6 Ways to Effectively Proofread

Teachers always tell us to proofread, but do they ever tell us what that is or how to do it?  If we read it over real quick once we finish, that counts, right? 

Wrong.

Proofreading is an important part of essay writing...of any writing.  It's where you get to polish and check for basic errors in the spelling, grammar, type-o, and format department (Whereas editing is changing and polishing the actual message or content of your paper.  There will be another blog post on that topic soon).  Not proofreading an assignment before turning it in is like trying to set an uncut diamond into a ring--it won't sparkle and shine. Instead, it'll be dull and full of flaws. 

So what is the most effective way to proofread?  By the time you've got the darn essay written, you're so burnt out on it that you're likely to miss big errors as you try to go back through.  Don't worry, that's normal.  What you've got to do is learn the appropriate strategies for effective proofreading, and I've got 6 just for you:

1.  Take a break

That's right.  Get away from it for a while: eat a snack, take a walk, go laser-tagging, something.  That way, when you come back to it, you have fresh eyes. 

2. Read it out loud

This forces you to focus on each individual word in the essay.  It'll help you catch clunky wording, awkward phrasing, and type-os. 

3. Have someone else read it

It can be a friend, a parent, or even a teacher.  Yes, some teachers will help you proofread if you ask them.  Believe it or not, teachers are there to help you, not destroy you.  They will find errors you missed and tell you if anything doesn't make sense.

4. Print it

Most of us write essays on the computer and edit it in the word processor as we go, but if you have a printer, it can be effective to print your essay and read through it that way.  Some errors stick out more on paper than they do on a screen.

5. Look up any rules you're unsure about

Do I capitalize this? Is there where I use a semi-colon?  How do you use an ellipsis anyway? 

If you think something in your essay might be breaking a grammar rule, look it up.  I do it all the dang time.  Your google searches can be pretty specific: "do you Capitalize 'mom,'" "when do you use a semi-colon," "what is an ellipsis," and so on. 

6. Don't be lazy

Writing a good paper takes work.  If you're willing to put in that work, you won't be sorry.  You are capable of doing it, you've just got to try.


These strategies work for essays, resumes, scripts, stories, proposals, slideshow presentations, speeches, memos, emails, letters, and just about anything else you can think to write. Proofreading matters.

Until next time, I remain you happy-go-lucky online writing tutor,
Mrs. B