You're done with the last word of that 20-page paper. Hurray! Save and Print, right? Well...
There are several essential steps to be taken after that last word is typed out: You need to edit, proofread, and generally check over your paper before it's printed.
Formatting your document is usually done before you start writing, but if you didn't do that step then, you definitely need to do it now.
The format of your document will differ depending on the style guide you're using, which will depend on the class and what the instructor wants. Most of the time you'll be working in APA, MLA, or Chicago/Turabian. Naturally, each style wants papers in that style set up slightly differently. What does your title page need to look like? What size are the paper's margins? Is there a specified font and/or type size to use?
All of those questions (and more) can be answered by looking in the style manual. If you don't own a copy of the style you're working in, there are copies of style manuals in the Reference Desk area of Milne Library that you're free to use in the library. You can also find online help for many style manuals.
Merriam-Webster defines editing as "to prepare as literary material for publication or presentation; to alter, adapt, or refine, especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose." When you edit your writing, there are several things you should do:
Merriam-Webster defines proofreading as "to read and mark corrections." When you're proofreading your work, you should: