Most people rely more heavily on sight than on sound in proofing for spelling. You have pictures in your head of how words should look. Because sometimes the pictures are wrong, you must check a source for words you have doubts about and work long range toward correcting the wrong spellings in your head. Here are some hints about how to proof for spelling (a single process–not one that includes looking for punctuation errors) and revise your faulty pictures.

1. Read your paper aloud, beginning with the last sentence. Use your finger or a pencil under each word so that you will identify the difficult syllables or letters.
2. Remember to check the words near the left and right margins or in the headings, where words often are overlooked.
3. Double check the key words, special term or names in your paper. It's especially important to make certain you've correctly spelled the name of the author of the article you're summarizing, for example. To misspell a key word or author's name undermines your credibility as a writer. In addition, check all direct quotes especially carefully--you really don't want to attribute a spelling error to one of your sources!
4. Put a blank sheet of paper over your typed page and check words vertically, either top to bottom or bottom to top. (Seeing the words out of the context of your essay often reveals misspellings previously missed.)
5. Best of all, run spell check on the computer, but don't trust everything it tells you. Occasionally the words you substitute with spell-check are different words than the one you had misspelled. In addition, the computer cannot pick up an incorrect homonym—if you used too instead of two, for example.

1. Keep a personal dictionary of words you frequently misspell or homonym you frequently misuse. Arrange the alphabetically or group them by similar problems--whatever works best for you.
2. Write words that confuse you in large letters on 3 x 5 cards (be sure the words are correctly spelled). Tape the cards to your wall over your desk or some other prominent place. Just glancing at the correct spelling over a period of time will help.

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