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PROOFREADING TOOL Proofreading will improve
7 your grades, so sweep away

your mistakes with the
PROOFREAD FOR proofreading tool!

SENSE

The word ‘to’ is missing here.
There is an extra word here.
 Read slowly give yourself time to think.

PROOFREAD FOR  Try moving a a ruler across each line as you read to follow

PUNCTUATION the words on the page.

There should be a full stop not a  If you are using a computer, print out a copy to
question mark at the end of this proofread (it is harder to proofread online)?
sentence.
 it is a good idea to proofread for one thing at a time (e.g.
A capital letter is missing at the
beginning of this sentence. for sense, then for punctuation, then for spelling, etc.). You
will spot more mistakes by focusing on one type of error at a
time.

PROOFREAD FOR  It is best to take a break between doing your work and
GRAMMAR proofreading your work. Reading it with ‘fresh eyes’ will

The wrong tense is used here – it helped you to spot mistakes.
should be ‘help’ (present tense)
not ‘helped’ (past tense).  Keep a dictionary or electronic spellchecker near when you
proofread. You can also use your TOOLBOX INSTRUCTION
The verb does not match the MANUAL to check spelling, punctuation and grammar rules.
subject here. It should be ‘find’
not ‘finds’.  If you finds it easier to hear your mistakes rather than

sea them, try reading aloud. If this is not possible (as you
may be in the classroom), listen to the sound of your
PROOFREAD FOR voise ‘inside your head’ as you read.
SPELLING
 A good way to spot spelling mistakes is to read your work
The wrong homophone it used here BACKWARDS. Read from right to left, starting at the last

– it should be ‘see’ not ‘sea’. word. This will help you to look at the individual words

Here is spelling mistake – it should instead of thinking about what the sentences tell you.
be ‘voice’.
TOP TIP
Make a note of the common errors that you make and

SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE take extra care to look out for them in your writing.

My writing makes sense.

I have checked the spelling and corrected my mistakes.
n Red/yellow/gree Traffic lights
I have checked the punctuation and corrected my mistakes.

I have checked the grammar and corrected my mistakes.
My target for proofreading:

Use the ‘Traffic light system to colour in the boxes next to each target in the table:
GREEN = I can do this. YELLOW = I can sometimes do this. RED = I can’t do this.

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