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EASY Proofreading Tips
     
We're all very busy, but not too busy to neglect revision of our writing assignments. Proofreading is an essential part of the revision process. Now that you have a whole paper, it's time to see how you can improve it as a whole! So, here are some E-A-S-Y proofreading tips to follow.
     
E ase the Tension  
A loud  
S low it Down!  
Y ield to Revision Process  
 
 
Ease the Tension
Remember to take a break when you've finished writing your paper. After you have regurgitated all sorts of useless information, you may want to watch television or listen to some tunes for awhile to prevent mental meltdown. Even as little as five minutes will help clear your head and get you psyched to re-vamp your paper. Following this step is a must, even for the procrastinators who waited until the last minute.
Read the Paper Aloud
The next E-A-S-Y step in proofreading would be to read the paper out loud to yourself. Yes, you will sound like a dork. This is not anything out of the ordinary. We all sound like dorks sometimes, but this step will help you more than you think. If you find yourself stumbling, there may be a problem. Try asking a friend to help you with the sentence. Or, if your friend is no help, think of a different way to express your idea.
Slow it Down!
Check the paper sentence by sentence to see if each sentence is correct in structure, tense, grammar, and spelling. Each sentence's tense should be consistent throughout, and each subject should agree with the verb. You may want to try reading your paper sentence by sentence backwards. This will help you be more aware of mistakes and help you check for coherence and organization in your paper.

Yield to Revision Process

Okay, this is the LAST step, so make it good. Try to recognize common mistakes and write them down. Following this step could prevent mistakes in the future.

For more assistance, make an appointment at the University Writing Center (try our online scheduler). At the UWC, we can help you make a chart of your mistakes and explain how to correct them, help reorganize your paper, or tell you what's missing or what doesn't need to be there. We'll be happy to help you with the revision process.