Editing & Proofreading

Higher Education Language & Presentation Support

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Learning Objectives

• To understand and appreciate the importance of proofreading and editing as part of the writing process

• To understand and identify the four areas of the proofreading and editing stage: logic & reasoning, structural, grammatical and technical

• To review common grammatical errors with a view to enhancing writing quality

Question?

• Would you take seriously a book or article full of careless

errors? If you were to hand a manager a report full of careless errors, how do imagine he or she would react?

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Quiz Question?

• T / F Editing and proofreading can tend to have a large

impact on your marks

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Why is necessary?

• Lecturers and employers may not always talk about such

things as grammar, spelling, punctuation and presentation. But they notice them. And they may look harshly on work that does not meet acceptable standards of style and literacy.

• Look at the assessment criteria for each assignment: there is always a mark for language &/or expression.

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Quiz Question ?

• T / F Editing and proofreading are two terms for the one thing

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Editing and Proofreading

Editing and proofreading are not the same.

• Editing has a different function to proofreading as it takes place at a different stage in the writing process.

• The writing process involves several drafts. You will aim to proofread the second-to the last version of your draft.

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Why is editing

necessary?

• Editing is necessary because: • it is a form of ‘quality control’ • eliminates errors in logic or reasoning • it enhances fluency & literacy of a written text

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Quiz Question ?

• T / F Microsoft Word has functions which can help you edit and proofread effectively

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Computers

• If your computer can help you proofread, then what is wrong with the following poem

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Spell checker

Spell Chequer Pome

I have a spelling checker

It came with my P.C.

It clearly marks for my revue

Mistakes I cannot sea.

I’ve run this poem threw it

And I’m shore your please to no

Its letter perfect in it’s weigh My chequer tolled me sew.

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Using Spell checker

Spell Chequer Checker Pome Poem

I have a spelling checker,

it came with my P.C.

It clearly marks for my revue review

Mmistakes I cannot sea.see

I’ve run this poem threw through it

Aand I’m shore sure you’re pleased to no know,

Iit’s letter perfect in its weigh way,

Mmy chequer checker tolled told me sew.so

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Discussion Questions

• What steps do you follow to proofread/edit your

written work?

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Plan of Attack!

• Check for Structural Aspects

• Check for Logic & Reasoning

• Check for Grammatical Aspects &

Punctuation

• Check Technical Aspects

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Structural Features

• Ensure that your assignment has achieved the purpose of the genre of writing you are required to produce (e.g. essay, report, literature review, reflective piece of writing) in terms of sections and cohesion.

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Logic and Reasoning

• Hasty generalization

• Definition: Making assumptions about a whole

group or range of cases based on a sample

that is inadequate (usually because it is

atypical or too small).

• Stereotypes about people (“librarians are shy

and smart,” “wealthy people are snobs,” etc.)

are a common example of the principle

underlying hasty generalization.

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Logic and Reasoning

• Missing the point

• Definition: The premises of an argument do

support a particular conclusion—but not the

conclusion that the arguer actually draws.

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Logic and Reasoning

• Example: “The seriousness of a punishment

should match the seriousness of the crime. Right

now, the punishment for drunk driving may

simply be a fine. But drunk driving is a very

serious crime that can kill innocent people. So

the death penalty should be the punishment for

drunk driving.”

• The argument actually supports several

conclusions—”The punishment for drunk driving

should be very serious,” in particular—but it

doesn’t support the claim that the death

penalty, specifically, is warranted.

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Logic and Reasoning

• Example: “Gay marriages are just immoral. 70% of

Americans think so!”

• While the opinion of most Americans might be

relevant in determining what laws we should have, it

certainly doesn’t determine what is moral or

immoral: there was a time where a substantial

number of Americans were in favour of segregation,

but their opinion was not evidence that segregation

was moral. The arguer is trying to get us to agree

with the conclusion by appealing to our desire to fit

in with other Americans.

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Appealing to emotion

• The sentence ‘… the legal case for a treaty is underpinned by the contempt and scorn expressed by the panel of judges…’

• implies the writer’s disdain for the judiciary. Obviously, the words contempt and scorn are both subjective and emotional and are not considered good scholarly form.

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Grammatical Features

• Subject-verb agreement

• Sentence fragments

• Overly-long sentences

• Overuse of the passive voice

• Pronouns

• Clichés

• Lexical choice

• Commas, apostrophes and quotation marks

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Technical Aspects

• Referencing (in-text and reference list)

• Layout

• Cover Sheet

• Electronic and hardcopy submission

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Practice

• Identify the common grammatical errors in

your handout

Work with a partner and compare your answers.

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Having Trouble?

What can you do if you experience difficulties in your academic studies?

• Ask in class

• Go see your lecturer personally (take a draft)

• Go see another member of faculty

• Ask peers/classmates

• Email your lecturer for help

• See a HELPS advisor (drop-in or 1:1 consultation)

• ALWAYS seek help if you need it!!

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Contact us

HELPS

(Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)

• Location: CB01.03.08

• Telephone: 9514 9733

• Email: helps@uts.edu.au

• Website: ssu.uts.edu.au/helps

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ssu.uts.edu.au/helps

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