THE BLUE LIGHT » Correctness http://blogs.valpo.edu/writingcenter For college writers from the Writing Center at Valparaiso University Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:07:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 ©Valparaiso University Writing Center joyce.hicks@valpo.edu (Valparaiso University Writing Center) joyce.hicks@valpo.edu 1440 Genesis, bible, creation A reading of Genesis For college writers--ideas, tips, chat Valparaiso University Writing Center Valparaiso University Writing Center joyce.hicks@valpo.edu No no http://blogs.valpo.edu/writingcenter/files/2007/09/bl144.jpg THE BLUE LIGHT http://blogs.valpo.edu/writingcenter 144 144 Read Aloud for Better Proofreading http://blogs.valpo.edu/writingcenter/2008/07/02/read-aloud-for-better-proofreading/ http://blogs.valpo.edu/writingcenter/2008/07/02/read-aloud-for-better-proofreading/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:58:17 +0000 jhicks http://blogs.valpo.edu/writingcenter/2008/07/02/read-aloud-for-better-proofreading/ We’ve all come to that point in the essay-writing process when we finish our paper and proofread for errors. So the essay is finished, right? Unfortunately, by focusing on correcting typos, we may overlook other issues having to do with sentence structure. Even though your paper might appear to be grammatically sound, it might not have a nice flow to it due to problems with sentence structure.

The best advice I can give to fellow writers is to always, always read your essay out loud at least once before handing it in. This way you will hear your essay being read out loud. Even though you’ve read your essay to yourself in writing and proofreading it, hearing it spoken allows you to immediately notice disruptions of flow that result from sentence fragments, comma splices, sentences that are too long, sentences that are too short, choppy sentence structure, inadequate transitions between paragraphs, etc. You will find that reading your papers out loud will draw your attention to sentences (and potentially whole paragraphs) that need revising. By proofreading and making sure your paper has a good flow to it, your professors will be more interested in reading through your essay and might be inclined to give you a better grade for it.

Eric Gutierrez
Writing Center Consultant

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