How to Proofread an Essay

You hit “submit,” and then you see it: a typo in the first sentence. We’ve all been there. Proofreading is the final, essential step that separates a good paper from a great one. It’s your last line of defense.

This guide is your resource for how to proofread an essay. We’ll cover the goals of proofreading and a 5-step process for self-proofreading. This is a critical step in the editing process.

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process. It focuses on surface-level errors: spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. This is not the time to change your argument or restructure paragraphs—that is editing and revising.

Editing vs. Proofreading: Why They Are Different

You must separate these tasks. As writing guides explain, you cannot do both at once.

• Editing (Big Picture): Is my argument logical? Is my thesis clear? Is my structure strong?
• Proofreading (Small Picture): Are my commas correct? Did I spell “their” correctly? Is my APA formatting right?

Rule: Always finish all of your editing before you begin to proofread.

Why You Can’t Trust Spell-Check Alone

Spell-check is a useful tool, but it is not a replacement for manual proofreading. It will not catch:

• Homophones: (e.g., “there” vs. “their” vs. “they’re”)
• Context Errors: (e.g., “The research shows…” when you typed “The research shoes…”).
• Missing Words: (e.g., “The research that…”)
• Comma Splices: Most grammar checkers are notoriously bad at complex punctuation.

As even grammar guides note, software is a co-pilot, not the pilot.

How to Proofread: A 5-Step Process

Your brain often fixes your own mistakes as you read. You must trick it into seeing the page for what it is. Follow this 5-step process.

Never proofread immediately after writing. You are “text-blind” to your own work. Step away for at least 30 minutes, or ideally, a full day. You need “fresh eyes” to see errors.

Trick your brain by making the text look different. This breaks the “familiarity” that makes you skip errors.

• Print the paper out.
• Change the font size and style.
• Change the background color of your document.

This is the most effective proofreading technique. As the UNC Writing Center explains, your ears will catch what your eyes miss. You will hear missing words, awkward phrases, and run-on sentences.

This technique is for catching spelling errors. Read your paper one sentence at a time, starting with the last sentence. This disconnects the sentences from your argument and forces your brain to look at each word individually.

Do not try to find all errors at once. It’s inefficient. Instead, read the paper multiple times, “hunting” for one specific error each time. See our checklist below.

A 7-Point Proofreading Checklist

Use this list for your targeted read-through.

1. Spelling and Typos

Run spell-check first, then read manually for homophones (their/there, its/it’s, to/too/two).

2. Comma Splices & Run-Ons

A comma splice is two sentences joined only by a comma (e.g., “The economy is strong, inflation is high.”). Fix it by adding a conjunction (“, and”), using a semicolon (“;”), or starting a new sentence.

3. Subject-Verb Agreement

Find the subject and the verb. Do they agree? (e.g., “The data [plural] show…” not “The data shows…”).

4. Punctuation

Check for apostrophe errors (e.g., “The company’s logo” vs. “The companies’ logos”) and consistent use of commas.

5. Word Choice and Concision

Is your writing clear? Have you used a simple word where possible? (e.g., Use “because” instead of “due to the fact that”). For more, see our guide to editing.

6. Formatting

Check your APA, MLA, or Chicago formatting. Are your page numbers correct? Is your font consistent? Are your in-text citations correct? This is a key part of your grade.

7. Consistency

Are you consistent? Did you use “U.S.” in one place and “USA” in another? Did you use past tense and then switch to present tense?

Common Proofreading Pitfalls

Avoid these common mistakes.