Checklist for Turning in a Paper

Basic Rules to Remember for Last Minute Editing and Proofreading

Oct 27, 2008

It's impossible to remember every complicated rule of the English language when you are rushing to turn in a paper. Follow these rules to avoid common mistakes in papers.

Theoretically, everybody should begin brainstorming for a paper more than a week before its due date, but everybody falls behind or procrastinates. After consuming unreal amounts of caffeine and cranking out the most painful paper of your life, it is tempting to click the print button and forget about it, but using this simple last-minute checklist will ensure your paper’s clarity and readability – and a passing grade.

Check for Split Infinitives

Use the Active Voice when Possible

Be Sure Verbs Agree with Their Subjects

Be Sure Pronouns Agree with Their Subjects

Check for Left Out Words

Reread each sentence carefully for words the mind automatically inserts into the sentence.

Check for Repetition

Restating the same ideas over and over again will drive your professor mad as well as your grade down. Don't just look for sentences and words that are repetitious but also check for repetition in your argument.

Keep a Consistent Point-of-View

Be sure the paper uses the same point-of-view throughout, usually third person (they, he) for academic papers, but sometimes first person (I, we) for informal or memoir-style assignments. Very rarely should the second person point-of-view be used.

Check for Fragments

Check for fragments by reading the paper backwards, starting at the last sentence in each paragraph and reading up to the top (reading each sentence from left to right). Without the preceding sentence to lead into the next, you can often find incomplete sentences.

Don't Overuse Exclamation Marks

Nothing looks more inexperienced than a sentence that ends in multiple exclamation marks. One is the most that should be used at the end of a sentence, but they should be used extremely sparingly in academic papers.

Correct Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

This will lead to confusion and possibly change your argument altogether. Sometimes they involve an unintentionally funny implication.

Jess ended up down the street chasing the dog wearing only his underwear last night.

Was the dog wearing Jess' underwear? That is what the sentence implies. The sentence could easily be fixed by reordering the sentence.

Jess, wearing only his underwear, ended up chasing the dog down the street last night.

Avoid Clichés

Even if a phrase doesn’t sound like an obvious cliché to you, anything that you’ve read multiple times is overused. Find a fresh way to express your ideas.

Ultimately, rereading your paper is the most important thing you can do to proofread. You usually find many simple errors and repetition that are easy to correct. Keep in mind that it is better to be slightly under the word count than to fulfill the word count of a paper by repeating and overwording your ideas. Simplicity is the key because your professor will have his or her fluff detectors on.