This self-proof checklist is taken from chapter 11 of Bruce Ross-Larsen’s Edit Yourself.
You should check the use and usefulness of each word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, and section. If you do not have time for such a test, at least check a few basic things.
- Check all spelling, hyphens, capitals, numbers, and important names and terms against your style sheet.
- Make a contents page to identify problems of organization and to help your readers. [graphoniac's note: not always necessary, but a brief outline can help the writer make even the smallest paper flow better.]
- Underline and try to rectify long sentences, awkward sentences, passive verbs, and constructions that should be parallel but are not.
- Check that subjects and verbs agree in number.
- Check that all who and which clauses are correctly punctuated.
- Check that all introductory clauses beginning with an -ing word relate to what immediately follows
- Check that pairs, series, and compound subjects and predicates are arranged from short to long, from simple to compound.
- Cut what is of little use.
- Proofread everything you send out. A list of proofreader’s marks is under proofreader in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. [graphoniac's note: also found here.]
If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!
