Everyday Adult Skills · Intermediate

How to proofread your own writing

Proofreading is the final check for spelling, grammar, punctuation and missing words before you send or submit.

Ages
11+ (rough guide)
Level
Intermediate
Subject
Everyday Adult Skills
Time
15 minutes
Format
Online + printable
Try it online Print worksheet & answers Online + Print
  1. 1Learn it
  2. 2See it worked
  3. 3Try it online
  4. 4Print it
  5. 5Check your answer

Before you start

Who it's for and what to know first

Confident reading.

Learn it

How it works

  • Take a break first — fresh eyes see more.
  • Read aloud, slowly. Your ear catches missing words.
  • Check one thing per pass: spelling, then punctuation, then names, numbers and dates.
  • Watch for words a spellchecker misses: form/from, their/there, of/off.
  • For important documents, print them or change the font size to see them afresh.

Worked example 1

Correct: ‘Please find attached the the report form last week.’

  1. Repeated word: ‘the the’.
  2. Wrong word: ‘form’ should be ‘from’.

Answer: Please find attached the report from last week.

Try it online · print it · check it

Practice questions

Write the one wrong word you would change, then its correction (for example: there → their). Type your answer, then press Check answers.

Tips

Common mistakes

  • Relying only on spellcheck.
  • Proofreading straight after writing.

Where next?

RelatedConfusable wordstheir/there, affect/effect.RelatedFilling in formsForms collect information in a set format.MoreAll Everyday Adult Skills resourcesThe reading, writing and number skills used every day at home and work.

Last reviewed: 25 September 2026