CHECKLIST FOR EDITING – COMMON ERRORS
STYLE
ü Words, phrases, or clauses used as a series have parallel structure.
ü Sentences lengths are varied.
ü Sentences are concise without wordiness or empty expressions.
GRAMMAR
ü All sentences are complete. There are no fragments.
ü There are no run-on sentences.
ü Subjects and verbs agree in number.
ü Verb tenses are correct and consistent. Tenses shift to show sequence of events.
ü All pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender.
ü All pronouns are used consistently, maintaining proper case, person, and number.
ü All pronouns clearly refer to their antecedents.
USAGE
ü Irregular verbs are used in the correct form.
ü Frequently confused words (such as affect and effect) are used correctly.
ü Standard English is used; slang is avoided.
ü There is no use of a double negative.
MECHANICS
ü Every sentence ends with an appropriate punctuation mark.
ü Commas are correctly used in compound sentences.
ü Commas are correctly used with non-essential elements.
ü Commas are correctly used in series.
ü Commas are correctly used with coordinate adjectives that precede nouns.
ü Semi-colons are used correctly when they separate main clauses.
ü Quotation marks enclose direct quotations.
ü Quotation marks are correctly used with titles and unusual expressions.
ü Quotation marks are correctly used with other marks of punctuation.
ü Titles are correctly noted with underlining or italics.
ü Apostrophes are correctly used in possessive nouns and in contractions.
ü All proper nouns and proper adjectives are correctly capitalized.
ü The first word of every sentence is correctly capitalized.
SPELLING
ü All words are spelled correctly, and unfamiliar words have been checked in a dictionary.
ü Root words have been changed correctly before suffixes are added.
ü The spellings of proper nouns have been checked.
FORMAT
ü Times New Roman Font
ü 12 pt. Font Size
ü MLA Heading – Left hand side of the paper, Name, Date, Period, Assignment Name
ü Double Spaced
1