Proof reading tips and getting

ready for submission!

Grammar, punctuation and time

management

Aaron Kelly

Top tips for proofreading

Print it off early / leave it a day

Read it aloud slowly

Take care with cut and pasting

Learn punctuation rules

Check your referencing

Get a friend to read and provide feedback

Why improve your

understanding of grammar and

punctuation?

Grammar checkers on computers are not foolproof!

Demonstrating an understanding of grammar and punctuation will impress your tutors

It will enhance written communication skills - often considered a highly desirable skill by employers

The colon

TO INTRODUCE AN IDEA

You are left with only one option: practice regularly until you have mastered it.

There is only one thing you need to know about colons: the more you practice the better you will become.

The colon

TO INTRODUCE A LIST

Most students have a wide taste in music: commercial, deep house and rock.

The soup contained several key ingredients: vegetable stock, large onions, carrots and coriander.

The semi – colon

IN COMPLICATED LISTS

In the meeting today we have present Professor Wilson, University of Barnsley; Dr Watson, University of Liverpool; Mr Aaron Kelly, Senior Resident Tutor, Liverpool Hope University and Miss Susan Murray, Head of Library Services, Liverpool Hope University.

The semi – colon

Separating closely – related independent clauses

Liverpool Hope is a great university; the tutors are supportive and the students are super friendly. Students often fear using the semi – colon; this is often due to lack of understanding.

The comma splice

The comma splice occurs when a comma is used to connect two independent clauses

Liverpool Hope is a great university, the tutors are supportive and the students are super friendly.

Students often fear using the semi – colon, this is often due to lack of understanding.

Using a comma with a

conjunction

A comma should always be used BEFORE conjunctions: and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so to separate independent causes.

eg: He hated commas, so he never used them

NOT – He hated commas so, he never used them

These are called coordinating conjunctions

There is very often no need to use a comma with the conjunction ‘because’.

Other common errors!

Avoid using contractions! e.g. shouldn’t, won’t, it’s.

Avoid using the vernacular and casual everyday words

Always write abbreviations in full the first time you see them e.g. The Department for Education (DfE) implies that….

Don’t be tempted to use complex language that isn’t your own just to make your work appear ‘academic’

Avoid using non – quantifiable descriptions

Subject / verb agreement

Plural subject, singular verb

Careful planning and a clear mind is important for writing a good academic essay.

Careful planning and a clear mind are important for writing a good academic essay.

In this sentence, careful planning and clear mind are a subject of the verb (writing) and as they are plural the verb has to be plural: are rather than is

Singular Subject / plural verb

Aaron’s taste in books was fantastic (correct)

Aaron’s taste in book were fantastic (incorrect)

The subject in this sentence is Aaron’s taste, which is singular. It therefore needs a singular verb: was rather than were

Singular Subject / plural verb

Problems can occur with collective nouns such as group of, a collection of, etc. These are singular!

For example:

A small group of birds were flying across the midnight sea. (incorrect)

A small group of birds was flying across the midnight see. (correct)

Which of these sentences uses

the colon correctly?

A) The jazz band contained the following instruments: trumpets, trombones and trumpets.

B) The jazz band contained: trumpets, trombones and trumpets.

C) The jazz band contained: trumpets, trombones, trumpets.

Right answer – A

Which of these sentences uses

the semi - colon correctly?

A) Greece is a beautiful country; lovely beaches and friendly people

B) Greece is a beautiful country; the beaches are lovely and the people are friendly

C) Greece is a beautiful country; people are so friendly

Correct answer - B

Identify the sentence that

contains the the comma splice

Aaron loves cake, he eats it at least twice a week.

At the beginning of the book, the author and publishers details can be found.

Robert describes a term that dates back to the 18th century, when poverty was rife.

Correct answer – A

For more information!

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_01.htm