Part 8

Editing and Proofreading

No matter how clever or thought provoking your writing is on the page, it can take as little as one spelling error to turn off a reader.

An occasional typographical error can be excused, but a paper that is rife with errors in the usage or words, the spelling, the punctuation, the use of tenses, can all be distractions that will lead your reader, and assessor away from a great impression of your ability.

Tips for getting your essay to perfection!

• use a dictionary and spell check program on your computer

• have a friend or family member read it over for technical errors in spelling, grammar and even formatting

• subscribe to an online editing service, some are free, others have minimal charges that are worth it.

• Review your old graded papers for comments that may have pointed out mistakes…learn from them

Learn about common writing errors. These are the ones most people don’t recognize in their own writing, and even speaking - which can evolve into the way we write.

Submitting –

Keep a hardcopy of your essay, not just the one that may still be in a file on your computer. It may have to be submitted twice, or a teacher may ask for another copy for another instructor to review!

This guide aims to help you improve your writing skills and get better grades. Becoming a better writer it is not easy. It takes a lot of labor and determination. Besides that, today's academic load is very heavy - sometimes you have to submit several writing assignments in a single day! That is too much!