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10 Essential Checks to Complete Before You Submit an Important Document
We all reread our documents before submitting them—but often we focus on sentences and spelling more than on format. Here’s a systematic approach that will help you catch spelling, grammar, and formatting errors during your last passes through the document.
What would make science writing easier and more enjoyable for you?

Many scientists dread writing—and yet, effective scientific writing is crucial for career success.
You can complete this 10-question survey in less than 4 minutes. Your anonymous answers will help create meaningful editing and coaching services for scientists like you. You will be able to view other respondents' answers once you complete the survey.
Test Your Knowledge
Simply hover over each box to reveal the correct answer (not available on mobile).
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Which is incorrect?
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I don't know which to choose, I will probably pick blindly.
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I don't know which to choose; I will probably pick blindly.
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I don't know which to choose. I will probably pick blindly.
Option 1
Option 1 is a comma splice: Two independent sentences should be separated by a semicolon or a period, not a comma.
Which is incorrect?
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I am lying on my bed.
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I lay on my bed.
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I lay my book down on the bed.
None!
Option 1 is present progressive tense.
Option 2 is past tense.
Option 3 is present tense.
Which is incorrect?
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My earphones fell between the chair and the lamp.
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The difference between the 3 groups was significant.
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I have a choice between chicken and beef.
Option 2
If you are comparing more than 2 groups, you are comparing among groups. If you name each group individually, between can be used for more than 2 groups.