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Editing and
Proofreading

Editing and Proofreading 1

 Editing and Proofreading
This presentation is an overview of how to edit and proofread your assignments.

Content Word
choice

Sources Editing Structure Spelling

Proof- Grammar
reading

Style Punc-
tuation

Editing and Proofreading 2

 Editing and Proofreading
Take time to revise your assignment—edit and proofread

Just as a good photo can be enhanced on

the computer to make it look great...

...a great assignment is written

in multiple drafts.

Editing and Proofreading 3

 Editing looks at the Proofreading looks
essay as a w hole at the details

Editing and Proofreading 4

 Before you start revising:
Get some distance
Leave it for a day after you have
finished the first draft Find a quiet place

Do one section at time

Find a quiet place

Find a quiet place

Get someone else to read
your work

Change the look

Change the font, line
spacing or size

Change the look

Editing and Proofreading 5
Editing

Content

Sources Editing Structure

Style

Editing and Proofreading 6

 Content

Content
Editing

1. Re-read
 Your assignment sheet
 Your criteria (or CRA) sheet
 Other information from your lecturer /
tutor

2. Check that you have specifically answered the

question and completed all tasks

3. Write a checklist of all the requirements of

your assignment and tick off each item as you
complete them

Editing and Proofreading 7

Structure
Editing Structure

Introduction Body Conclusion

The structure should

be outlined

Summarize the main

point of your assignment

State your thesis The scope (or limits)

should be explained

Editing and Proofreading 8

Structure
Editing Structure

Introduction Body Conclusion

Each paragraph should

develop only one idea
which is stated in the topic
sentence

All points made should be Linking words or phrases

supported by evidence should be used to create
flow between paragraphs

Editing and Proofreading 9

Structure
Editing Structure

Introduction Body Conclusion

The points in the body of

your assignment should
be summarised

Repeat the main point of

the assignment

Restate your thesis

Editing and Proofreading 10

 Write in the third person
Academic Style
Editing

Support statements he me Style

with evidence. she you

they we

Use a formal,
objective tone
Focus on facts,
not emotion

Consider different
points of view

Editing and Proofreading 11

Academic Style
Editing
For Example …
Style

Academic style NOT Academic style

In a recent study, 67% of I think that everyone is

young people expressed their realising how its really awful
aversion to the killing of the way animals are just
animals for consumption. slaughtered so that people can
However, only 32% of have their steak dinners.
respondents aged over 25 felt
the same way (Mitchell, 2007,
p.36).

Editing and Proofreading 12

Sources
Sources Editing
Question: Have I indicated the source of every piece of
information I have used in my assignment?

Information in your assignment requires an

 in-text citation
 reference list

Sources should be
 current
 authoritative

Check with your lecturer as to which referencing style to use.

Editing and Proofreading 13

Proofreading
Word
choice

Spelling
Proof- Grammar
reading

Punc-
tuation

Editing and Proofreading 14

 Word
choice

Word Choice
Proof-
Question: Is my assignment clear in meaning? reading

Be concise
Use specialised language where appropriate
Avoid words you do not know
Remove slang and discriminatory language

Editing and Proofreading 15

 Word
choice

Word Choice
Proof-
Hedging Statements reading

Hedging statements
are conclusions that Absolute
are not absolute and Statement
therefore are not as
“Today everyone uses
easy to disprove
credit cards for all
Hedging statements their shopping.”
tend to use words
Hedging Statement
such as ‘it maybe…’,
it indicates that…, “Many people in
‘it could be concluded society use their
that…’ credit cards for much
of their shopping.”

Editing and Proofreading 16

Grammar
Proof- Grammar
Questions: Are all my sentences reading
complete? Do they all make sense?

Every sentence in your assignment should be complete

It should contain each of these grammatical elements

The subject – who or

The object – who or what is
what is doing
having something done to it
something

The cat walked to the fridge

The verb– what is
being done

Editing and Proofreading 17

Grammar
Proof-
Read your assignment out loud one sentence at a time reading
Grammar

Your ears will usually hear when a sentence is not complete

Editing and Proofreading 18

Grammar
Proof- Grammar
Questions: Do my sentences contain only one reading
idea? Are they too long and complicated?

A sentence should only have one point. Try not to have a sentence
that runs for no more than two or three lines. If it is too long, divide it
into more than one sentence.

Editing and Proofreading 19

Grammar
Proof- Grammar
Questions: Do the different elements of my reading
sentences agree?

In each of your sentences:

The subject and verb should agree – that is, if your subject is singular
(one) then your verb should be in the singular form
one cat singular verb
eg: The cat sits on the couch
the cats sit on the couch
more than one cat plural verb

Nouns and pronouns should match

more than one accountant
eg: Good accountants look out for the
interests of his / their clients
plural pronoun

Editing and Proofreading 20

Grammar
Proof- Grammar
reading

You can find more about the rules on these and other grammar
points at:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/

Editing and Proofreading 21

Punctuation
Proof-
Questions: Have I punctuated my sentences correctly? reading
Have I used commas in the right places? Have I used
apostrophes for the right reason? Punc-
tuation

Commas are commonly used for

 separating adjectives
e.g. The small, tense and quivering mouse looked up at me.
 adding an extra phrase into a sentence
e.g. The tall man, who wore a red tie, looked over his shoulder.

Apostrophes indicate either

 letter of a word have been left out (contraction)
e.g. you’re, who’ll
 the ownership of something (possession)
e.g. Lin’s wallet, the boys’ football

Editing and Proofreading 22

Punctuation
Proof-
Check your understanding of these and other punctuation reading
points at:
Punc-
tuation

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/6/

Editing and Proofreading 23

Spelling
Spelling
Proof-
Question: Is my spelling correct? reading

Spelling is the least important part of your assignment, but

the most visible.

Use a spell checker, but do not just rely on it.

Learn to spell the words you use often.

Check your work by reading it backwards—you tend to focus

less on the meaning of words and more on their spelling.

Editing and Proofreading 24

Formatting
Cover sheet

Check your unit Referencing

outline and blackboard style Font size

site for formatting

requirements.

Graph size & Line spacing & Headings &

captions margins page numbers

Editing and Proofreading 25

Photo References (in order of appearance)
PAGES 2-5

Nic McPhee, 'Editing a paper - 19 ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nics_events/2349630643/, ed, 2008, pen on page of edited
text, lid upright on page.
Nic McPhee, 'Editing a paper - 27', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nics_events/2349631689/, ed, 2008, Fountain pen on edited
page
R. Peschetz, '(Utopia) Before and After ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpeschetz/2611295812/, ed, 2008, building photo before
and after photoshopped
Wim Mulder, 'Writing to reach you', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wimmulder/15653748/, ed, 2005, holding a pen.
Exothermic, 'Flaming Orange Red Autumn Tree', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/exothermic/2041438046, ed, 2007, completely
orange red autumn tree
Grant MacDonald, 'fall leaf ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantmac/246785658/, ed, 2006, autumn leaf lying on the ground
Julian Robinson, 'the Loneliness of the Long distance Cyclist', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/2460263055/, ed, 2008,
long road with cyclist in the distance
Peter Garnhum., 'Edge of the Monsoon Palace ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/petergarnhum/237427219/, ed, 2006, looking
over palace walls to valley below
Telstar Logistics, 'Severed 707 Nose Section ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/67555169/, ed, 2005, Severed nose cone of
a 707 jet.
Rosalie A. Bakar, '5 Tips to help you get the most from proofreading ', In: http://www.ezyblogger.com/2009/05/5-tips-to-help-you-
get-the-most-from-proofreading/, ed, 2009, black bird reading words on manhole cover
T Martins, 'AGR-02RW012-005', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjmartins/3996324066/, ed, 2009, Aerial view of harvester in a
field, field half done

Editing and Proofreading 26

 Photo References (in order of appearance)
PAGES 6-18
Justin See, 'To-do list book', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/koalazymonkey/3596829214/, ed, 2009, open notebook with pencil
skipnclick, 'Pointed question', 2008, hand writing 'what's the point?‘
Patrick Medved, 'Structure ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppix/2305078608/, ed, 2008, steel frame
Sarah Macmillan, 'The fence ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/essjay/3952434562/, ed, 2009, sunset through a chain link fence
Aftab Uzzaman, 'Pink ball saga ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aftab/4139274434/, ed, 2009, pink golf ball on beach pebbles
Eric Lin, 'Support structure for main terrace, park guell', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phonescoop/98402233/, ed, 2006, Columns
supporting a mosaic roof
Celeste Goulding, 'Wonderful early victorian hand motif bracelet ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perfectjewels/2130677387, ed, 2007,
bracelet with ornate links, patterned beads and a hand on the end
Elliott Brown, 'Statue of George I outside The Barber Institue of Fine Arts - the horse's tail ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-
brown/4207405714/, ed, 2009, tail end of statue of horse of King George I.
Sarietha, 'Repeating Patterns', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarietha/1794451071/, ed, 2007, A set of lights repeated down a hallway.
Light Rail Now, In: http://www.lightrailnow.org/images02/transit-graph-safety-per-pm-avg-2002-04_lrn.gif, ed, A graph of transit safety.
Grace Fell, 'Thinking ...' In: 392964271_b4d8fe95e9_o.jpg, ed, 2007, woman, chin on hand, looking up and thinking
Leo Reynolds, 'pile of books ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/4077733692/, ed, 2009, pile of books
Antony Chammond, 'Hedging my bets at Penshurst Place', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8525214@N06/2918055523/, ed, 2008, tall
hedge with a doorway cut out of it
justmakeit, '265/27 Sock Tragedies ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelpasch/2231096694/, ed, 2008, Three unfinished knitted
socks
C Koay, 'Venus de Milo ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceekay/358327527/, ed, 15 January, 2007, statue of Venus de Milo
James Thompson, 'Cut Cake ', 2006, cream sponge cake with piece cut out of it

Editing and Proofreading 27

Photo References (in order of appearance)
PAGES 19-25

Sarah Charlesworth, 'Train runs up the west side of the Exe estuary ', In: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1285794, ed, 2009,
Train running through fields with cows in foreground
Enrique Burgos, 'customer-loyalty_retention ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enriqueburgosgarcia/3364250371/, ed, 2009, two
stylized people shaking hands
Leo Reynolds, 'comma', 2006, comma yellow on green with link pattern
Stephen Lock, 'Spelling', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephendl/2212818035/, ed, 2008, colourful plastic letters of the alphabet
jumbled
Rick Kirby, 'Formation', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21804434@N02/3476321942/, ed, 2003, sculpture of six women with
arms outstretched.

Editing and Proofreading 28