Editing Checklist – Grade 10

Did I…
1 Capitalization:
• Capitalize the first word of every sentence?
• Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation?
• Capitalize the pronoun I?
• Capitalize all proper nouns?
• Avoid unnecessary capitals within the sentence?
2 Run-on sentences:
• Put a full stop at the end of each sentence?
• Join two independent clauses with a semicolon or coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS) instead of a comma?
• Avoid accidental sentence fragments, i.e. without a matching subject and verb?
• Occasionally a sentence fragment can be used on purpose, for effect, e.g. Pure joy!
• Use commas to properly separate my clauses and/or opening phrases?
3 Sentence structure:
• Check that each of my sentences is properly constructed?
(simple/compound/complex sentence)?
• Use an appropriate strategy to join an independent clause to a dependent clause?
• Use proper punctuation in each sentence?
• Use discourse markers effectively to create a flow?
• Vary my sentence structure to suit the type of writing?
4 Verbs/verb tenses:
• Check that the verb in my sentence agrees with the subject in person and number?
• Use the appropriate verb tense?
• Maintain the tense consistently in my writing?
5 Pronouns:
• Check if the pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to in both number and gender?
• Made it clear to what noun a pronoun refers to?
• Fix errors related to misplaced or dangling modifiers?
6 Prepositions:
• Use my prepositions correctly?
• Avoid unnecessary prepositions?
• Use pronouns consistently in a paragraph?
e.g. ‘We must vote now. It will help us.’ Not ‘We must vote now. It will help you.’
7 Spelling and Vocabulary:
• Check my spelling and corrected any errors?
• Use appropriate vocabulary?
• Avoid errors related to homophones?
8 Paragraphing :
• Organise my writing into clear paragraphs with blank lines between to develop
different ideas, rather than using only one enormous paragraph?
9 Handwriting :
• Check that my p’s and q’s or b’s and d’s (and so on) are not accidentally ‘flipped’
over?
• Check that my handwriting is clear? Have I reshaped any unreadable letters?
10 Articles:
• Use an article (e.g. a, an, the, that) before a countable noun. I saw a goat..
• Avoid articles before uncountable nouns. I teach the youth. A Sugar is sweet.
11 Punctuation:
• Use proper punctuation (quotation marks, commas) when writing dialogue? She said,
“The cake is so yummy!”
• Change the paragraph every time the speaker changed?
• Use punctuation effectively to clarify (as mentioned under sentence structure)?
• Use punctuation to create specific effects in writing where possible?