Each student has a huge amount of workload that they need to complete on time so that they can score good grades. Owing to this extensive pressure, you might end up forgetting about an assignment until the last moment. When you complete an assignment in a hurry, you are bound to make silly mistakes. Hence, it is very important that you proofread your work before you finally submit it.
You can avail of last-minute assignment help from educational consultants like MyAssignmenthelp.com if you feel that you do not have time to proofread your document yourself.
While there are numerous platforms that offer these online essay help services, it is important that you master the art of proofreading, too. You will be more aware of the kind of mistakes that you can make and so it will be easier for you to spot them. So, the best thing that you can do is proofread your essay yourself.
Before we dive into how to proofread an essay, let’s go through the structure of an essay that you need to follow.
| Introduction | It should include a hook, and also your thesis statement. |
| Body Paragraphs | Each paragraph should have a topic sentence, which needs to be supported by facts and examples. |
| Conclusion | In this section, you need to summarize the main points. You can also end with a thought-provoking question. |
Now, let’s see how you should proofread when you do not have a lot of time in your hand.
Tips for Last-Minute Proofreading
One thing that you need to remember is that you have to proofread your paper before you submit it. It gives you a chance to spot and rectify all the mistakes that you made while writing. Here are some tips to help you out if you plan to revise your paper on your own.
1. Take Short Breaks –
You first need to see what amount of time you have left before you need to submit your essay. Accordingly, take a break and do something else. In this time, you can
- Read books and journals
- Listen to your favorite tracks
- Take a walk in the park/alley
Come back to your writing after this break with a fresh mind, and then start the proofreading process. You have been working non-stop to be able to complete this essay on time. So, if you read through the essay right after you have finished writing it, you might not be able to find any mistakes in it. Hence, the gap is very important.
2. Check Grammar –
This is where you need to be very careful. By chance, if you forget to rectify any grammatical errors and your teacher happens to find them, then you will be penalized for it. Here are some things that you need to look into.
- Check for typos; make sure you correct all of them.
- See if you have made any punctuation errors or not.
- Are the subject-verb agreements okay, or do you need to fix them?
- Do not use big words just to make your writing look fancy.
If you do not feel very confident checking the grammar all by yourself, then you get help from platforms like Grammarly.
3. Read Slowly –
You have to follow this step however little time you have in hand. If you go through your writing in a hurry, then you might not be able to spot any mistakes at all. You need to take your time and read through it slowly and carefully. Focus on each sentence in great detail, and if possible, read it twice to ensure that there are absolutely no mistakes.
4. Check Formatting –
While checking the formatting of your essay, you also need to check its structure. See whether you have maintained the margins, the indentations, and the font consistently. Did your teacher ask you to follow a particular citation style? Check whether you have done that or not. Submitting an error-free assignment will help you to get good grades.
5. Ask a Friend for Help –
If you do not feel confident in checking your own essay and think that you might overlook a lot of your mistakes, then you can take this way out. Exchange your writing with a friend’s, and check for mistakes. Neither of you knows what the other person has written, so it will be easier for both to find out if there are any mistakes present.
To Wrap It Up,
Do not ever forget to proofread your academic writing before submitting it. You need to check thoroughly to see if there are any.
- Grammatical errors
- Structural errors
- Spelling mistakes, etc.
If these problems are present in your work when you are submitting it to your teacher, then you will be penalized. So, take your time and read through your entire written piece carefully. Make changes wherever required and submit.