you read it will give your eyes a manageable amount of text to read.

Proofread by focusing on one error at a time. For instance, if commas are your most frequent problem, go through the paper checking just for comma use. Then proofread again for the next most frequent problem.

After you have finished making corrections, have someone scan the document for errors. A different set of eyes and a mind that is detached from the writing can identify errors or inconsistencies that you may have overlooked.

Read your text aloud, use a text-to-voice program, or have someone read it to you. Listen for awkward phrasing, missing words, or other minor mistakes that may be easy to overlook.

Match the sources in the reference list to those cited in the text (and vice versa). If a source is not cited in your text, don’t include it in the reference list.