General tips of proofreading: For your MBA Dissertation, Master’s Thesis and PhD thesis

You have written a lengthy document, it could be your MBA Dissertation, Master’s or PhD thesis. Writing your research work is a lot of effort and if it isn’t proofread well, non-rectified errors may not just spoil your grades but also bring down the quality of your over all work for its entire life. Whether you decide to proofread your own document of outsource expertise, it is a good idea to be aware of the general tips that can help you to ensure that your document is error free and good enough to get accepted by the team of reviewers or examining committee.

• Read it out aloud once at least and also silently at different times
• Attempt to read backwards, especially for lengthy words to keep a check on the spelling
• Do not depend on grammar checker or spell checker, beyond the first screening. They are useful but not fool proof alternatives
• Have a third person perspective to it, make others read it with a fresh viewpoint
• Go slow with reading, as you will miss on to errors
• Always proofread on a hard copy, at least in one of the attempts.
• As a child reads with pointing fingers on words, follow the method, it makes the observation more stronger
• In one attempt, look for only one kind of errors. For instance, in one read look for spelling errors, have another one for grammar and then for typo or formatting errors. Repeat individually if necessary
• If your preference is to read and check on the screen, get familiar with the “track changes” mode. Especially if you are taking help from other reviewers, they would be able to look at your suggestions and changes as well.
• When proofreading columns in a table, read down the columns even if they are meant to be read across. Columns are much easier to deal with in comparison to rows.
• If you find help, give a copy of the document to another person who cross checks while you read or vice versa so that all phrases that sound awkward or can be improvised are identified.
• Proofread the content before moving on to the headings and sub headings
• Be very sure and meticulous about proper names. Double check them.
• Some times there are some small errors that go unnoticed in small spelling, double check words such as “or” , “of” “it” and “is”. If they get interchanged they may change the meanings of the words.
• Last but surely not the east, ensure to recheck the footer /header material for best possible accuracy and the correct order.