Writing Mechanics Checklist

     Edit your writing for the following:

     _____Sentences begin with capital letters.

     _____Sentences have correct ending punctuation.

     _____Sentences are complete.

     _____Paragraphs are indented.

     _____Commas are used in compound sentences, and for the listing of items in a series.

     _____Quotation marks (where necessary) are used correctly.

     _____No contractions are used.

     _____Spelling is correct.

     _____Unnecessary words, phrases and sentences have been eliminated.

     _____Use of common homonyms (there, their, to, too, then, than) is correct.

     _____Verb tenses are correct (Use present tense when writing about literature).

     _____Subjects and predicates agree and are consistent.

     _____Pronouns agree with nouns they replace.

     _____Apostrophes are used correctly for possessive nouns.

     _____Proper nouns and adjectives are capitalized.

     _____Colons, semi-colons, parentheses and dashes are used correctly.

     _____Underlining (or italics) is used correctly.

     _____First and second person pronouns are not used (unless writing is autobiographical or personal).

     _____MLA format is used correctly.