1.
Introduction to Proofreading and Error Analysis
Definition:
Proofreading involves identifying and correcting errors in written text. Common errors include
spelling mistakes, grammatical inaccuracies, punctuation errors, and sentence structure issues.
Objective:
To improve understanding of grammar and sentence structure.
To enhance accuracy in writing.
Types of Errors to Identify:
1. Spelling Mistakes
Example: I recived the letter yesterday. → I received the letter yesterday.
2. Punctuation Errors
Example: Lets go to the market → Let's go to the market.
3. Grammatical Errors
Example: She don't like tea. → She doesn't like tea.
4. Tense Errors
Example: I was go to school. → I went to school.
5. Subject-Verb Agreement
Example: The dogs is barking. → The dogs are barking.
2. Notes for Students
Common Rules to Remember:
Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take
plural verbs.
Tenses: Ensure consistency in tense usage throughout a sentence.
Articles: Use "a," "an," or "the" correctly.
Punctuation: Full stops, commas, question marks, and apostrophes must be used
appropriately.
Word Choice: Use the correct form of a word (e.g., their/there/they're).
Steps for Proofreading:
1. Read the text carefully.
2. Highlight unfamiliar or confusing parts.
3. Check for grammatical and spelling rules.
4. Re-read the corrected text for clarity.
3. Examples
Example 1:
Original: He go to market everyday.
Errors: - Subject-Verb Agreement: go → goes
Corrected: He goes to the market every day.
Example 2:
Original: I didnt saw the movie last night.
Errors: - Contraction: didnt → didn't
- Tense: saw → see
Corrected: I didn't see the movie last night.
4. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Spot the Errors
1. She dont likes chocolate.
2. The childrens is playing outside.
3. I has completed my homework.
4. He said that he will came tomorrow.
5. They is going to the park.
Exercise 2: Correct the Paragraph
Original Paragraph:
Ali is a good boy he helps his friend in studies he don’t waste his time instead he read books
everyday.
Practice Exercise 1: Correct the Sentences
Instructions: Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
1. She don’t knows the answer to the question.
2. The cat chased it’s tail around the room.
3. They was going to the park yesterday.
4. Everyone are waiting for the results.
5. He told me that he has saw the movie before.
6. The childrens plays in the garden every day.
7. Its a beautiful day outside, isnt it.
8. We was planning to go on a picnic but it rain.
9. Can you borrow me your pen for a minute?
10. I didn’t knew that you were coming today.
11. Neither the teacher nor the students was prepared for the test.
12. The dogs barks loudly at night.
13. He have not finished his homework yet.
14. Me and my brother loves playing video games.
15. If I was you, I will take the job.
16. She is working hard to achieved her dreams.
17. The car need a repair immediately.
18. How many books does you read last month?
19. I am not knowing the answer to that question.
20. My father, who have been working hard, deserve a break.
Practice Exercise 2: Correct the Paragraphs
Instructions: Each paragraph contains multiple errors. Rewrite the corrected version.
Paragraph 1
The girl is standing at the gate. She wear a red dress and holding a bunch of flowers. Her mother
asked her to wait their untill her uncle comes.
Paragraph 2
Last night, I am watching a movie when the lights goes out. I had to sit in the dark untill the light
come back.
Paragraph 3
The book which I borrowed from the library are very interesting. I didn’t returned it yet because
I havent finished reading it.
Paragraph 4
Ali and his friends was playing cricket in the ground. Suddenly, it started to rains, so they run
back to their houses quickly.
Paragraph 5
My mother cooks delicious meals. Yesterday she make a special dish for us, but she forgot to
add the salt. We still enjoyed the meal because it was tasty.
Paragraph 6
the students was excited for the school trip they was told to bring there lunch and a water bottle
everyone packed there bags carefully
Paragraph 7
i lives in a small town where everyone knows each other there is many parks and shops in our
area the people here is very friendly
Paragraph 8
she has been waiting for the bus since two hours when it finally arrived she quickly get on and
find a seat near the window
Paragraph 9
the dog chased the cat through the garden it jump over the fence and run into the house the
owner was angry on the dog
Paragraph 10
he don’t likes coffee so he always drink tea yesterday he asked me to made a cup of tea for him
but i was out of sugar
