argumentative essay proofreading checklist

Editing and Proofreading

What this handout is about.

This handout provides some tips and strategies for revising your writing. To give you a chance to practice proofreading, we have left seven errors (three spelling errors, two punctuation errors, and two grammatical errors) in the text of this handout. See if you can spot them!

Is editing the same thing as proofreading?

Not exactly. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, editing and proofreading are two different stages of the revision process. Both demand close and careful reading, but they focus on different aspects of the writing and employ different techniques.

Some tips that apply to both editing and proofreading

• Get some distance from the text! It’s hard to edit or proofread a paper that you’ve just finished writing—it’s still to familiar, and you tend to skip over a lot of errors. Put the paper aside for a few hours, days, or weeks. Go for a run. Take a trip to the beach. Clear your head of what you’ve written so you can take a fresh look at the paper and see what is really on the page. Better yet, give the paper to a friend—you can’t get much more distance than that. Someone who is reading the paper for the first time, comes to it with completely fresh eyes.
• Decide which medium lets you proofread most carefully. Some people like to work right at the computer, while others like to sit back with a printed copy that they can mark up as they read.
• Try changing the look of your document. Altering the size, spacing, color, or style of the text may trick your brain into thinking it’s seeing an unfamiliar document, and that can help you get a different perspective on what you’ve written.
• Find a quiet place to work. Don’t try to do your proofreading in front of the TV or while you’re chugging away on the treadmill. Find a place where you can concentrate and avoid distractions.
• If possible, do your editing and proofreading in several short blocks of time. Your concentration may start to wane if you try to proofread the entire text at one time.
• If you’re short on time, you may wish to prioritize. Make sure that you complete the most important editing and proofreading tasks.

Editing is what you begin doing as soon as you finish your first draft. You reread your draft to see, for example, whether the paper is well-organized, the transitions between paragraphs are smooth, and your evidence really backs up your argument. You can edit on several levels:

Have you done everything the assignment requires? Are the claims you make accurate? If it is required to do so, does your paper make an argument? Is the argument complete? Are all of your claims consistent? Have you supported each point with adequate evidence? Is all of the information in your paper relevant to the assignment and/or your overall writing goal? (For additional tips, see our handouts on understanding assignments and developing an argument .)

Overall structure

Does your paper have an appropriate introduction and conclusion? Is your thesis clearly stated in your introduction? Is it clear how each paragraph in the body of your paper is related to your thesis? Are the paragraphs arranged in a logical sequence? Have you made clear transitions between paragraphs? One way to check the structure of your paper is to make a reverse outline of the paper after you have written the first draft. (See our handouts on introductions , conclusions , thesis statements , and transitions .)

Structure within paragraphs

Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence? Does each paragraph stick to one main idea? Are there any extraneous or missing sentences in any of your paragraphs? (See our handout on paragraph development .)

Have you defined any important terms that might be unclear to your reader? Is the meaning of each sentence clear? (One way to answer this question is to read your paper one sentence at a time, starting at the end and working backwards so that you will not unconsciously fill in content from previous sentences.) Is it clear what each pronoun (he, she, it, they, which, who, this, etc.) refers to? Have you chosen the proper words to express your ideas? Avoid using words you find in the thesaurus that aren’t part of your normal vocabulary; you may misuse them.

Have you used an appropriate tone (formal, informal, persuasive, etc.)? Is your use of gendered language (masculine and feminine pronouns like “he” or “she,” words like “fireman” that contain “man,” and words that some people incorrectly assume apply to only one gender—for example, some people assume “nurse” must refer to a woman) appropriate? Have you varied the length and structure of your sentences? Do you tends to use the passive voice too often? Does your writing contain a lot of unnecessary phrases like “there is,” “there are,” “due to the fact that,” etc.? Do you repeat a strong word (for example, a vivid main verb) unnecessarily? (For tips, see our handouts on style and gender-inclusive language .)

Have you appropriately cited quotes, paraphrases, and ideas you got from sources? Are your citations in the correct format? (See the UNC Libraries citation tutorial for more information.)

As you edit at all of these levels, you will usually make significant revisions to the content and wording of your paper. Keep an eye out for patterns of error; knowing what kinds of problems you tend to have will be helpful, especially if you are editing a large document like a thesis or dissertation. Once you have identified a pattern, you can develop techniques for spotting and correcting future instances of that pattern. For example, if you notice that you often discuss several distinct topics in each paragraph, you can go through your paper and underline the key words in each paragraph, then break the paragraphs up so that each one focuses on just one main idea.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation. You should proofread only after you have finished all of your other editing revisions.

Why proofread? It’s the content that really matters, right?

Content is important. But like it or not, the way a paper looks affects the way others judge it. When you’ve worked hard to develop and present your ideas, you don’t want careless errors distracting your reader from what you have to say. It’s worth paying attention to the details that help you to make a good impression.

Most people devote only a few minutes to proofreading, hoping to catch any glaring errors that jump out from the page. But a quick and cursory reading, especially after you’ve been working long and hard on a paper, usually misses a lot. It’s better to work with a definite plan that helps you to search systematically for specific kinds of errors.

Sure, this takes a little extra time, but it pays off in the end. If you know that you have an effective way to catch errors when the paper is almost finished, you can worry less about editing while you are writing your first drafts. This makes the entire writing proccess more efficient.

Try to keep the editing and proofreading processes separate. When you are editing an early draft, you don’t want to be bothered with thinking about punctuation, grammar, and spelling. If your worrying about the spelling of a word or the placement of a comma, you’re not focusing on the more important task of developing and connecting ideas.

The proofreading process

You probably already use some of the strategies discussed below. Experiment with different tactics until you find a system that works well for you. The important thing is to make the process systematic and focused so that you catch as many errors as possible in the least amount of time.

• Don’t rely entirely on spelling checkers. These can be useful tools but they are far from foolproof. Spell checkers have a limited dictionary, so some words that show up as misspelled may really just not be in their memory. In addition, spell checkers will not catch misspellings that form another valid word. For example, if you type “your” instead of “you’re,” “to” instead of “too,” or “there” instead of “their,” the spell checker won’t catch the error.
• Grammar checkers can be even more problematic. These programs work with a limited number of rules, so they can’t identify every error and often make mistakes. They also fail to give thorough explanations to help you understand why a sentence should be revised. You may want to use a grammar checker to help you identify potential run-on sentences or too-frequent use of the passive voice, but you need to be able to evaluate the feedback it provides.
• Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. If you try to identify and revise too many things at once, you risk losing focus, and your proofreading will be less effective. It’s easier to catch grammar errors if you aren’t checking punctuation and spelling at the same time. In addition, some of the techniques that work well for spotting one kind of mistake won’t catch others.
• Read slow, and read every word. Try reading out loud , which forces you to say each word and also lets you hear how the words sound together. When you read silently or too quickly, you may skip over errors or make unconscious corrections.
• Separate the text into individual sentences. This is another technique to help you to read every sentence carefully. Simply press the return key after every period so that every line begins a new sentence. Then read each sentence separately, looking for grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. If you’re working with a printed copy, try using an opaque object like a ruler or a piece of paper to isolate the line you’re working on.
• Circle every punctuation mark. This forces you to look at each one. As you circle, ask yourself if the punctuation is correct.
• Read the paper backwards. This technique is helpful for checking spelling. Start with the last word on the last page and work your way back to the beginning, reading each word separately. Because content, punctuation, and grammar won’t make any sense, your focus will be entirely on the spelling of each word. You can also read backwards sentence by sentence to check grammar; this will help you avoid becoming distracted by content issues.
• Proofreading is a learning process. You’re not just looking for errors that you recognize; you’re also learning to recognize and correct new errors. This is where handbooks and dictionaries come in. Keep the ones you find helpful close at hand as you proofread.
• Ignorance may be bliss, but it won’t make you a better proofreader. You’ll often find things that don’t seem quite right to you, but you may not be quite sure what’s wrong either. A word looks like it might be misspelled, but the spell checker didn’t catch it. You think you need a comma between two words, but you’re not sure why. Should you use “that” instead of “which”? If you’re not sure about something, look it up.
• The proofreading process becomes more efficient as you develop and practice a systematic strategy. You’ll learn to identify the specific areas of your own writing that need careful attention, and knowing that you have a sound method for finding errors will help you to focus more on developing your ideas while you are drafting the paper.

Think you’ve got it?

Then give it a try, if you haven’t already! This handout contains seven errors our proofreader should have caught: three spelling errors, two punctuation errors, and two grammatical errors. Try to find them, and then check a version of this page with the errors marked in red to see if you’re a proofreading star.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Especially for non-native speakers of English:

Ascher, Allen. 2006. Think About Editing: An ESL Guide for the Harbrace Handbooks . Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Lane, Janet, and Ellen Lange. 2012. Writing Clearly: Grammar for Editing , 3rd ed. Boston: Heinle.

For everyone:

Einsohn, Amy. 2011. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications , 3rd ed. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Lanham, Richard A. 2006. Revising Prose , 5th ed. New York: Pearson Longman.

Tarshis, Barry. 1998. How to Be Your Own Best Editor: The Toolkit for Everyone Who Writes . New York: Three Rivers Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 101 Guide [+ Examples]

An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays.

While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to demonstrate their research and analytical skills. The secret of a successful paper lies behind strong arguments and counterarguments. So, the writer should focus on facts and data rather than personal values and beliefs.

Besides, a good argumentative essay should be structured appropriately:

• The introduction and conclusion have to create a frame for the entire essay.
• The body paragraphs are supposed to cover the essential points.
• Supporting evidence should make a paper more professional and reputable.

Are you still wondering what an argumentative essay is and how to write it? Check out the sections below prepared by our experts . Here, you can find the most valuable info, helpful tips, and useful examples.

📜 Classic Strategy

📋 toulmin strategy, 🗣️ rogerian strategy, ✒️ fill in the blanks, 🔍 edit and proofread, 🔗 references, 📌 argumentative essay in a nutshell.

Are you trying to figure out what an argumentative essay is? It’s a type of academic paper that covers both sides of a given issue. An author can decide whether they aim to present both sides equally or support one side more dynamically.

One of the mistakes among students is the confusion of argumentative and persuasive essays . Do you want to figure out the differences? Take a look at the following table.

Before writing an argument essay, it would be helpful to choose an appropriate model to rely on. There are three strategies to consider: Classical, Toulmin, and Rogerian.

Look at the following sections and choose the most suitable one for you.

Are you wondering how to write an argumentative essay? Consider using the classical approach. It is the most popular way of composing an argumentative paper.

Under the classical strategy, the author has to follow these rules:

• research the issue;
• present both sides;
• express own opinion;
• prove the reader the validity of the conclusion.

It is up to the audience to decide whether your position is right or wrong. Yet, you should try to convince the readers of the effectiveness of your opinion.

Usually, the classical argument paper is structured in the following way:

• Introduction . Use the hook to catch the readers’ attention. State the problem and explain why your topic is relatable to the audience.
• General background. Introduce the general info and several facts about your issue.
• Thesis statement . State your position clearly and concisely.
• The central argument. Provide valid evidence and appropriate examples to support your position. Refer only to reliable sources.
• Rebuttal . Include a counter paragraph in your essay, presenting the opposing arguments. Provide specific examples to make the reader understand your position. Also, explain to the audience why the counterclaims are incorrect.
• Conclusion . Synthesize your arguments and counterarguments. Give the readers a question for further investigation of your problem. To make your essay more impressive, compose a memorable concluding sentence.

Toulmin strategy is the most suitable for the discussion of controversial issues. This model aims to find common ground through clear logic and valid evidence. Besides, the Toulmin strategy eliminates unnecessary things and limits the points to agree upon.

An argumentative essay written by the Toulmin model includes the following elements:

• Claim . A viewpoint that the author aims to prove.
• Evidence . Supportive facts from reliable resources that highlight the significance of the claim.
• Warrant . An element that connects the claim and that evidence.
• Backing . Additional reasoning that underlines the warrant’s validity.
• Rebuttal . Counterarguments that contradict the author’s position.
• Qualifier . An additional element (usually, a word or a short phrase) that narrows the claim’s capacity. Several examples of qualifiers: “typically,” “usually,” “occasionally,” etc.
• Exceptions . Specific limitations that indicate the cases where that claim may not be valid.

Like the Toulmin approach, Rogerian strategy attempts to find common ground between two sides of one issue. However, the technique is slightly different.

The Rogerian model is often used in highly controversial debates when the parties do not accept each other’s position. Thus, the given strategy focuses on finding the agreement by proving the validity of the opposing arguments.

Below, you can find the primary outline for the Rogerian argumentative essay:

• Introduce the problem. Present the issue clearly and explain why it is worth the readers’ attention.
• Summarize and analyze the counterarguments. Take into consideration all the possible counterpoints and look at them from different perspectives. Discuss the cases in which the opposing claims could be valid. Demonstrate your open-mindedness. This will make the opposite party more loyal to you.
• Present your position. After discussing the counterpoints, state your opinion. Convince the audience about the validity of your points.
• Prove the advantages of your position. Explain to the opposite party how the acceptance and adoption of your points will benefit them.

🧐 How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Before working on your essay, carefully read the assignment. Make sure you understand all the instructor’s requirements and the purpose of the paper.

• Pay enough attention to the task. Did your professor assign you a topic? Or do you need to choose it yourself ? Make sure you have an idea that will turn into an outstanding essay.
• Select the strategy you are going to apply. An argumentative essay format will depend on the model you choose to compose your paper. Analyze the issue you will arise and decide what strategy is the most suitable. Is it the Classical model, the Toulmin, or the Rogerian one?

After that, start composing your argumentative essay. Check out the following sections. We have a lot of insightful info to share with you!

📚 Research the Topic

The first step of writing an argumentative paper is an in-depth investigation of the topic. To validate your arguments, you have to refer to credible resources. The essay will look more professional if you use reliable sources in it.

To research like a professional , do the following:

• Use only credible sources. You can refer to the books, research articles, materials from academic databases, or Google Scholar. Webpages registered as governmental or educational institutions (.gov, .edu.) and widely-known news websites (New York Times, BBC, CNBC) are also considered appropriate. Avoid using blog posts, outdated materials, and any other data from unreliable sources. You may get into huge trouble, taking information from random websites, since it may be invalid.
• Pay attention to the publishing date . You may be required to use the sources released no later than five years ago. Yet, it is not always the case, especially when you’re dealing with historical documents. Thus, double-check your instructions regarding recommended sources.
• Keep your topic in mind. Concentrate on what you are writing about and select the sources for your exact issue. Avoid sources that provide too general information and look for more limited ones. If your idea is World War II’s economic consequences, the history book from ancient times to modern days will not be the best option.
• Become an expert. Take enough time to investigate the issue you are writing about. Read numerous articles, compare and contrast the scientists’ opinions. Prove your reader that you are a reliable person who selected the best sources.

📝 Outline Your Essay

The majority of students tend to underestimate the power of outlining. Don’t do this! An argumentative essay outline is a helpful tool for planning, structuring, and composing.

Firstly , a well-developed outline helps the writer to put all their thoughts in an appropriate order. None of the essential points will be lost if the student plans the essay before writing.

Secondly , it lets the writer figure out what evidence suits what argument most. Before writing, draft your essay first. Put examples, facts, etc. in the right parts of the paper. Then, write the entire text.

Thirdly , an outline provides a perfect opportunity to change the essay’s parts without rewriting the paper. Are you unsure of specific details? Not a problem. Change them in the outline without ruining the text.

There are essential elements that your outline should contain. Check out the following section to see them.

Introduction

How to start an argumentative essay? First and foremost, include an argumentative essay introduction in your outline.

This part should grab the readers’ attention from the first words. Thus, put enough effort into composing a compelling hook . What can it be? An impressive statistic or an exciting fact? Be creative – decide yourself! But make sure that your intro is catchy enough.

After the hook, introduce your topic’s general background . Prove the readers the significance of your issue and gradually come to the thesis statement .

The concept of studying abroad is becoming increasingly popular in both developed and developing countries. Students around the globe strive to explore the world and broaden their minds, and studying in a foreign country is an excellent opportunity to do so. Such experience may be extremely beneficial because meeting new people and discovering foreign cultures help students to gain valuable knowledge and see the world from a new perspective. However, while presenting significant opportunities for personal growth, it may also bring about some challenges.

Thesis Statement

A thesis is an essential part of your argumentative essay. It should state your position regarding the issue clearly and concisely. Avoid general statements, vague words, and be as specific and possible. Your thesis statement should guide the readers throughout the main points of the paper.

The location of the thesis in the essay plays a crucial role. The most appropriate place for it is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

Although students face difficulties such as loneliness while studying abroad, it is a worthy experience to introduce them to new knowledge, people, and culture and promote their independence.

Body Paragraphs

The body of your paper is supposed to develop your position, provide valid evidence and examples. Each paragraph has to focus only on one idea. This will ensure the logical structure of your argumentative essay.

A body paragraph should start from the topic sentence and end with the concluding sentence . Such a frame around every section will make your readers stay concentrated on your ideas and get your opinion.

• The topic sentence is the first sentence of the passage. It should reflect its point and correspond to the thesis statement.
• The concluding sentence aims to wrap up the author’s thoughts. Thus, make sure that the last sentence of a paragraph is insightful enough.

Each body paragraph should include an argument (or a counterargument) with supporting evidence. Get your proof from credible sources and ensure that it directly corresponds to the point.

An example of a topic sentence :

The benefits of education abroad are almost innumerable, prominent examples being gaining new knowledge, making friends with people who have different mindsets, and discovering new cultures.

An example of a concluding sentence:

Participants of student exchange programs usually return more driven and eager to develop both themselves and their country.

A conclusion plays a critical role in understanding the entire paper. It summarizes the body and leaves the final impression. Besides, it may push the readers on further investigation of the issue.

• To make your argumentative essay conclusion powerful, it is not enough just to summarize the arguments. It has to synthesize your ideas and show the connection between them. In other words, your points should be summarized and analyzed.
• Moreover, a conclusion refers to the thesis statement . A mere restatement of the central idea is not the most successful way of finishing your paper. You should try to develop it to demonstrate the reason you’ve written the previous paragraphs.

One more tip:

• Give the audience an incentive to explore the topic more in-depth. Insert the questions for further investigation at the end of your essay. It would play a significant role in making an impressive conclusion.

To sum up, studying abroad is beneficial as it helps a person evolve and perceive a world from new perspectives. It is an opportunity for a participant to explore the world, meet new people, gain valuable knowledge and experience, and broaden their horizons. Education abroad might pose problems like homesickness, loneliness, and trouble with getting accustomed to a new environment. However, all of them can be easily overcome if a student is flexible and eager to become autonomous and independent.

The list of references is a crucial part of any argumentative essay. It should contain all the sources the writer uses in the paper.

Before organizing your reference list , double-check your argumentative essay format. Is it written in MLA, APA, or maybe in Chicago style? How many references does the professor expect you to include? What kind of sources are you required to use?

After figuring out these issues, move to the format requirements of the writing style you use for your paper. The most popular ones are APA (7th edition), MLA, and ChicagoAD (author-date) styles. Below, you can find the examples of a reference for the same book in different formatting styles.

Did you develop a good outline? Congratulations! You are almost done with the essay. Now, you need to fill in the blanks and create a final version of your paper. Here is where you need to demonstrate a high level of your writing skills.

• Make sure your paper has no logical fallacies. Information from an untrustworthy source, a hasty generalization, or a false conclusion may put your reliability as an author under threat. So double-check all the data you include in your essay. Moreover, make sure all your statements are well-developed and supported by valid evidence.
• Check your argumentative essay structure . All the arguments should refer to the thesis statement and must be presented in the logical sequence. The supporting evidence and examples have to be inserted in the text logically, according to the arguments.
• Pay enough attention to the citations. References and in-text citations are incredibly tricky. Always check every detail according to your essay format. If you are unsure of specific issues, refer to a citation guide and make your paper free of formatting mistakes.
• Ensure the coherence of your argumentative essay. Often, the paper’s material seems raw only because it is presented without a logical connection. To ensure a smooth connection between the ideas, use transitions between the paragraphs and linking words inside them. Insert them in the text to connect the points. As a result, you will have a coherent essay with the logical flow of the arguments.

The final step of your writing process is editing and proofreading. Although it is not that energy and time consuming, it still plays a critical role in the work’s success.

While writing your argumentative paper, plan your time accordingly. This will provide you with an opportunity to polish your essay before submitting it. And take a look at our checklist and always use it to improve your papers:

• NO first and second person. Use only the third person in your argumentative essay. It is a general requirement for any kind of academic paper.
• NO slang. The word choice is an essential part of the essay writing process. Ensure you use only formal vocabulary and avoid using informal language (jargon, slang, etc.).
• NO unchecked words. Sometimes, words can raise questions and lead to misunderstandings. If you are unsure whether the term is used appropriately, double-check its meaning or replace it with another.
• NO plagiarism. While proofreading, make sure your citations are either properly paraphrased or taken in quotation marks. You can change the sentence structure to avoid plagiarism.
• NO minor mistakes. Grammar, spelling, punctuation play a crucial role. Want to make your paper look professional? Make sure it is free of minor mistakes then.

Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should student-athletes benefit from sports?  
• Do celebrities really have influence on people behavior?  
• Will decriminalization of drugs increase drug menace?  
• Does social and environmental reporting promote organizations’ financial success? 
• Should online learning be promoted?  
• Can space exploration resolve human problems?  
• Is success really the outcome of hard work?  
• Is there discrimination against women in sports?   
• Will banning tobacco sales promote public health?  
• Is euthanasia a clemency?  
• Should college education be free and accessible for every student?  
• Should football be banned for being too dangerous?  
• Is it time to change social norms ?  
• Should public servants’ strikes be prohibited?  
• Does media create a negative image of ageing and older people?  
• Is capitalism the best economic system?  
• Can children under 18 make an appropriate decision on getting tattoo ?  
• Should net neutrality be protected?  
• Can an improper use of social media provoke a family crisis?  
• Is it right to use animals in biomedical research ?  
• Does the climate change affect our indoor environment? 
• Are children’s crimes a result of poor parenting?  
• Should health care be universal?  
• Does the increased use of technology hurt students’ efficiency? 
• Is transformative education a key to the system modernization?  
• Why should patients have access to truthful information?  
• How does language barrier affect health care access?  
• Would allowing adoption by same-sex couples benefit the country’s child welfare system? 
• Is spanking children a proper way to improve their behavior?  
• Does gun control law lowers crime rates?  
• Will ban on spamming improve users’ internet experience?  
• Should behavior be made illegal because it’s immoral?  
• Is globalization really a progress?  
• Does aid to developing countries bring more harm than good?  
• Can parents improve children mental health by restricting internet use ?  
• Is trusting our senses the best way to get the truth?  
• Why parents should not have the right to choose their children based on genetics.  
• Is college education really worth it? 
• Will wearing a body camera by police officer enhance public trust?    
• Immigration : a benefit or a threat?  
• Is it a duty of adult children to take care of their elderly parents?  
• Should abortions be legal?  
• Are agents an integral part of professional sports?  
• Will ban of cellphones while driving decrease the car accident rates? 
• Should marijuana be legal for medical use?  
• Is veganism diet universally beneficial?  
• Should museums return artefacts?  
• Is water birth beneficial for women’s health?  
• Will paying people to stay healthy benefit the nation in the long-term perspective?  
• Is obesity a disease or a choice?  

It is up to you to decide how many parts to include in your essay. However, the 5 paragraph structure is the most appropriate model for an argumentative paper. So, write an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs.

The pronoun “you” is acceptable for informal writing. Yet, in academic papers, avoid using the second person. The same situation is with the first person. Generally, academic papers require the use of the third person.

A hook aims to grab the readers’ attention. Thus, you could start your essay with an interesting fact about your issue. Another way to create a catchy hook is to prove the audience the relatability of your topic. Make the readers want to explore your essay by demonstrating the significance of your issue.

Yes, you can. A question might become a compelling hook. Just make sure that it is profound, thought-provocative, and concise. A too broad or complicated question will only confuse your readers.

A title is an essential part of the essay since it causes the first impression. While selecting a heading, take into consideration the following points:

1. The title must be catchy.

2. It has to be not too long (5-12 words).

3. The title has to reflect the topic of the paper.

4. It should not be too complicated: the simpler – the better.

Thank you for visiting our page! We hope the information was helpful and insightful. Do you have friends who seek help with writing an argumentative essay? Share our article with them. And don’t forget to leave your comments!

• Sample Argument Essays: Mesa Community College
• Argument: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay: Grace Fleming, ThoughtCo
• Tips for Organizing an Argumentative Essay: Judith L., Beumer Writing Center, Valparaiso University
• Argumentative Essay: Oya Ozagac, Bogazici University, Online Writing Lab
• Argumentative Essays: Purdue Online Writing Lab, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University
• How to Write an Argumentative Essay Step by Step: Virginia Kearney, Owlcation
• Counterargument: Gordon Harvey for the Writing Center at Harvard University
• Basic Steps in the Research Process: North Hennepin Community College, Minnesota
• How to Recognize Plagiarism, Overview: School of Education, Indiana University Bloomington
• 15 Steps to Good Research: Georgetown University Library
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Argumentative Essay Peer-Editing Checklist

I use the below checklist with my students so they can improve the drafts of their argumentative essays . Feel free to use it (or edit it as long as you don't redistribute it) if you find it useful for your class.  Note that there are APA-related questions.

There are two pages. The first page is for the prepared students who brought an essay draft to class to show their partners. The second page is for unprepared students who only have their essay in their heads (it's a verbal exercise). If your students are all prepared, then you can disregard the second page.

Peer-review Checklist Preview

Argumentative Essay Draft Peer-Editing Checklist

Pair-work : Answer the below questions based on your partner’s essay.

• The essay has a clear thesis statement presenting its stance at the end of the introduction paragraph. (YES/NO) If YES, write the essay’s thesis statement below:
• The essay presents a counter-argument to the author’s stance. (YES/NO) If YES, write the counter-argument points below:
• Can you easily find a refutation or response to each of the above points?

Point A: (YES/NO)

Point B: (YES/NO)

(Point C: (YES/NO))

• If YES, is the refutation persuasive? (YES/Somewhat/No)
• Does the essay ignore any obvious counter-arguments? (YES/NO) (Answer should be NO)
• Do the regular body paragraphs begin with a clear topic sentence that states the overall topic of the paragraph? (Example topic sentence: “ Furthermore, outsourcing can reduce company costs .” < If this were the topic sentence, then the whole paragraph would be about reducing costs.) (YES/NO)
• Does each paragraph have at least three sentences? (YES/NO)

If time allows…

• Does each in-text citation contain the author’s last name and the year of publication? (YES/NO)
• Count the number of authors cited. Do all of these authors appear in the References? (YES/NO)
• Are there any non-cited authors in the References? (YES/NO) (Answer should be NO)
• Are the References entries listed in alphabetical order?
• Do all sources accessed online have a DOI or URL?
• Are the sentences clear? Highlight the sentences you don’t understand.

Research Essay Worksheet – Verbal Explanation (Essay draft not Ready)

Part 1 (Pair Work) : Stance, Counter-argument, and Refutation

Present the below points to your partner about your essay. You do not need to write anything–explain it as clearly as possible verbally.

Stance/Thesis

• My essay argues that ….

Counter-argument

• Critics of this view argue that (1) ….
• Some people also might argue that (2) ….

Refutation/Response

• Point #1 is not (completely) true because ….
• Point #2 is not (completely) true because ….

Part 2 : Once finished, give feedback to each other. Consider the following points:

• Are the most obvious counter-arguments mentioned?
• Does the refutation address the specific points of the counter-argument?
• Is the refutation convincing

Part 3 : (Time Permitting) Verification of peer-reviewed sources

Paste a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources that you plan to use below.

Confirm with your partner that these sources are peer-reviewed, i.e. journal articles or published books.

Best of luck with your classes.

-- Peer-editing worksheet created by Matthew Barton (copyright) for Englishcurrent.com

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• Checklist for academic essays | Is your essay ready to submit?

Checklist for Academic Essays | Is Your Essay Ready to Submit?

Published on December 2, 2014 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that aims to present a convincing argument using evidence, analysis and interpretation. It always has an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

When you’ve finished writing your essay, use this checklist to evaluate your work.

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Table of contents

Other interesting articles, checklist: essay.

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Bryson, S. (2023, July 23). Checklist for Academic Essays | Is Your Essay Ready to Submit?. Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-checklist/

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Shane Bryson

Shane finished his master's degree in English literature in 2013 and has been working as a writing tutor and editor since 2009. He began proofreading and editing essays with Scribbr in early summer, 2014.

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Proofreading Checklist

• 14-minute read
• 17th March 2023

In this post, we’ve compiled a comprehensive checklist for proofreading your work to a professional standard using the collective knowledge of our expert editing team . 

Whether you’re a proofreader yourself or want to proofread your work like a pro, be sure to bookmark this handy resource! If you want to skip the explanation of each step, you can view the checklist at the bottom of the page .

Why You Need a Proofreading Checklist

A proofreading checklist is a great resource for anyone who writes. Instead of trying to remember everything (and inevitably missing things because you’re human and have a lot to think about in a day), you have a resource that highlights common errors and mistakes. You can stay on track, avoid silly mistakes, and make sure your writing is clean, professional, and error-free. 

The Proofreading Checklist – At a Glance

• Create a clean copy
• Confirm the dialect
• Consult any notes
• Review any feedback

Use Find/Replace

• Check spelling
• Fix punctuation
• Fix the formatting

Check Capitalization

• Remove contractions
• Remove first-person pronouns
• Review abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms
• Check grammar
• Consider the meaning, content, and word choice
• Do final checks
• Create a track changes copy

Below we’ve broken down the checklist in detail, so you can understand what each checklist item means. 

The Proofreading Checklist – In More Detail

Create a clean copy.

When you want to proofread a document, it’s useful to make two copies. The first copy is the original document, and the second is your “clean copy.”

When you’re ready to begin proofreading, open the original document, click Save As , and add “Clean Copy” to the beginning of the document name. Then remove “Track Changes” under the Review Tab (if working in Word) so you can make changes without marking up your document in red.

Confirm the Dialect

Depending on the English dialect required for the document, you might need to change the language settings on your document. This will help catch regional spelling mistakes.

  To check your language settings, go to File , select More , and then Options . You will see the Word Options page pop up. Select the Language tab on the left. Make sure the correct language is listed under the “ Office display language ” box.

  Under the “ Office authoring languages and proofing ” box, you will see the “ Add a Label ” option to the right. Select that and add your English dialect, such as English (United States) or English (United Kingdom).

Consult Any Notes

Always review any style guides, referencing guides, or assignment requirements. If you’re a freelance proofreader working for a client, check your client’s notes to make sure you haven’t missed any details or overlooked specific requirements.

If you’re working with a specific referencing guide, check out our comprehensive guides to all major referencing systems (e.g., MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and APA).

Review Any feedback

If you’re a student, review your feedback from previous writing assignments. Do you see any recurring comments? If so, write those down and look for those issues in your current work. If you’re a professional, you can do the same by making a list of feedback you’ve received from colleagues or supervisors.

You know your writing best, so think about mistakes you’ve made in the past and things you tend to struggle with. Make a list of those items before you start so you’ll remember to keep an eye out for them.

Proofreading Methods

Now, you’re ready to begin proofreading your document. Here are some general tips to make sure you catch every mistake and error as you go:

  If you have a   reference list , it can be helpful to proofread this first. Be sure to check your referencing system for guidance in this section. Reference lists should always start on a new page (unless specified otherwise). You can do this by inserting a page break.

  When you start proofreading the main text, go through each page twice before moving on. If reading one page is too much, try going paragraph by paragraph instead. Take your time and give your eyes frequent breaks so you don’t miss anything. Additionally, the Read Aloud function in the Review tab can help you catch sneaky errors.

You should always use find/replace when you see recurring errors, especially spelling errors. Additionally, use find/replace to remove double spaces in the text.

Check Spelling

Thanks to spellcheckers, spelling mistakes are easy to find and correct. However, technology sometimes overlooks them, so it’s still important to pay close attention to spelling. Additionally, ensuring consistent spelling among names of people, groups, places, and organizations, as well as paying attention to dialect differences, is key to achieving neat and professional writing.

Here are some common spelling mistakes to look out for:

Fix Punctuation

Punctuation includes all marks and symbols, such as commas, colons, semicolons, quotation marks, and parentheses. Punctuation is just as important as correct grammar. Like grammar, punctuation marks add clarity and meaning.

Punctuation usage also varies among English dialects (i.e., British vs. American vs. Australian English), so make sure your punctuation usage follows the right dialect.

Here are some common punctuation mistakes to look out for. If you’re not sure how to use a specific punctuation mark, click on the link to find a detailed article on the topic.

• Misuse or overuse of semicolons and colons
• Missing end punctuation : periods, question marks, and exclamation points
• Quotation marks around direct quotes
• Use of brackets and parentheses
• Apostrophes with possessive nouns
• Correct punctuation with conjunctions
• Oxford commas in American English
• Misused, overused, or missing commas
• Hyphens  in compound adjectives before nouns (except when they end in -ly)
• Unspaced em dashes for parenthetical information in American English
• Spaced en dashes for parenthetical information in British English
• Unspaced en dashes for ranges of dates or figures
• En dashes for relationships of equal weight (e.g., “student–teacher relationship”)

Check Formatting

Always check your document for formatting mistakes or inconsistencies, as they detract from professionalism and neatness. These can include empty lines at the start of the document, spaces at the beginning of a paragraph, or graphs, charts, figures, and tables that spill over into the margins.

Capitalization should follow standard rules and be consistent. For example, the titles, headers, and subheadings might all be sentence or title case . Additionally, ensuring that proper nouns (e.g., names of organizations and places) are capitalized correctly and avoiding random capitalization will enhance the overall quality of the writing. When writing a CV or resume, always check the capitalization of job titles .

If you’re unsure about capitalizing a term or phrase, check a dictionary. If you can’t find guidance from a dictionary, such as for scientific terms or jargon , look at other works or websites that use them and maintain consistency.

Here’s a short list of capitalization guidelines:

• Capitalize proper nouns.
• Use consistent sentence or title case for titles, headers, and subheadings.
• Capitalize titles (e.g., Mr., Dr., and Ms.).
• Be consistent.

Remove Contractions

Contractions are shortened versions of two words commonly used together. For example, “I am” becomes “I’m” or “should have” becomes “should’ve.” Avoid common errors with contractions, such as “should of” becoming “should’ve” or “would of” becoming would’ve.”  

While contractions are used in spoken language regularly, they should not be used in formal writing. However, contractions can be used in creative writing, especially in dialogue .

Remove First-Person Pronouns

In formal writing, such as academic or certain business writing, it’s best to avoid first person pronouns and language (e.g., “in my opinion,” “I think,” or “our research”). However, this can vary depending on your guidelines and requirements.

Always check your style guide or ask your academic supervisor for further guidance. Overall, if you can reword the text to avoid using first person language, do so. For other types of writing, such as poetry or creative writing, pronoun usage is up to the author.

Review Any Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initialisms

Abbreviations are shortened versions of words, such as “min” for “minute.”

Acronyms are a type of abbreviation where only the first letter from each word is included, creating a new term. For example, “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” becomes NASA or “as soon as possible” becomes ASAP. Acronyms are spoken as a single word. We don’t spell out N-A-S-A, we say NASA .

Initialisms are like acronyms, but the new abbreviation is not read as a word. Instead, we spell out the initials, such as BBC for “British Broadcasting Corporation.”

Let’s look at how to use abbreviations in writing. One rule remains the same for all types of writing (in general): abbreviations should be fully introduced on the first use. For example: 

An exception to this rule is if the term is used only once in the text. In that case, you should use full terminology by itself. Additionally, you don’t need to introduce commonly known abbreviations, like TV. Which terms this includes will depend on your academic or business field, so follow referencing guides as needed.

Abbreviations in Academic Writing

You should treat abstracts as a separate document from your thesis or journal article. This means that if you introduce an abbreviation in the abstract , you still need to introduce it on the first use in the main body.

Additionally, avoid using abbreviations in headings and subheadings unless it makes them too long (consult your style guide on these matters as well). Last, avoid using abbreviations in captions and descriptions of figures, charts, tables, or graphs. These items can be used independently from the manuscript, so it’s important that the terms are spelled out in full.

Check Grammar

Everyone makes grammar mistakes in their writing. However, missed grammar errors can make it difficult for your readers to understand the meaning.

Below is a list of common grammar errors to look out for when proofreading. If you need a more detailed explanation, click on the item to find an in-depth post on it.

●   Subject–verb agreement

●   Use of nouns

●   Correct article usage (i.e., a, an, the)

●   Use of non-restrictive and restrictive clauses (i.e., who, which, that)

●   Consistent and correct verb tenses

●   Comma splices

●   Faulty parallelism

●   Incomplete or difficult-to-understand sentences

●   Confusing pronouns (e.g.., correct uses of “he,” “she,” and “they”)

Consider the Meaning, Content, and Word Choice

Sometimes we use the wrong word because we make a spelling mistake or have a fundamental misunderstanding of a word’s definition and usage. That’s okay! What’s important is that you ensure proper word usage in your writing. When in doubt, use a dictionary.

Additionally, use the right words to convey your desired tone. For example, avoid using casual, conversational, and emotive language in academic and business writing to achieve an objective, professional, and confident tone.

For example:

Last, check each sentence for overall clarity and meaning. This can be remedied by ensuring proper grammar, punctuation, and word choice. However, there could still be some sentences that are too long (aim for around 25 words per sentence), awkward, or wordy. Reading aloud can help identify these sentences.

Conduct Final Checks

Once you finish editing, you’re not entirely done. It’s important to review your proofreading marks to ensure you didn’t miss anything. Do another find/replace to remove any double spaces you might have introduced while proofreading.

Scan the text to see if Word has highlighted any errors you might have missed (look for the red squiggly lines). Last, double-check any style guides, referencing guides, assignment requirements, or client notes to ensure you haven’t missed anything.

Create a Track Changes Copy

The final step in your proofreading process is to create a   “Track Changes” copy . To do this, you need to save the “Clean Copy” document you’ve proofread. Then, go to the Review tab, click Compare , and upload your “Original” and “Clean Copy” documents (“Original” goes in the first box, and “Clean Copy” goes in the second box). Click OK .

Save the “Track Changes” document and rename it with “Track Changes” instead of “Clean Copy.” You should now have three documents: Original, Clean Copy, and Track Changes.

The Proofreading Checklist

Jump to section, share this article:, want to save time on your content editing, our expert proofreaders have you covered., learn more about proofreading & editing.

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Argumentative Essay Checklist

It is essential to have an argumentative essay checklist when writing an essay. An argumentative essay is a type of paper that presents facts, evidence, and research to support a debatable opinion or claim. Thus, creating a thorough and structured checklist is key to ensuring that the essay is constructed properly and effectively communicates its message.

Introduce your claim.

Support your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence from the texts., acknowledge and address alternate or opposing claims., organize the reasons and evidence logically., use words, phrases, and clauses to connect your ideas and to clarify the relationships., establish and maintain a formal style., provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument., check your work for correct grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation..

This checklist was created by

Details for Argumentative Essay Checklist

1. introduce your claim.

The introduction of the argumentative essay should clearly define what the topic is and provide a brief overview of the main points that will be discussed in the body of the paper. It should also introduce any evidence used to support the argument, as well as address any alternate or opposing claims. Depending on the scope of the paper and the complexity of the topic, this section may also explore other related issues.

2. Support your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence from the texts

The body of the argumentative essay should present facts, evidence, and research to support the claims made in the introduction. This can include data gathered from primary sources such as interviews or experiments, as well as secondary sources like books and articles. It is important to ensure that all facts are accurate and that any opposing views are considered.

3. Acknowledge and address alternate or opposing claims

When addressing alternate or opposite opinions on a subject matter, it is important to consider both sides of an issue fairly before drawing conclusions. Acknowledging these opposing viewpoints shows that the writer is well-rounded in their research and able to evaluate multiple aspects of a topic.

4. Organize the reasons and evidence logically

Organizing the evidence and arguments logically will help readers follow along as they read through the essay. It is important that each point made directly relates to the main argument, so it should be placed accordingly within the body of the paper. Additionally, transitions between points should be clear to ensure that everything flows together smoothly.

5. Use words, phrases, and clauses to connect your ideas and to clarify the relationships

Incorporating cohesive devices such as linking words, phrases, or clauses can help make an argumentative essay more coherent by connecting thoughts together in a logical manner. These devices can also be used to emphasize or clarify the relationships between ideas.

6. Establish and maintain a formal style

The language used in an argumentative essay should remain formal throughout, and it is important to avoid colloquialisms or slang that might distract from the overall seriousness of the paper. Additionally, maintaining an objective tone while presenting evidence will help ensure that any biases are not influencing the reader’s opinion of the topic.

7. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument

A conclusion should provide a brief summary of the main points and arguments discussed in an essay. It should reiterate the thesis statement, but without repeating it verbatim, as well as provide a sense of closure to the paper.

8. Check your work for correct grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation

Proofreading an argumentative essay is essential in order to ensure that it is free from any errors. This includes checking for issues with grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling and punctuation. Even simple mistakes can be distracting and could lead to confusion or misinterpretation by readers. Taking the time to proofread will help ensure that all information presented is accurate and easy to understand.

FAQ for Argumentative Essay Checklist

1. what is an argumentative essay checklist.

An argumentative essay checklist is a guide that helps writers to ensure they have included all of the important elements necessary for an effective argumentative essay. This checklist outlines key points to consider when structuring and writing an argumentative essay, such as defining the topic, presenting evidence, acknowledging and addressing alternate or opposing claims, organizing the reasons and evidence logically, using words, phrases, and clauses to connect ideas and clarify relationships, establishing a formal style of writing, providing a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument, and checking for proper grammar usage.

2. What should an argumentative essay include?

An argumentative essay should include an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement that defines the topic being discussed; body paragraphs presenting facts, evidence, and research to support the claims made in the introduction; acknowledgement and addressing of alternate or opposing claims; organization of reasons and evidence logically; words, phrases, and clauses to connect ideas and clarify relationships; establishment of a formal style of writing; a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument; and checking for proper grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.

3. What is the purpose of an argumentative essay?

The purpose of an argumentative essay is to present a point of view on a particular topic or issue through the use of facts, evidence, research, and analysis. The goal of an argumentative essay is to persuade readers that the author’s claims or opinions are valid by convincing them with logical reasoning.

4. How can I make sure my argumentative essay has quality content?

In order to ensure that your argumentative essay contains quality content you should do thorough research on the topic being discussed and provide accurate information. Additionally, it is important to use words, phrases, and clauses to connect ideas and clarify relationships. Establishing a formal style of writing is also essential in order to ensure that your argumentative essay is taken seriously. Lastly, taking the time to proofread will help ensure that all information presented is accurate and easy to understand.

A checklist for argumentative essays is a valuable tool for writers to ensure that their writing is comprehensive and effective. By following the guidelines outlined in a checklist, writers can avoid common errors and mistakes, such as not properly defining the topic, failing to provide adequate evidence to support claims, not acknowledging or addressing opposing views, lack of organization or clarity, improper grammar use, and failing to provide a concluding statement. Quality content can be achieved through thorough research, the use of words and phrases to connect ideas and clarify relationships, establishing a formal style of writing, providing a conclusive statement or section that follows from and supports the argument, and checking for proper grammar usage. Taking the time to complete an argumentative essay checklist is a great way to ensure that your argumentative essay has the best chance of being successful.

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Proofreading is primarily about searching your writing for errors, both grammatical and typographical, before submitting your paper for an audience (a teacher, a publisher, etc.). Use this resource to help you find and fix common errors.

Proofreading can be a difficult process, especially when you’re not sure where to start or what this process entails. Think of proofreading as a process of looking for any inconsistencies and grammatical errors as well as style and spelling issues. Below are a few general strategies that can help you get started.

General Strategies Before You Proofread

General strategies while you proofread, when you are done.

• Make sure that you leave plenty of time after you have finished your paper to walk away for a day or two, a week, or even 20 minutes. This will allow you to approach proofreading with fresh eyes.
• Print out a hard copy. Reading from a computer screen is not the most effective way to proofread. Having a hardcopy of your paper and a pen will help you.
• Have a list of what to look for. This will help you manage your time and not feel overwhelmed by proofreading. You can get this list from previous assignments where your instructor(s) noted common errors you make.
• Don’t rush . Many mistakes in writing occur because we rush. Read slowly and carefully to give your eyes enough time to spot errors.
• Read aloud to yourself. Reading a paper aloud encourages you to read each word and can help you notice small mistakes.
• Read aloud to a friend and have the friend give you oral feedback.
• Have a friend read your paper aloud while you don’t read along.
• Use the search in document function of the computer to look for common errors from your list.
• Read from the end. Read individual sentences one at a time starting from the end of the paper rather than the beginning. This forces you to pay attention to the sentence itself rather than to the ideas of the paper as a whole.
• Role-play. While reading, put yourself in your audience's shoes. Playing the role of the reader encourages you to see the paper as your audience might.
• Have a friend look at your paper after you have made all the corrections you identified. A new reader will be able to help you catch mistakes that you might have overlooked.
• Make an appointment with a Writing Lab tutor if you have any further questions or want someone to teach you more about proofreading.
• Ask your teacher to look at the areas you usually have trouble with to see if you have made any progress.

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How to Proofread an Essay (+Little Tricks Most Writers Ignore)

Writing is hard. We all know that. Whether it’s an essay, a personal story, a blog post, or a novel, we spend tons of time and energy finishing the first draft.

For students, it’s even more challenging: Whether you craft an assigned essay or  ask professional writers to help you , you often forget about an integral part of the writing process all sophisticated authors undergo — proofreading .

Here’s the ultimate list of tricks and strategies on how to proofread an essay. Together with a proofreading checklist you’ll find in this article, it will help you master a new skill and flourish your writing.

Table of Contents:

• What is proofreading?
• Proofreading vs. editing
• How to proofread an essay: 17 strategies to try
• Proofreading checklist
• Ready to proofread your essay like a pro?

What is Proofreading?

It’s essential for any writing style, whether an academic paper, marketing content , personal blog post, or novel.

Now that you know a proofreading definition and understand the role of this process for your essay’s final grade, let’s go into a little more detail and reveal the core difference between proofreading and editing .

Proofreading vs. Editing

That’s how we define editing:

In a nutshell:

• Editing  is a longer and more complex process, with a focus on heavy changes to your content.
• Proofreading  goes after editing, with a focus on minor errors and inconsistencies.

Editing consists of a few rounds: content editing, line editing, and copy editing. Once ready, a specialist goes to the final step — proofreading. That’s what each round involves:

How to Proofread an Essay: 17 Strategies to Try

• Take a break after writing
• Get rid of distractions
• Edit first, proofread afterward
• Use writing guidelines as a checklist
• Focus on your most common writing mistakes first
• Avoid plagiarism
• Print it out and use a ruler
• Change a mindset
• Read backward
• Read it out loud
• Check each paragraph twice
• Check numbers and consistency
• Go beyond a text itself
• Ask a friend to read your essay
• Proofread several times
• Ask a professional editor to help you

And now, for more details on each one:

Take a Break After Writing

Once the final draft of your essay is ready, don’t hurry up to proofread it straight away. Take at least a 30-minute break; the ideal variant would be to start essay proofreading the next day after writing it.

A break will help your brain and eyes relax, so you would later check the draft with a clear head and better focus. It will make you see the text from a fresh perspective and proofread it more accurately.

Have a coffee, listen to music, take a walk — it’s up to you what break to choose. Just make sure you aren’t at the computer, and you don’t stare at the draft in search of  grammar or spelling mistakes .

Get Rid of Distractions

The break is over, and you’re ready to start checking your writing? Now it’s time to prepare your workplace so nothing would distract you from the process.

Turn off all the notifications, close unnecessary tabs on your laptop, and ask your family or roommates not to disturb you for a while. TV, music, the smell of coffee, a dog barking — consider everything that can bother you.

It’s not only about better concentration on the proofreading process. It will help you prevent procrastination: Nothing will be around to turn your attention away from the task.

Edit First, Proofread Afterward

As mentioned in the proofreading definition, it’s the last stage of the writing process. So, before you start checking your draft for typos and other minor inconsistencies, ensure you’ve edited your work: Why spend time fixing misspelled words if you might later remove the whole sentence or paragraph from the essay?

Edit first, proofread afterward. Yes, it requires time; seasoned writers admit that editing and proofreading often take even more time than writing itself. That’s why it’s critical to  manage time  and finish essays so you would have enough time to take a rest and proofread your work thoroughly before submitting it.

Use Writing Guidelines as a Checklist

Whether you write an essay, a blog post, or a  hypothesis , you will have the list with writing guidelines beforehand. There can be aspects like a topic, a formatting style, arguments and references to consider, etc.

These instructions from a teacher or an editor can help you save time proofreading: Address to them to ensure your draft sticks to every item from the list. It’s your checklist to follow.

Focus on Your Common Writing Mistakes First

We all have so-called Achilles’ heels in writing. What are your most common mistakes? Maybe you confuse “that/which” or “there/they’re,” or you forget about an Oxford comma or misspell “throughout?” Create a list of the mistakes you typically make and use it as a checklist when proofreading essays.

Focus on checking those mistakes first to ensure you won’t miss them through the process. Together with the list of writing guidelines from a professor/editor, it will be your extra helper to ease proofreading.

Avoid Plagiarism

You know that plagiarism is a no-no and educational institutions consider it an unacceptable violation of academic integrity. No matter  why students plagiarize , it’s a red flag: Professors check every work for plagiarism via corresponding tools; any duplications in your essay may cost you a grade, even if they were unintentional.

It’s not about academics only. Copying others’ work is a grave violation in any niche.

When editing and proofreading your essay, make it a habit to check it for duplications. Ensure you format all the quotes and other references properly. Run the draft through a plagiarism checker.

Print It Out and Use a Ruler

This proofreading trick is popular among journalists. Often, typos and other errors are easier to notice when reading a draft from print:

When checking a text from a computer screen, we scan rather than read it. Therefore, we risk missing some points. A printed copy allows us to focus on each word and sentence separately. Plus, it’s a chance to check if the formatting is correct and consistent.

Another trick to use here is to place a ruler under each line while reading. It helps your eyes focus on a short amount of text and proofread it precisely, with no dissipation throughout the whole essay.

Change a Mindset

Forget that it was you who wrote that essay. Change a mindset and imagine yourself as a professional editor: Pretend that you’re checking someone else’s work, not yours.

Help your mind separate a you-writer from a you-editor. Try going to a different location with your essay draft, wear a different hat, etc. You need to create a kind of psychological distance that will signal your brain it should think differently too.

This trick allows you to change a perspective and see the draft with fresh eyes. By doing so, you can notice weak points you wouldn’t care before.

Read Backward

This tip on how to proofread an essay works best when you don’t have any writing tools a la spell-checkers nearby. It can happen on an exam, while writing an  SAT essay , or in a classroom.

Start reading your work from the end, sentence by sentence. Therefore you’ll change perspective, forcing your brain to notice “mechanical” errors in the text. (When reading traditionally, we focus more on arguments and sequence of ideas, not minor mistakes.)

Read It Out Loud

Read your writing aloud or at least whisper it sentence by sentence. By vocalizing the words, you involve a few senses: seeing, speaking, and hearing. It gives you more opportunities to notice the flaws.

Plus, reading aloud will slow you down, preventing scanning and missing slight inconsistencies. You’ll hear the difference between what you wanted to say and what you  actually  wrote.

Check Each Paragraph Twice

Before doing your final proofreading (yeah, you’ll need to proofread an essay several times), read it paragraph by paragraph. The trick is to check each paragraph twice.

It will help you understand if a paragraph needs any major edits and go back to line- and copy-editing if necessary. Polish every sentence and paragraph of your writing work until they look/sound stellar.

The first thing that comes to a student’s mind is about proofreading an essay via spelling and grammar checkers. Yes,  Grammarly, Hemingway,  and even  Microsoft Word  can help you detect errors, and it’s worth using them. Yet, you can’t 100% rely on writing tools because they often don’t understand the context.

For example, only sophisticated tools can see the typo if you wrote, let’s say, “your” instead of “you’re.” Both spellings are correct, though meanings drastically differ. If English is not your native language or you aren’t perfect with English grammar, confusion and errors may still happen.

So, use checkers but don’t rely on them. At least, you can check your essay draft via several different tools for proofreading and editing: Altogether, they’ll identify more errors.

Try:   Read My Essay  (a free online tool from Bid4Papers)

Check Numbers and Consistency

When proofreading your essay, pay attention to the numbers you use as references. All those “see Section 2” or “check Figure 6” might have changed and become outdated when you edited the draft.

Cross-reference the numbers you use in the essay’s body with those mentioned in the bibliography , footnotes , or charts. Ensure they are consistent.

Speaking of consistency, by the way:

Check if you stay consistent throughout the essay. Double vs. single quotation marks, capitalization, writing numbers as words or numerals, US vs. British English spelling, full stops after bullets — all these details are critical in proofreading.

Go Beyond a Text Itself

Remember that typos and other mistakes can hide in places other than your  essay’s intro , body, or  conclusion . Don’t just proofread the text but also consider titles, footnotes, reference sections, captions, charts, etc.

Every part of your writing matters for the final result and grade. So don’t let errors slip through these places: Check each separately.

Ask a Friend to Read Your Essay

It’s challenging to proofread an essay since the risk of missing out on critical errors is high. So, it would help if you found a proofreading buddy — your friend, mom, or classmate — who could check your draft instead of you.

You can agree with a classmate that you’ll proofread each other’s essays, but the best option will be to find someone unrelated to your writing task. Sure thing, consider those you can trust or those you know have some knowledge of English grammar.

Proofread Several Times

Remember the tip on checking each paragraph twice? It works because you’ll unlikely notice EVERY spelling, grammar, and punctuation error at once. That’s why do your best to proofread your essay draft several times: Get ready to perform two or even three rounds.

The tip:  Use different proofreading methods for every round. First, you can proofread an essay by paragraph; then, consider reading it backward; and finally, you can print it out and read your essay aloud.

Ask a Professional Editor to Help You

Not sure if you need a comma or a dash, whether to write “affect” or “effect,” or what’s the difference between n- and m-dashes? Editing tools will hardly help here, but a professional editor can.

If you have an opportunity, you can ask an  editing service  to proofread your draft and provide feedback on your work. There’s nothing wrong with that: Most writers and journalists have editors who help them polish works and turn them into masterpieces we later read. The help of a professional editor is your chance to grow your writing skills: You’ll see your typical mistakes and will avoid them in your future works.

Proofreading Checklist

And now that you have a long list of tips and methods on how to proofread an essay, it’s time for a checklist to have nearby:

Here’s what to watch out for in your draft when proofreading:

1) Check your spelling:

• Articles misuse (an/a/the)
• Prepositions misuse
• Homophones confusion (you’re/your, there/their, etc.)

2) Check your punctuation:

• Apostrophes misuse
• Hyphens, em- and en-dashes, full stops in lists, etc.
• Missed or misused commas

3) Check your style:

• Capitalizations
• Inconsistent numbers
• US English vs. British English spelling

4) Check your formatting:

• Quotation marks
• Missing or misplaced footnotes, page numbers, headers
• Inconsistent spacing
• Paragraph indentation

Ready to Proofread Your Essay Like a Pro?

Now you know how to proofread an essay. Please remember that it’s an integral part of the writing process regardless of what you craft: an academic paper, a post for your blog, a short story, or a novel. Even if you have an editor to help with proofreading, do your best to check your draft for typos and other minor errors: Therefore, you’ll improve your writing skills and ease the job of your writing assistant.

And now, over to you:

How do you proofread your essays? What methods from those we described here did you try or would like to try? See you in the comments!

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Revision and Editing Checklist for a Narrative Essay

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• Writing Essays
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• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

After you have completed one or more drafts of your narrative essay , use the following checklist as a revision and editing guide to prepare the final version of your composition.

• In your introduction, have you clearly identified the experience you are about to relate?
• In the opening sentences of your essay, have you provided the kinds of details that will evoke your readers' interest in the topic?
• Have you clearly explained who was involved and when and where the incident occurred?
• Have you organized the sequence of events in chronological order?
• Have you focused your essay by eliminating unnecessary or repetitious information?
• Have you used precise descriptive details to make your narrative interesting and convincing?
• Have you used dialogue to report important conversations?
• Have you used clear transitions (in particular, time signals) to tie your points together and guide your readers from one point to the next?
• In your conclusion, have you clearly explained the particular significance of the experience you have related to the essay?
• Are the sentences throughout your essay clear and direct as well as varied in length and structure? Could any sentences be improved by combining or restructuring them?
• Are the words in your essay consistently clear and precise? Does the essay maintain a consistent tone ?
• Have you read the essay aloud, proofreading carefully?
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• How to Write a Persuasive Essay

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