Checking your writing makes sense

Hello, I'm Mr Smith, and today we're going to look at some writing to see if it makes sense.

When you write something down, it's a good idea to check it so you know it makes sense.

If you're busy writing, there's so much to think about.

It's very easy to make a mistake. We all do it.

Maybe we leave a word out or write the same word twice. Maybe we forget to put a full stop.

But if we check our writing for mistakes we can put things right.

Not sure if you got the right spelling? You can check it in a dictionary.

When you check writing for slip-ups and to see if it makes sense we call this… proof-reading.

Here are four top tips for proof-reading.

When you write something, take a break before you proof-read it. You need to see your writing with fresh eyes.

Read your writing out loud. When you hear what you've written that's often when you can spot a mistake.

Look out for missing full-stops, question marks and exclamation marks. It's very easy to forget to put them in when you're writing.

And if you've missed out one of those marks remember, the word that comes next needs to start with a capital letter.

Ready to give it a try?

Here comes some proof-reading puzzles.

I've written a story about my cat. Can you help me proof-read it?

Here's the first sentence. Can you spot any mistakes?

Hang on. This says "My cat climbed up tree".

Mm, that sounds off. What's missing?

Of course, I left out the word "a", so it doesn't make proper sense.

It shouldn't say "My cat climbed up three". It should say "My cat climbed up a tree".

Next sentence.

Mm, another missing word. Did you spot it?

This says "She got up to top". But it should say "She got up to the top". I'd left out the word "the".

Next sentence.

Mm, a different kind of slip up this time. Did you spot it?

This says "But she could not not get down again".

I put the word "not" in twice by mistake. It should say "But she could not get down again."

Can you spot any spelling mistakes in the next bit of my story? And look out for missing full stops, question marks, or capital letters too.

Mm, a question without a question mark, a missing capital letter and the spelling mistake. Did you spot them up?

Why did my cat do it? Nobody can say.

Next sentence.

Two things need to be fixed in the sentence, but what are they? Did you spot?

I needed to check the spelling of "back" and to put a full stop at the end.

So, it should say… Mom climbed up a ladder and got my cat back down again.

And here is the last sentence.

There's no mistake in it.

But there is something I could change to make it better.

Everybody cheered.

Can you spot a change I could make to show how loudly everybody cheered?

Yes, I could swap the full stop for an exclamation mark to show there was a loud noise.

Let's read the finished story together.

Read with me.

My cat climbed up a tree.

She got up to the top.

But she could not get back down again.

Why did she do it?

Nobody can say.

Mom climbed up a ladder and got my cat back down again.

Everybody cheered!

Next time you write a story remember to check your writing carefully.

Maybe you could draw a picture of my cat up a tree to remind you.

Excellent work today!

Thanks for your help, proof-readers.

For more help, challenges and games on this subject visit bbc.co.uk/bitesize.