Option 1 Clicking on the file will usually open it so you.Edit shared Microsoft Office documents in Dropbox. For a 35,000 word file, it took well over 20 minutes to scan the entire thing.Editing and Proofreading What this handout is aboutInstructions for typing into or editing a Microsoft Word document uploaded to Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Editor will take time to check the entire document. Microsoft Editor will start, and it will scan your document for readability. At the very end, click the Editor button.

To give you a chance to practice proofreading, we have left seven errors (three spelling errors, two punctuation errors, and two grammatical errors) in the text of this handout. This handout provides some tips and strategies for revising your writing. Hover over Open and select Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint. Click the (ellipsis) next to the fileвЂ™s name. Click the name of a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file thats saved in a shared folder. Click All files in the left sidebar.

Get some distance from the text! ItвЂ™s hard to edit or proofread a paper that youвЂ™ve just finished writingвЂ”itвЂ™s still to familiar, and you tend to skip over a lot of errors. Some tips that apply to both editing and proofreading Both demand close and careful reading, but they focus on different aspects of the writing and employ different techniques. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, editing and proofreading are two different stages of the revision process. The document opens in a new Word window.Not exactly. Click the 'File' tab at the top of the screen and select 'Open.' Browse to the document to which you want to add editing marks and double-click the file name.

Some people like to work right at the computer, while others like to sit back with a printed copy that they can mark up as they read. Decide which medium lets you proofread most carefully. Someone who is reading the paper for the first time, comes to it with completely fresh eyes. Better yet, give the paper to a friendвЂ”you canвЂ™t get much more distance than that. Clear your head of what youвЂ™ve written so you can take a fresh look at the paper and see what is really on the page.

Find a place where you can concentrate and avoid distractions. DonвЂ™t try to do your proofreading in front of the TV or while youвЂ™re chugging away on the treadmill. Find a quiet place to work. Altering the size, spacing, color, or style of the text may trick your brain into thinking itвЂ™s seeing an unfamiliar document, and that can help you get a different perspective on what youвЂ™ve written.

You can edit on several levels: ContentHave you done everything the assignment requires? Are the claims you make accurate? If it is required to do so, does your paper make an argument? Is the argument complete? Are all of your claims consistent? Have you supported each point with adequate evidence? Is all of the information in your paper relevant to the assignment and/or your overall writing goal? (For additional tips, see our handouts on understanding assignments and developing an argument.) Overall structureDoes your paper have an appropriate introduction and conclusion? Is your thesis clearly stated in your introduction? Is it clear how each paragraph in the body of your paper is related to your thesis? Are the paragraphs arranged in a logical sequence? Have you made clear transitions between paragraphs? One way to check the structure of your paper is to make a reverse outline of the paper after you have written the first draft. You reread your draft to see, for example, whether the paper is well-organized, the transitions between paragraphs are smooth, and your evidence really backs up your argument. Make sure that you complete the most important editing and proofreading tasks.Editing is what you begin doing as soon as you finish your first draft. If youвЂ™re short on time, you may wish to prioritize. Your concentration may start to wane if you try to proofread the entire text at one time.

You should proofread only after you have finished all of your other editing revisions. ProofreadingProofreading is the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation. For example, if you notice that you often discuss several distinct topics in each paragraph, you can go through your paper and underline the key words in each paragraph, then break the paragraphs up so that each one focuses on just one main idea. Once you have identified a pattern, you can develop techniques for spotting and correcting future instances of that pattern. Keep an eye out for patterns of error knowing what kinds of problems you tend to have will be helpful, especially if you are editing a large document like a thesis or dissertation. StyleHave you used an appropriate tone (formal, informal, persuasive, etc.)? Is your use of gendered language (masculine and feminine pronouns like вЂњheвЂќ or вЂњshe,вЂќ words like вЂњfiremanвЂќ that contain вЂњman,вЂќ and words that some people incorrectly assume apply to only one genderвЂ”for example, some people assume вЂњnurseвЂќ must refer to a woman) appropriate? Have you varied the length and structure of your sentences? Do you tends to use the passive voice too often? Does your writing contain a lot of unnecessary phrases like вЂњthere is,вЂќ вЂњthere are,вЂќ вЂњdue to the fact that,вЂќ etc.? Do you repeat a strong word (for example, a vivid main verb) unnecessarily? (For tips, see our handouts on style and gender-inclusive language.) CitationsHave you appropriately cited quotes, paraphrases, and ideas you got from sources? Are your citations in the correct format? (See the UNC Libraries citation tutorial for more information.)As you edit at all of these levels, you will usually make significant revisions to the content and wording of your paper.

ItвЂ™s worth paying attention to the details that help you to make a good impression.Most people devote only a few minutes to proofreading, hoping to catch any glaring errors that jump out from the page. When youвЂ™ve worked hard to develop and present your ideas, you donвЂ™t want careless errors distracting your reader from what you have to say. But like it or not, the way a paper looks affects the way others judge it.

This makes the entire writing proccess more efficient.Try to keep the editing and proofreading processes separate. If you know that you have an effective way to catch errors when the paper is almost finished, you can worry less about editing while you are writing your first drafts. ItвЂ™s better to work with a definite plan that helps you to search systematically for specific kinds of errors.Sure, this takes a little extra time, but it pays off in the end.

The important thing is to make the process systematic and focused so that you catch as many errors as possible in the least amount of time. Experiment with different tactics until you find a system that works well for you. The proofreading processYou probably already use some of the strategies discussed below. If your worrying about the spelling of a word or the placement of a comma, youвЂ™re not focusing on the more important task of developing and connecting ideas.

For example, if you type вЂњyourвЂќ instead of вЂњyouвЂ™re,вЂќ вЂњtoвЂќ instead of вЂњtoo,вЂќ or вЂњthereвЂќ instead of вЂњtheir,вЂќ the spell checker wonвЂ™t catch the error. In addition, spell checkers will not catch misspellings that form another valid word. Spell checkers have a limited dictionary, so some words that show up as misspelled may really just not be in their memory. These can be useful tools but they are far from foolproof.

You may want to use a grammar checker to help you identify potential run-on sentences or too-frequent use of the passive voice, but you need to be able to evaluate the feedback it provides. They also fail to give thorough explanations to help you understand why a sentence should be revised. These programs work with a limited number of rules, so they canвЂ™t identify every error and often make mistakes.

When you read silently or too quickly, you may skip over errors or make unconscious corrections. Try reading out loud, which forces you to say each word and also lets you hear how the words sound together. Read slow, and read every word. In addition, some of the techniques that work well for spotting one kind of mistake wonвЂ™t catch others. ItвЂ™s easier to catch grammar errors if you arenвЂ™t checking punctuation and spelling at the same time. If you try to identify and revise too many things at once, you risk losing focus, and your proofreading will be less effective.

This forces you to look at each one. Circle every punctuation mark. If youвЂ™re working with a printed copy, try using an opaque object like a ruler or a piece of paper to isolate the line youвЂ™re working on. Then read each sentence separately, looking for grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. Simply press the return key after every period so that every line begins a new sentence. This is another technique to help you to read every sentence carefully.

Editing In Word