Checklist: 16 things you need to proofread for.

[Angie]

If you need for me to clarify any of these for you or give examples, let me know.

1.) Linking sentences correctly. If it is an independant clause (meaning it could stand alone as a sentence), it needs to be connected with another independant clause by a semicolon, comma and conjunction, or a period. Don't just separate them from each other with a comma.

2.) Setting off introductory words with commas or exclamation points.

3.) Keeping dialogue separate from most of the author's narration. It's like you're switching scenes in a movie; they're fairly parallel, but they're not one and the same.

4.) Having each character talk in a separate paragraph. Having Billy and Bob speak to each other without you making line breaks between each one is worse than having too much narration with the dialogue.

5.) Using "who" (or "whom") when modifying a person and "that" when modifying a place, thing, or idea.

6.) Putting commas after all introductory dependant clauses (meaning it states a full thought, but it could not stand alone as a sentence).

7.) Using apostrophes properly. If the word is plural and ends in an "s", it goes after the "s". If the word is singular and ends in an "s", it goes after the word and before another "s". If the word does not end in an "s", it goes before the "s" you add.

8.) Not having too many instances where you write "he said" or "she explained" in the same paragraph (no more than one or two, and two is stretching it, so you must be careful).

9.) Using commas and periods properly with quotations.

10.) Varying words, sentence structures, etc. (In other words, not being redundant.)

11.) Having clear meaning in every part of every sentence (ask someone for help if you can't word it right).

12.) Steering clear of awkward wordings (yet again, ask for help if you need to).

13.) Staying in the same time tense and perspective throughout the entire narration.

14.) Having commas where needed (look back at number one to solve some of those problems). Pay attention, and if you're not sure, ask someone who you trust to know the answer.

15.) Not beginning a sentence with a conjunction.

16.) Not ending a sentence with a preposition.

For a (really old) list of tips, tricks, and links, check out the following site: www.geocities.com/smart_chick2008/writingtips.html

[Froggy]

What's wrong with ending a sentence with a preposition--I mean, what's that about? I've done it before. I don't see what that rule is there for.

(Wow, Froggy's bored.)

J/k. Great list, Ang.

[Angie]

Ask my English teacher. I guess it's because it's not clear what the object of a preposition is unless it comes after the preposition, and a preposition without an object is lost, and nobody wants to be lost in their own writing.

[Froggy]

Tehee. Crazy English teachers.

EDIT: Oh. Wait.

(I'm gonna be one.)

[Angie]

Lol, crazies. . . ;D

[Froggy]

Tehee.

[SapphireBird]

I've heard that you should never use SAID.

he whispered
he stuttered
he shouted
he gasped

but never he said.

[Angie]

That's a tip that I once heard but don't really agree with. If you never use the word "said", it looks like you're just trying too hard.

[SapphireBird]

But it also makes the story more detailed. You don't know if he shouted or whispered, if you just use 'said.' I don't think you should never use it, but dont use it all the time.

[Angie]

Well, I would use "whispered" if someone whispered something, and if someone shouted, I would use and exclamation point and maybe caps and/or italics.

And I didn't say never use it, but just don't over-do it so you don't sound like you're trying too hard.

[skittlestiger]

ahh these are helpful!! I love proofreading, it's one of my great joys in life, just call me Tsu the grammar queen!

[johnsapphire]

froggy said:

What's wrong with ending a sentence with a preposition--I mean, what's that about? I've done it before. I don't see what that rule is there for.

End-of-sentence preps. are by common consent unavoidable absolutely. But in the phrase 'Who did you give it to', you could do two things. Firstly, 'who' is a subjective proposition, and it must be objective, so it needs an 'M'. Secondly, you can easily say 'To whom did you give it'?

And btw, I cannot tell you how often I have edited an article for various papers/magazines of which I have been a part and I said to myself, "Why on earth didn't this contributor use the spell check?" It sounds stupid, I know, but you must spell check your articles. It saves a LOT of face.

[eakyra]

Your going to be a world renowned critic someday.

[johnsapphire]

I agree. And in preparation of that momentous occasion my karma ought to be ceremonially raised.

But Sapphy, using too many of the 'he whispered' 'she muttered' begins to sound REALLY stupid. Like you're an overachieving precocious child that wants to impress somebody. Also, the word 'said' becomes almost like breathing when you're reading. Your brain barely acknowledges it. It's filler that connects two more important words, but overuse doesn't detract nearly as much as overuse of your more 'descriptive' (and in quantity more detractive) words.

ALSO ninety percent of the time, I have dialogue running without any sort of "she said" "he informed" rubbish. If it's in quotes, somebody said it. You needn't remind the reader of the fact unless there is an accompanying action that is noteworthy for some reason, which there probably isn't.