Details are important when it comes to academic writing. Your paper might be insightful and properly researched, but without proper editing and proofreading, it fails. Capable of changing the meaning of your message, spelling is as important as style and grammar; and unlike bloggers and fictionists, you cannot take the liberty of free writing, no sourcing ideas, and depending on nobody else besides expert editors to tinker at your work.
If you are a student, you cannot submit poorly proofread essays hoping that the professor either will not notice or will forgive for the slip. When you are an academic writer, it can be a good idea to make the editor’s life easier since it is not his/her job to correct any minor typos you miss. Ideally, you have to master the art of self-editing consistently before you send your work to be reviewed. It will increase your chances for high grades and approval along with helping you establish a reputation of a productive and earnest author.
Follow the 5 simple but effective steps below to proofread and edit your work like a professional:
1. Proper Structure
Ensure that you walk the line of your writing’s structuring depending on the genre. Check your introduction for the hook and thesis, examine every paragraph for key arguments and points, and verify that you have built the work towards a logical conclusion. If necessary, rearrange paragraphs for more effective argumentation, but make sure that the new order is still logical towards the overall thesis.
2. Proofread
Spellcheckers cannot see all errors in your writing as far as you understand. Try several tricks to succeed here: print out the essay, underline the mistakes and correct them on your computer; or, read your work backward, one sentence after the other. It will help change the perspective and see the paper on behalf of the reader. Check punctuation and grammar of your academic work in addition to spelling. You should also ensure that you only use consistent formatting: avoid using different fonts and line spacing since they make your work look unprofessional.
It is worth considering a professional proofreader to ensure your work is checked thoroughly, take a look at www.qualityproofreading.co.uk.
3. Plagiarism Check
Despite using proper references and conducting deep research, it is still possible for academic work to fall victim to accidental plagiarism. Examine your work for any wrong paraphrasing and duplications: corresponding tools can help with citation management and detecting fragments of plagiarism in your copy suggest abcproofreading.co.uk.
4. Watch Your Writing tempo
Consider the punctuation and syntax of your work, with the target audience in mind since they set the speed for its reading. Cut long sentences to 2 or 3 clauses maximum and avoid long paragraphs. If you don’t do that readers are likely to find your work boring and hard to follow. Using a lot of ellipses, commas, and exclamation marks can harm your writing as well.
5. Watch Your Words and Ideas
Tautologies and wateriness should be edited without any mercy. You should also avoid repeating the same argument using different words throughout the article. Avoid repeating the same lexical item within one sentence: paraphrase and consider synonyms.
Leave a Reply