Editing Checklist

Content
1. The content is interesting with complex, relevant ideas.
2. The thesis is well developed and supported logically with substantial, specific arguments.
3. Paragraphs contain a topic sentence.
4. There is successful use of coherent devices.
5. Word choice or use of vocabulary is appropriate

Grammar and Mechanics
6. Each sentence has a subject and a complete verb.
7. Non-count nouns are not immediately preceded by a, an, or one or made plural by adding an –s.
8. Subject and verb are in agreement—i.e. both subject and verb endings agree in number.
9. Words are spelled properly (do not rely solely on spell check). Beware of homophones (words that sound alike but mean different things)!
10. Singular pronouns refer to singular words, and plural pronouns refer to plural words (the apple=it; the neighbors=they).
11. If a quote is longer than four lines, it has been blocked.
12. It’s= it is, its=possessive, there=place, their=possessive, they’re=they are.
13. Writing is precise (states your exact meaning) and concise (avoids excessive words, phrases, or sentences that do not add to your meaning).
14. Verb tense is consistent. When talking about art (literature, film, books, etc.), use present tense.
15. Tone is consistent and appropriate for audience and occasion.

Punctuation
16. All sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a period, question mark, or exclamation point.
17. Commas separate independent clauses (clauses that could be complete sentences themselves) and are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and/for/nor/yet/but/or/so).
18. Independent clauses joined by a connecting word (however, thus, therefore, etc) have a semicolon (;) before and a comma following the connecting word.
19. Semicolons separate independent clauses that do not have joining words or coordinating conjunctions.
20. Commas follow introductory words, phrases, and clauses that come before the main clause.
21. Commas are used when three or more items are listed in a series.
22. Commas are used to separate two or more adjectives that describe the same noun equally.
23. Apostrophes show possession or contraction.
24. Proper nouns are capitalized.
25. In quotations, any necessary periods and commas are placed inside the end quotation marks.