Proofreading: Not Just a Simple Grammar Check
People often mistake proofreading to be something as simple as a grammar check. While correcting grammatical errors is indeed one of the things proofreaders do, a good paper proofreader does more than that.
Some of the things that proofreaders do include:
• checking your paper for common mistakes – This includes errors in spelling, vocabulary, sentence construction, punctuations, and grammar. Mistakes in these areas are very common because they are easy to overlook, which is why even the best writers still need a paper proofreader to check their work.
• checking for any factual inaccuracies – The last thing you need is to submit or publish something inaccurate. Good proofreaders will help you spot any inaccuracies so that you can make the necessary changes.
• making sure that you are consistent in your arguments – While your basic facts might be correct, some of your arguments might be contradictory. Having a third party examine your work will help you spot these contradictions as well as other points that might weaken your argument, or simply be unnecessary.
• ensuring smooth transitions between paragraphs – If you want to communicate your ideas effectively, you need to have smooth transition from paragraph to paragraph. If not you will end up presenting your ideas in a stilted manner that will not only be confusing, but also appear unprofessional. Proofreaders usually solve the problem by simply inserting intro sentences in paragraphs that need it, or changing the order with which paragraphs appear.
