Proofreader

1
Proofreaders Checklist
5 Starting Questions
1. Have I followed the requirements?
2. Have I checked organization?
3. Have I considered audience issues?
4. Have I edited for style?
5. Have I proofread for grammar?
2
Have I followed the requirements?
1

• Understood the Assignment?
• -When in doubt, double check!
• Stayed on topic?
• -Ask Is this information really necessary?
  
• Followed format?
• -Styles MLA, APA, Chicago Style, Other.
• Length, font, margins?
• -Standard 12-point font and 1-inch margins.

3
Have I checked organization?
2

• Introduction, body, and conclusion?
• Clear thesis statement in introduction?
• or
• Forecasting statement/device?
• Body follows the thesis in correct order?

4
Organization Continued

• Transitions between in paragraphs?
• Clear topic sentences for paragraphs?
• -topic sentences should transition from
  previous
• paragraph, link with thesis, and state
  topic/claim
• Conclusion summarizes main points?
• -strong conclusions keep summary brief and
  explore
• implications/significance of the topic
• Conclusion omits new information?

5
Have I considered audience issues?
3

• Included background information?
• -what does my audience need to know from the
  outset?
• Diction appropriate for audience?
• -think about informality/formality level.
• -are contractions acceptable?
• -okay to use I, we, us, you?
• Avoided I think and I believe?
• -audience assumes its your opinion!

6
Have I edited for style?
4
6 TIPS!

• Vary sentence length/type.
• 2. Vary beginnings of sentences.
• (not just subject then verb!)
• 3. Vary word choices.
• Avoid overusing to be verbs.
• In general, avoid passive voice.
• Avoid overusing There and It.

7
Vary sentence length/type

• Simple Sentences
• 1 independent clause He played football at Ohio
  State.
• Compound Sentences
• 2 independent clauses
• -He played football, but she chose soccer.
• Complex Sentences
• Dependent clause (s) 1 independent clause
• -As the stats show, OSU is awesome.
• Compound-complex Sentences
• 2 independent clauses dependent clause (s)
• -You enjoy sports and we do too, because
  we are OSU.

8
Vary beginnings of sentences

• BEGIN WITH . . . .
• Transitional Words
• -words like however, actually, etc.
• Prepositional Phrases
• -preposition object
• -example In the morning,
• Dependent Clauses
• -subordinate conjunction subject predicate
• -example Because Jackson enjoyed jogging,

9
Vary word choices(and be concise)

• Example 1
• Interestingly enough, my family and I took a
  long and very interesting vacation where we met
  an interesting person who talked to us for a very
  long time about squids.
• Example 2
• During our vacation, my family and I met a
  vociferous woman who described squid cuisine.

10
Avoid Using To Be Verbs

• To Be Verbs
• am
• is
• are
• was
• were

Example Then we were there.
vs. Example Then we arrived.
11
Active vs. Passive Voice

• Active Voice
• -The subject is doing the action.
• -Emphasis rests on the doer.
• -subject verb direct object
• -example Judy plays chess.
• Passive Voice
• -The action is being done.
• -Emphasis rests on the action.
• -direct object be verb with ed by
  subject
• -example Chess is played by Judy.

12
There and It

• There and it are usually
• -followed by a to be verb and
• -they delay the subject.
• ?Instead of There are few rabbits that fly.
• ?Try Few rabbits fly.

13
Have I proofread for grammar?
5

• 1. Missing Commas
• 2. Fragments
• 3. Run-On Sentences
• 4. Parallelism
• 5. Subject-Verb Agreement
• 6. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
• 7. Which vs. That

14
Commonly Absent COMMAS

• To join 2 complete sentences
• -use a comma coordinating conjunction
• -The Big 7and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
• -The sun shines brightly, and the horses frolic.
• After introductory elements
• -words like However, Actually, etc.
• -phrases like At the time, In short, etc.
• -dependent clauses like After he drank a coke,
• To set off nonessential elements
• -When he arrived, however, he.
• -The cat, a large Persian one, blinked.

15
Fragments

• Fragment anything punctuated as sentence that
  isnt
• Most common fragment type subordinate clause
  punctuated as complete sentence
• Subordinate clause subordinating conjunction
  subject predicate
• Subordinating conjunctions because, when, etc.
• Subordinate clause examples
• incorrect Because I said so.
• correct Because I said so, they believed it.

16
Run-On Sentences

• Dont just put a comma b/tw 2 sentences!
• Two Types of Run-ons
• -The mice like cheese, they scurry.
• -The mice like cheese they scurry.
• Instead The mice like cheese, and they scurry.
• When joining 2 complete sentences,
• use a comma coordinating conjunction.

17
Parallelism

• Be consistent strive for uniformity!
• Examples
• incorrect James wants to hike and skiing.
• correct James wants to hike and ski.
• incorrect Jill enjoys running, socializing, and
  to read.
• correct Jill enjoys running, socializing, and
  reading.

18
Subject-Verb Agreement

• Ground Rules
• -A singular subject takes a singular verb.
• example Josh misses the sunshine.
• -A plural subject takes a plural verb.
• example Strangely enough, some people prefer
  snow.
• Useful Tips
• -Notice that the singular subject usually goes
  with a verb that has an s on the end.
• -The plural subject usually goes with a verb that
  doesnt have an s on the end.