...provides enrichment & remediation resources
for young writers, their teachers,
and their parents.
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...provides enrichment & remediation resources for young writers, their teachers, and their parents. |
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Self-Editing Guide
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| Proofreading
is one of the most important steps in the writing process. The
following tips will help make your self-editing job easier. 1. Run spell check on your word processor, but keep in mind that spell check can only compare your document to words listed in its dictionary. Keep a dictionary handy so that you can check words that spell check does not recognize. Also remember that spell check does not know what you intended to say. If you used the wrong word but that word happens to be spelled correctly, spell check will not know the difference. 2. After running spell check, reread your work to look for obvious errors. Check for spelling errors that spell check might have missed. Check for grammatical errors. Check to see how well your writing flows. (Does it sound good when you read it or does it sound choppy?) A good way to check the flow is to read your work outloud. Your ears will often catch problems that your eyes missed. 3. Use proofreaders’ marks. Proofreaders’ marks are universal symbols originally used by journalists and publishers. Now they are more widely used and can be found anywhere from the classroom to the boardroom. The symbols are not only a time-saving device for self-editing, but will also ensure that you understand the suggestions made by anyone else who proofreads your work. 4. After you have completed an initial proof of your work, it is time to do a more thorough rereading. If it is possible, put your work aside for a few days (or least for a few hours) before you complete this step. You are more likely to catch your own errors if your mind has had a chance to clear. After you have spent hours writing something, your words are etched into your mind. When you proofread your own work, your eyes can sometimes see what you intended to say instead of what you actually did say. If you put your work aside for a space of time, you are more likely to see what you wrote, instead of what you think you wrote. 5. For the same reason as above, try to find someone else who can proofread your work. There is a reason why newspapers, magazines, and book publishers hire editors. When I taught/advised a high school newspaper, each published work was edited by at least three student editors before I edited it. It is always a good opinion to employ the use of another pair of eyes. Just make sure that you find someone who is reliable. |
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