Guidelines for Editing and Proofreading

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Top Gun Term Papers would like to correct the misconception that editing and proofreading are ultimately one and the same. People may occasionally interchange the two words, but the two are actually different stages in the revision process.

Both editing and proofreading require close and careful reading, but they focus on different aspects of the writing and employ different techniques. Top Gun Term Papers has prepared the following guidelines for editing and proofreading:

Editing

Editing can be done on several levels. It can be based on the following:

• content
• overall structure
• structure within paragraphs
• clarity
• style
• citations

As you go over your work and pay close attention to these levels, you will make significant changes to the content and wording of your paper. There will tend to be problems that make recurring patterns. This becomes more evident in large documents like theses or dissertations. Once you have identified a problem pattern, Top Gun Term Papers suggests you develop strategies to correct future occurrences of that specific pattern.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage in the revision process. It is primarily about searching your writing for errors, both grammatical and typographical, before submitting your paper for an audience. Much like editing, you should find out what your typical problem areas are and look for each type of error individually. Top Gun Term Papers suggests you use specific strategies. Use the strategies to find and correct your particular errors in usage, sentence structure, and spelling and punctuation. Such strategies include:

• Reading your paper aloud, or having someone read it aloud to you. We often "hear" more of our errors than we see.
• Reading the paper backward one word at a time. This helps you concentrate on individual words rather than on the paper's meaning as a whole.
• Knowing and keeping a list of errors you make often so that you know what to look for in your papers.

There are however, tips that apply to both editing and proofreading.

1. Clear your head.

You will not be able to spot errors in a text that is still so familiar to you. Top Gun Term Papers suggests giving your work some space and coming back to it at a later date.

2. Avoid distractions.

It is never a good idea to work in front of the TV or while checking how many hits your facebook page received overnight. Top Gun Term Papers recommends you find a quiet place to work, free from any distracting sights and sounds that may take your attention away from the errors on your page.

3. Do not do all your editing and proofreading all at once.
Top Gun Term Papers acknowledges that your attention starts to wane after a few hours. Spread you time for revisions across a span of hours, day or weeks.

Top Gun Term Papers assures that the revision process becomes easier as you develop and practice the different strategies involved in editing and proofreading. You will learn to identify the specific areas of your own writing that need careful attention. Mastery in the revision process allows you to focus more on developing your ideas while you are drafting your paper.