Phil Druker/ Department of English/ UI

 

Hints for Proofreading

 

bulletWords to avoid:

Very, so (so many, so much), quite, up (after verbs… open up = open)
Always, Never (generalizations)
Obviously, Clearly, As you know, Needless to say
Hopefully
A lot, A lot of  (check spelling—not “allot”)
Aspect, Thing, Do, Get, Etc. (avoid general words)

bulletAvoid legal terms:

Aforesaid, aforementioned, notwithstanding,….

bulletUse short words rather than long words when possible:

Utilize (=use), Methodology (= method), Perspicuous (=clear), Thusly (= thus)

 

bulletBe concise and avoid phrases like these:

It is interesting to note, … It may be said…. just cut it

Due to the fact that,….  In view of the fact that…., For the reason that…, owing to the fact that…. == BECAUSE

            In view of the foregoing = Therefore

            By means of…., By utilizing…, Through the use of….= BY

            At this point in time,…. At this time,…. At present ==Now

bulletAvoid there + Be …. That
There are three factors that affect this  = Three factors affect this.
bulletAvoid “It is….”

It is here the IDL becomes oxidized = The IDL oxidizes here.

bulletAvoid Noun Strings:

The laser printer paper tray retainer spring clip =
            The clip for the retainer spring  on the printer’s paper tray

bulletAvoid negative sentences:  (Say what it is rather that what it is not.)

It was not found the that situation is inappropriate =
            The situation was not inappropriate. / The situation was appropriate.

bulletAvoid passive sentences.
bulletAvoid repeating first words in sentences, in paragraphs.
bulletCheck subject-verb agreement and pronoun agreement
bulletThe user  = he or she,  + The users = they
bulletEveryone = he or she,  + The students = they
bulletUse either “you,” “we” or “I” consistently. 
bulletAvoid “one.”
bulletAvoid “I” in formal reports.
 
bulletCheck basic word choices:
  when = time, where=place, who/whom =people
   the amount money (singular) / the number of bills (plural)
 
bulletCheck spelling:
  
from/form     assess/asses   
  affect(verb)/effect (noun)    advise/advice     compliment/complement
  weather/whether   to/too/two   cite/site/sight
  there/their/they’re           its (possession)/ it’s = it is  whose/who’s
 
bulletAvoid contractions in formal writing.
bulletCheck capital letters.
bulletCheck word endings for s or ed .
bulletCheck punctuation: , ; : .   “________,” and “_____.”
bulletShow possession: the cat’s tail, the cats’ tails