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PROOFREAD

Perfecting Your Grammar/Writing: The Path to Proofreading Proficiency

🎯 Objectives

This learning module should take you about 10-15 minutes to complete.
In this learning module, you will:
  • Consider viewing research as a learning opportunity.
  • See the importance of seeking truth as you conduct research.

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Overview

The last step in the writing process, proofreading requires writers to check their work for grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, and other mechanical errors. The PROOFREAD chapter is divided into smaller chunks for easy access.

Instead of covering ALL all grammar and mechanics (proofreading, numbers, and capitalization) rules, this chapter teaches fundamentals chosen from a representative sample of the most common mistakes in student writing.

Our approach—neither comprehensive nor random but pragmatic—seeks to help you avoid the most common pitfalls. A solid grasp of fundamentals will help you avoid otherwise costly or embarrassing mistakes.

This lesson, Syntax and Word Choice, focuses on sentence structure: the words you put in your sentence and where you put them.

You may use AI to help you review your work; however, most AI tools are still not great at finding all grammar mistakes. Try it. Put your paper through ChatGPT or BingAI. Ask the tool to proofread your work. Knowing the grammar rules you learn in this unit will help you train the artificial intelligence to become better at grammar—and yours will improve, too!

READ the following page and textbook chapter

WATCH the following videos on Syntax

Syntax & Word Choice Videos

Watching these videos is an optional task, but you should watch them if you struggle with syntax and word choice.
  • Sentence Structure

  • COMPLEMENTS #3: Make Pronouns Clear

  • MISPLACED MODIFIERS #1: Adverbs modify what comes next

  • MISPLACED MODIFIERS #2: Those pesky introductory phrases!

  • COMPLEMENTS #1: Parallel Connective Pairs

  • COMPLEMENTS #2: Parallel Items in a Series

  • PUNCTUATION: Is It a Phrase or Clause?