Catching Errors With Careful Proofreading

After you compose your message, you need to proofread. The proofreading process may take longer than the composition process. You don't want to spend a lot of time composing the message and then let poor grammar or punctuation prevent your audience from comprehending it.

What should you do when proofreading a complex document? Check all that apply.

• Read the document quickly and check for grammatical errors.
• Print a double-spaced copy and set it aside for at least a day.
• Make sure you are the only one who reads it.
• Read the document at least twice.

Read the following selection, and identify any errors.

Checking punctuation before sending your massage is important. When you proofread for punctuation errors make sure that introductory clauses are followed by commas, that compound sentences put commas before coordinating conjungations, and that semicolons and colons are used corectly.

• This selection contains three misspelled words and one comma error.
• This selection contains two spelling errors, one run-on sentence, and one comma error.
• This selection is correct without any revisions.

Identify the error or style problem in the following sentences.

Everyone must learn how to work his new computer.

• Spelling
• Grammar
• Punctuation

Per your request, I am enclosing Toben's comments.

• Redundancy
• Wordy noun phrase
• Trite expression