7 academic secrets for proofreading your thesis paper
Taking the time to proofread your thesis paper can help improve content quality as well as your grade. Many students commonly overlook this task thinking it is not important but they should reconsider. There are times in which errors and mistakes go unchanged and it can ruin chances of getting the grade you want. They can also affect the overall message you want readers to know about your paper. The following tips are simple secrets academic students can do when proofreading their content.
- Take a break before you start. Once you have completed writing your thesis take a break. Take your eyes off of the content for a while to help refresh your eyes. This helps catch mistakes easier.
- Tackle the process one part at a time. You don’t have to try and proofread the entire project in one sitting. Consider breaking up the task by paragraphs. If you have more time you can spread out the process over the course of a few days.
- Print out a copy on paper to review. Try to do your proofreading with a hard copy instead of on the computer screen. It is easier on your eyes and you can highlight areas you need to change as you come across them.
- Make sure names, proper nouns, and any statistical details and facts are correct. If content of this nature is left incorrect it tends to make the writer look careless. These are mistakes that can easily be changed and often take less than a few minutes.
- Use a dictionary when it doubt about word usage or meaning. Many words are known to have multiple meanings and there are words that sound the same but have different meanings. If you are in doubt about a word you used you can look it up to make sure you have used it properly.
- Make a list of mistakes you commonly make to review and compare. If you are aware of common mistakes you make when writing you may want to note them on a piece of paper and refer to the list as you review your thesis. This can help you stay on top of your weaknesses.
- Don’t be afraid to get help from someone you know or have someone else review your content. You can ask a friend to read your paper or consider hiring a professional proofreader.
