Writing Basics: The power of proofreading

Proofreading your own writing is important. After you have written something, don't submit it to the teacher if it is an essay, hit the the send button if it is an e-mail message, or "publish" it as I will do after I finish this post and hit the "Publish" button until you have re-read your writing, checked for meaning, grammar, and punctuation, and run the spell-check to check for spelling mistakes. Sometimes, especially if the written piece is very important, it's a good idea to have some else read it and give you feedback and suggestions for possible changes. Be sure to ask someone who will be honest and tell you if they see any mistakes or things that need to be changed. A second pair of eyes can be very valuable. Don't be in a hurry. If you have time, lay your draft aside and come back and read it the next day with fresh eyes. You might spot an error you missed the first time, or decide to change the wording for better clarity. Now you are reading to finalize your draft and submit it.