1. Proofreading

2. Proofreading
According to Jan Madraso,“Proofreading is a reading skill,
but it ‘involves a deliberate effort to counteract the “normal”
process of reading’ (Harris1987, 464). When we read, we
read for comprehension. Our eye movements are rapid, too
rapid to see the details within words—failing to see some
words at all (West 1983, 287). As soon as we grasp the
meaning when reading for comprehension, our eyes move
ahead. Significantly, ‘we see what we expect to see. The
brain corrects for omissions and oversights’ (West 286-87). It
is not surprising, then, that simple reading is not an effective
proofreading strategy” (32).
Madraso, Jan. “Proofreading: The Skill We’ve Neglected to Teach.”
English Journal 82.2 (1993): 32-41.

3. Proofread Techniques
 Try some of these strategies
 Read paragraphs backwards
 Read slowly
 Identify the subject and verb for each sentence
 Find the independent clause by subtracting the dependent
clauses
 Check for punctuation only; check for content only

4. Homonyms or “Homophones”
 Homonyms are words that are phonetically
the same but have different meanings
 Example: They’re/Their/There
 Use your dictionary function on Word
 Read for intention and meaning

5. Proofreading Tips for Home
 Read aloud
 Read sentences out of context and work
your way up through the essay
 Wait an hour before you proofread
 Make a list of homophones and
contractions to search for
 Check difficult words with a dictionary
 Proofread as much as possible

6. Proofreading Tips for Home
 Read aloud
 Read sentences out of context and work
your way up through the essay
 Wait an hour before you proofread
 Make a list of homophones and
contractions to search for
 Check difficult words with a dictionary
 Proofread as much as possible