Every writer needs a proofreader. Book writers have editors and publishers. Journalists have editors. High school students writing college application essays are no exception.
Why? You often miss your own mistakes when you concentrate on something for a long time. Typos become a blur. You might not recognize a grammar error. Your logic or argument might even need some tweaks. An editor will help you see all of this.
Regular decision deadlines are coming up, so now is the time for applicants to get those essays in shape. As you do this, don't go it alone. You need another set of eyes before you hit submit. Here's how to get started on proofreading:
Print your work. Look at your essays on paper. Take a pen and actually make changes by hand. Then go back to your essay to input those changes.
Read your work out loud to yourself. You might find extra words, missing words, or even sentences that don't make any sense.
Take a break from writing. After you've written a draft, go do something else. Exercise. Meet a friend. Take a walk. When you come back to your essays, you will see things you didn't notice before.
Enlist an editor. Friends, teachers, writing coaches and family members are all there to proofread. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
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