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Pruuf Reeding (see what I did there?)
Before you submit any work in school, remember to read it through first. You will be amazed at how many mistakes you may have made and so can lose valuable marks from your masterpiece.
It’s a bit like checking yourself in the mirror before you leave to go on a night out! Nobody wants the embarrassment of mis-matched socks or skirts tucked in their underwear when they get to a party!
Here are 6 easy steps to follow:
Step 1 – Concentration is key
If you are going to spot mistakes then you need to concentrate. Switch off the TV, log out of Facebook (Go on! Do it!) Proof reading has to be done without distractions.
Step 2 – Put it on paper
We all read differently on screen than on paper so print out a copy of your writing. If you read aloud, your ear might catch errors that your eye may have missed.
Step 3 – Watch out for homonyms
Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation, but have different meanings. Switching accept with except or complement with compliment could be disastrous, so pay attention to them.
Step 4 – Watch out for contractions and apostrophes
People often mix their and they’re, its and it’s, your and you’re and so on. If there is something that can hurt the credibility of your text, it is a similar mistake. Also, remember that the apostrophe is never used to form plurals.
Step 5 – Check the punctuation
Focusing on the words is good, but do not neglect the punctuation. Pay attention to capitalized words, missing or extra commas, full stops used incorrectly and so on.
Step 6 – Get someone else to read it
After checking all the previous points, do not forget to get a friend to proofread it for you. You will be amazed at the mistakes you’ve missed. A second person will also be in a better position to evaluate whether the sentences make sense or not.
It is very easy to leave spellcheck on your computer to manage some of the mistakes but it is good practice to correct yourself. Good luck!
Before you submit any work in school, remember to read it through first. You will be amazed at how many mistakes you may have made and so can lose valuable marks from your masterpiece.
It’s a bit like checking yourself in the mirror before you leave to go on a night out! Nobody wants the embarrassment of mis-matched socks or skirts tucked in their underwear when they get to a party!
Here are 6 easy steps to follow:
Step 1 – Concentration is key
If you are going to spot mistakes then you need to concentrate. Switch off the TV, log out of Facebook (Go on! Do it!) Proof reading has to be done without distractions.
Step 2 – Put it on paper
We all read differently on screen than on paper so print out a copy of your writing. If you read aloud, your ear might catch errors that your eye may have missed.
Step 3 – Watch out for homonyms
Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation, but have different meanings. Switching accept with except or complement with compliment could be disastrous, so pay attention to them.
Step 4 – Watch out for contractions and apostrophes
People often mix their and they’re, its and it’s, your and you’re and so on. If there is something that can hurt the credibility of your text, it is a similar mistake. Also, remember that the apostrophe is never used to form plurals.
Step 5 – Check the punctuation
Focusing on the words is good, but do not neglect the punctuation. Pay attention to capitalized words, missing or extra commas, full stops used incorrectly and so on.
Step 6 – Get someone else to read it
After checking all the previous points, do not forget to get a friend to proofread it for you. You will be amazed at the mistakes you’ve missed. A second person will also be in a better position to evaluate whether the sentences make sense or not.
It is very easy to leave spellcheck on your computer to manage some of the mistakes but it is good practice to correct yourself. Good luck!