Proofreading Proofreading

Mr. Rickert’s way to Mr. Rickert’s way to happiness and success with happiness and success with

writing.writing.

A SEVEN STEP PROCESSA SEVEN STEP PROCESS

Seven StepsSeven Steps

• When you have completed all seven When you have completed all seven steps you will have identified all the steps you will have identified all the possible errors.possible errors.

• Checking your paper sentence by Checking your paper sentence by sentence ensures that you are sentence ensures that you are focusing on what is actually on the focusing on what is actually on the page, not just what you think should page, not just what you think should be on the page!be on the page!

The Seven StepsThe Seven Steps

• 1. Check for complete sentences1. Check for complete sentences• 2. Check for words that are left out and 2. Check for words that are left out and

check for words or ideas that are check for words or ideas that are repeatedrepeated

• 3. Check all words for capitalization 3. Check all words for capitalization mistakes.mistakes.

• 4. Check for all punctuation mistakes.4. Check for all punctuation mistakes.• 5. Check for subject-verb agreement.5. Check for subject-verb agreement.• 6. Check for problems in usage.6. Check for problems in usage.• 7. Check for misspelled words.7. Check for misspelled words.

Step 1 – Complete Step 1 – Complete SentencesSentences

• A sentence is complete when it has:A sentence is complete when it has:– A Subject – What or who is the sentence A Subject – What or who is the sentence

about.about.– A Verb – What is being said about the A Verb – What is being said about the

subject, or what did the subject do.subject, or what did the subject do.– A Capital letter at the beginning.A Capital letter at the beginning.– An end mark at the end.An end mark at the end.– It makes complete sense.It makes complete sense.

Step 2 – Are Words left out Step 2 – Are Words left out or repeated?or repeated?

• Sometimes we start a sentence with Sometimes we start a sentence with an idea and then restate the idea at an idea and then restate the idea at the end because we forgot what we the end because we forgot what we said.said.

• Sometimes we accidentally repeat or Sometimes we accidentally repeat or leave out words because we know leave out words because we know what we meant to say, but forget to what we meant to say, but forget to actually say it.actually say it.

Step 3 – Check for Step 3 – Check for Capitalization MistakesCapitalization Mistakes

• All proper nouns should be capitalized.All proper nouns should be capitalized.• All proper adjectives should be All proper adjectives should be

capitalized.capitalized.• Important words in Titles should be Important words in Titles should be

capitalized.capitalized.• Common nouns should not be Common nouns should not be

capitalized.capitalized.• If you aren’t sure LOOK IT UP!If you aren’t sure LOOK IT UP!

Step 4 – Check for Step 4 – Check for Punctuation MistakesPunctuation Mistakes

• Five Punctuation marks:Five Punctuation marks:– Commas,Commas,– Periods,Periods,– Apostrophes,Apostrophes,– Quotation MarksQuotation Marks– Underlining.Underlining.

• Check for each kind of mistake.Check for each kind of mistake.• If you aren’t sure LOOK IT UP!If you aren’t sure LOOK IT UP!

Step 5 – Subject-Verb Step 5 – Subject-Verb AgreementAgreement

• If you have a singular subject you If you have a singular subject you should have a singular verb.should have a singular verb.– The cat plays with the yarn (correct)The cat plays with the yarn (correct)– The cats plays with the yarn (incorrect)The cats plays with the yarn (incorrect)– The cat play with the yarn (incorrect)The cat play with the yarn (incorrect)

• If you have a plural subject you should If you have a plural subject you should have a plural verb.have a plural verb.

• Be careful in identifying the correct Be careful in identifying the correct subject so you know which type of subject so you know which type of verb to use.verb to use.

Step 6 – Check for problems Step 6 – Check for problems in usage.in usage.

• Pronoun usage – does the pronoun Pronoun usage – does the pronoun refer to a specific, already identified refer to a specific, already identified noun within the paragraph.noun within the paragraph.

• Double negatives – two ‘not’s make a Double negatives – two ‘not’s make a do.do.

• A/an choices – An comes before a …A/an choices – An comes before a …

Step 7 - Check for Step 7 - Check for Misspelled WordsMisspelled Words

• Keep an eye out for misused homonyms Keep an eye out for misused homonyms (words that sound alike but have different (words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings)spellings and meanings)

• Check each word starting from the end of the Check each word starting from the end of the sentence and working toward the beginning. sentence and working toward the beginning. (this keeps you from assuming what the word (this keeps you from assuming what the word will be because of context and helps you see will be because of context and helps you see what is actually on the page)what is actually on the page)

• IF YOU AREN’T ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE IF YOU AREN’T ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE LOOK IT UP!LOOK IT UP!

Benefits of Mr. Rickert’s Benefits of Mr. Rickert’s approachapproach

• There are seven types of errors you There are seven types of errors you can make.can make.

• The hunt and find method of The hunt and find method of proofreading is based on finding a proofreading is based on finding a percentage of your mistakes.percentage of your mistakes.

• My system ensures you will find My system ensures you will find 100% of the errors in your paper.100% of the errors in your paper.

This powerpoint was kindly donated to www.worldofteaching.com

http://www.worldofteaching.com is home to over a thousand powerpoints submitted by teachers. This is a completely free site and requires no registration. Please visit and I hope it will help in your teaching.