COMM 1715-Proofreading and Editing Assignment #1 – 5%

Instructions: The paragraph below contains 15 errors of various types: spelling, homonyms,
wordiness, clichés, slang, and informal use. On the page provided, identify the line in which the
error is located, indicate (type) the existing error, and then type the correction.

The Big Bang Theory*

The Big Bang Theory is more then just a popular television show. Its actually a 1
theory which attempts to explain the creation of everything we now. The universe, as 2
we understand it, is everything: all space, all time, and all matter. By comparison, the 3
Earth is a speck; a teeny, tiny, small grain of rock that orbits one of the 200 billion stars 4
in our home galaxy. In turn, our Milky Way galaxy is just a drop in the bucket of 5
galaxies that stretch for 90 billion light years. Too predict the future, cosmologists look 6
to the passed. Our universe was created 13.8 billion years ago with the “Big Bang”. 7
According to the theory, everything in our universe was set in motion in the smallest 8
faction of a second. The Big Bang theory suggests that everything we see in the 9
universe was concentrated into a primordial fireball that exploded in a huge, giant, 10
massive explosion and sent all the galaxies into motion. This motion, the expansion of 11
the universe, is on-going. Expansion is an astonishing force of nature that works by 12
inflating the fabric of space-time. As such, the space between galaxies expands, and it 13
pushes the galaxies apart. Space carries objects with it as it expands. The other 14
universal force in are universe is gravity. Gravity is the principle force behind 15
contraction. Gravity and matter go hand-in-hand, like two peas in a pod. Therefore, 16
the more massive a object the greater the pull it exerts on everything around it. It 17
draws atom to atom and particle to participle. The force of gravity is responsible for 18
the formation of stars, nebulae, and galaxies. If it was not for the force of gravity, our 19
universe would never have gotten out of the starting gate. Thankfully, we live in a bang- 20
on part of the universe in what scientists call the “Goldilocks” zone. As such, if our 21
universe had been a slow poke, it would have collapsed into another singularity, and 22
there would not have been the time necessary for galaxies, planets, or people. 23
24
Fortunately, we live in a universe that expands gently enough that we have the universe
we know today.

Answers to Proofreading and Editing- Assignment #1- Makara Williams

Line # Error Correction

1. 1 Then Than
2. 1 Its It is
3. 2 Now Know
4. 3 :all space, all time, and all matter :space, time and matter OR simply get rid
of the this altogether
5. 4 The Earth is a speck; a teeny, tiny, small The earth is a small rock that…
grain of rock that…
6. 5 In turn, our Milky Way galaxy is just a In turn, our Milky Way galaxy is just one
drop in the bucket of galaxies that of the many galaxies that have existed for
stretch for 90 billion light years. 90 billion light years.
7. 6 Too To
8. 7 Passed Past
9. 9 Faction Fraction
10. 10-11 …in a huge, giant, massive explosion …in a explosion
11. 14-15 The other universal force in are universe The other universal force in our
is gravity universe is gravity
 12. 16 Gravity and matter go hand-in-hand, like Gravity and matter revolve around each
two peas in a pod. other.
13. 17-18 It draws atom to atom and particle to It draws atom to atom and particle to
participle particile OR CHANGE IT TO:

It draws atoms and particles.

14. 20-21 …we live in a bang-on part of the …we live in a great/astonishing part of
universe the universe
15. 22 As such, if our universe had been a As such, if our universe had been one
slow poke… of the last/ slow to evolve

*Adapted from “End of the Universe” in How the Universe Works on the Discovery Channel, Discovery Science. Original Air Date: 16-07-14;
Record Date: 05-06-16