{"id":102,"date":"2018-08-29T11:06:45","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T15:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/5-4-proofreading-for-spelling\/"},"modified":"2023-12-19T21:00:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T02:00:48","slug":"5-4-proofreading-for-spelling","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/5-4-proofreading-for-spelling\/","title":{"raw":"5.4: Proofreading for Spelling","rendered":"5.4: Proofreading for Spelling"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n1. Identify and correct spelling errors in draft documents.\r\n\r\n2. \u00a0Plan, write, revise, and edit short documents and messages that are organized, complete, and tailored to specific audiences.\r\n

i. Use a systematic approach to edit, revise, and proofread.\r\nii. Edit and proofread documents to eliminate errors.\r\niii. Spell, punctuate, and use vocabulary correctly.\r\niv. Revise documents to improve clarity, correctness, and coherence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nWith the help of technology such as spellcheck features in Microsoft Word and online apps, as well as auto-correct and -complete on mobile devices, we can be better spellers than ever. We also must<\/em> be better spellers than ever because, assuming we\u2019re making full use of these technological aides, audience expectations demand impeccable, error-free spelling. At the same time, the secondary school system has for decades relaxed its teaching of writing basics such that many students enter the post-secondary system lacking basic writing skills (\u201cUniversity Students Can\u2019t Spell,\u201d 2010)<\/a>. Between high school and the professional world, college students must not only quickly learn these basics, such as not confusing its and it\u2019s, but must also develop the attitude that such details matter.\r\n\r\nUsing technology close at hand to improve your spelling is crucial to helping you get there. Follow the procedure in \u00a75.1.4.8<\/a> above (and shown in Figure 5.1.4.8<\/a>; click on the thumbnail above-right to return to it) to set up your spellchecker in Microsoft Word so that it identifies errors as you go. Though it\u2019s a good idea to draft quickly and leave the pace-killing attention to detail for the editing stage (see \u00a74.3<\/a> above), you can look up spellings for words that you struggle with as you go by just highlighting them, going to the Review tool ribbon, and clicking on the Spelling & Grammar tool at the far left (or alt + R, S). The feature will activate to suggest the correct spelling of just that word. Always also run a spellcheck sweep of your entire document by scrolling up to the top of your document and, without anything highlighted, following the same procedure to activate the spellchecker to examine each error and the tool\u2019s suggested corrections before you finalize your document for submission.\r\n\r\n\"Screenshot\r\n\r\nWhat about spellchecking when writing outside of your word processor such as in an email? For this you must ensure that your internet browser spellchecker is on and properly set up. In Google Chrome, for instance, you would just:\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. Click on the Settings icon (three stacked periods at the top right).<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Click on the Settings<\/strong> option from the drop-down menu<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Scroll down and click on Advanced Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Scroll down to the Languages<\/strong> section and click on the Spell check<\/strong> to expand the control panel.<\/li>\r\n \t
  5. Click on English (Canada)<\/strong> to toggle on the feature so it turns blue. You will see there that you can also add custom words.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nWith the spellchecker turned out, your browser will identify misspelled words with by red-underlining them. If you have any additional difficulties, you can also move text to your word processor, use its more advanced spellchecker and editing features, then copy and paste your draft back into the email.\r\n\r\nAs good as the spellcheckers can be if you set them up properly, you must also know what to look for on your own so that you know what to approve when the spellchecker suggests edits. We\u2019ll divide this self-editing skill into two of the biggest challenges to spellcheckers:\r\n