How to Proofread and Edit Your Writing

When submitting assignments in any school course, final drafts are expected to be in the most polished, error-free form. This means you aren't submitting a first draft, an outline, or a rough plan as your final assignment.

However, students often get confused or feel unsure where to start when asked to proofread and edit their work. This is understandable. There are so many areas to look at for errors that could be corrected that it may seem easier to give up, or worse, submit rough work!

In Social Studies, there are categories on the marking rubrics that focus on the clarity of communication, which can be impacted by errors in your writing. Make sure you are addressing this part of each assignment by taking time to proofread and edit your work, prior to submitting.

How to Proofread and Edit Your Work

BEFORE beginning to proofread and edit your work, consider the following. 

  1. Do you have a completed/final draft? Many students proofread and edit as they complete the assignment. But to do an effective review, it helps to look at the assignment in full.
  2. Is it in a format you can edit? Some students print off the assignment so they can physically go through it. Others find it easier to edit and proofread a digital/online document. Do what works best for you.
  3. Did you leave enough time to edit/proofread? If you are rushing to submit your assignment, you might not have enough time to really go through and catch the errors and corrections needed. 

DURING the proofreading and editing process, do the following.
  1. Use a proofreading (download here) and/or editing checklist to help you focus on your work.
  2. Use a different colour to indicate changes or errors. If you are physically marking up your work, use highlighters, different coloured pens, or post-its with notes to indicate changes needed. If you are editing online, change the settings of your typing to a different colour or font.
  3. Focus on one area of proofreading and editing at a time. If you try to do multiple areas at once, you will inevitably miss some errors.
  4. Allow a trusted friend, relative, teacher, or peer to review and edit your work. Have them go through the checklists and mark up your assignment. Especially if you've spent a long time with an assignment, you could be tired or not ready to look at it for awhile. Having another set of eyes is helpful!

View a summary of Editing and Proofreading.