An Essay Proofreading Exercise
Essay proofreading is done to improve on an essay in terms of revising content and ensuring it is devoid of grammatical errors. It is the final stage of the writing process. It is often difficult switching roles between a writer and a proof reader. One needs to be objective and focused. Some practice may help master the art of proof reading. Since it involves adapting to standard methods, a proof reader should basically be doing revisions rather than writing. Students have to complete both tasks, so it would be beneficial for them to attempt writing and proof reading at different times.
A writer needs to develop the required essay proofreading skills. The first step is for students to understand that writers often tend to omit mistakes unless they are pointed out to them. It may happen even after several reading sessions. This is especially true with writers who proofread their own work. Mistakes are there to be corrected, but our minds may not register them. A basic solution is to refer to a style guide. It would specify exactly how information is to be presented in text using standard grammatical representation. The Chicago Manual of Style is widely used by essay experts in the field of essay writing.
It is necessary to be a critic while proof reading. An objective frame of mind is developed when one can understand how positive criticism can improve writing skills. Students could begin by asking their friends to read through the essay. If they point out several changes that need to be incorporated in the text, it is safe to assume that one needs more practice. The advantage of using this method is that one can learn in a relaxed atmosphere and accept positive criticism more easily.
Using a word processor’s spell check feature is a necessity when it comes to completing the essay-writing exercise. It is necessary to make the necessary changes before using the feature as it would otherwise indicate repeat changes in the text. Students can begin by writing the essay, make changes based on researched content, and correct text further to match the writing style adapted. Once all these changes have been made and a final draft is to be confirmed, they can run the spell check.
An essay editor is better at a proofreading exercise. There is often misunderstanding as to how an editor would differ from a proof reader. The basic difference is that an editor would be more proficient in making changes in the text than a proofreader. In other words, editors are more experienced. In some cases, they adapt to it quite naturally. Students should therefore try to perfect their editing skills while completing a proof-reading exercise. They would find the exercise simpler in time.
Professional help in the form of an essay editing service is necessary, if students are not able to master the process in time. The missing factors could be pointed out by online experts. Custom-writing.co.uk has several editors who have spent many years in the academic field and understand how the essay proofreading exercise is conducted.
