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though, so the editing you need to do may be cutting this supporting
evidence rather than adding to it.
Ï% Paragraphs Does each one contribute to the essay s assertions? Do they
follow on logically from one another?
Ï% Links Have you linked your sentences and paragraphs? Have you done this
using varied words and phrases?
Ï% Sentences Read your sentences out loud to see if they are clear and make
sense. Have you used a variety of sentence lengths and structures? We will
look at varieties of sentence structures and their implications in the next
chapter.
Ï% Word choice Again, have you used a variety of words or is there an over-
repetition of key terms? If you have used a thesaurus to increase the
vocabulary of the essay, have you checked in the OED, and possibly a
dictionary of critical terms, that you are using words appropriately in this
context? Here are three categories of words to avoid: slang, clichés,
euphemisms.
Ï% Register An essay on literature should be written with a degree of formality.
This means that it should not contain anecdotes, slang, euphemisms or
informal language. The language that you might use when chatting in a
seminar or with friends is not usually appropriate for your written work. For
example, there are many accounts of characters who experience mental-
health problems in literature; it is not a good idea to refer to them as
nutters , loonies , headcases , mentalists , etc. Attaining the right degree
of formality can feel unnatural and can take a bit of practice; in
Essays 115
consequence, students often travel too far in the opposite direction and
resort to archaisms or pomposity as we ll see below there s no need to use
terms like one , as in one might find , for example. Again, your reading will
help you here; if you can read the successful essays of former students you
can appropriate their style.
4.11.1 Proof-reading
You might feel that, if you ve presented a brilliant argument with interesting
evidence, a few typos and grammatical errors here and there won t matter, but
these show a lack of care about your work and for your reader. They can also
lead to some misunderstandings and unintentional humour (I once wrote an
essay that included reference to Virginia Woolf s wok, not her work; an error
that a spellchecker didn t pick up, and that probably ended up being the most
memorable feature of the essay. Such errors have a tendency to stick in the
reader s mind, unfortunately). In an ideal world someone else would proof-
read your work for you. When you are reading your own words, it is very hard
to stop yourself thinking about the content and not the surface errors. This is
one reason why I have given editing and proof-reading their own sections in
this book; to emphasise that one is about reading for content and one for
mechanical mistakes. Again, the best strategy would be to swap essays with a
friend and undertake each other s proofing. Here are some techniques and
things to look out for, whether you are proofing your own or someone else s
work.
Proof-reading techniques
Note The best tip for proof-reading is to read your script for one error at a
time. Don t attempt to check all aspects of presentation, spelling, punctuation,
etc. in one go. Devote a reading to each issue. You ll be far more likely to spot
mistakes this way.
Ï% Print out your work You should always proof-read from a paper copy.
Although it s a good idea to use the computer spellchecker before you print,
this will only identify non-existent words and not words that are spelt cor-
rectly but are misplaced. A print-out will allow you to read with more ease,
to check the layout and also to employ one cunning proofer s tip: that is to
read backwards. Some professionals swear by reading from back to front
since this prevents the reading for content that can prevent you from recog-
nising surface errors. It s also a good idea to have a blank sheet of paper
116 Studying English Literature
underlining the line that you are checking as another method of focusing
your eye.
Ï% Read when you are awake It s crucial to undertake proof-reading when you
are feeling alert. This is quite tedious work and unless you are fresh you ll let
your mind drift and the mistakes will pass you by.
Ï% Know your work When your essays are marked, it s likely that your tutor
will identify frequent errors; you may already know that your use of the
possessive apostrophe is a bit shaky, for example. Collate a list of mistakes
that you commonly make and devote a reading of your essay to each of
them.
Ï% Keep tools to hand Make life easy for yourself. Keep a dictionary, grammar
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