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Editing and Proofreading

Guidance, tools and resources on how to efficiently edit and proofread your own work.

What is proofreading?

Proofreading is the final step in the editing process, when you should focus on identifying and correcting errors in your work before you share it for marking, publication, or reading by others.

The purpose of proofreading is to eliminate:

  • Spelling and punctuation errors
  • Inconsistent formatting
  • Missing or repeated text?
  • Incorrect headings and page numbers

Taking a systematic approach to checking your work enables you to ensure that the writing is logically structured, your ideas are communicated effectively, the readability of your work is improved, and your work is polished to a more professional standard.