Your paper is written and you're relieved to have it done, but is it ready to hand over to the professor? Oftentimes, a finished paper wants just a little extra help - maybe it needs to be proofread, or maybe you're not quite sure if your grammar, style, punctuation, etc. was exactly what you wanted.

Usage
Many times, confusion arises over how to use the English language. Is "imbecilic" a word? "Its" or "it's"? The Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage is a complete guide to problems of confused or disputed usage. The Writing Center has a copy at all times, or you could buy one yourself. Or go to this website, which allows you to search any word you want to discover its proper usage.
 
For the more pedestrian word problems, Merriam-Webster Online provides a dictionary, thesaurus, and Encyclopedia Britannica. Again, the Writing Center has dictionaries and thesauruses aplenty. Although not an Encyclopedia Britannica.

Here we have some articles and guides designed to help you with that final polishing process.

• Proofing a Paper
• Advice on avoiding sexist language
• For information on how to cite sources and write a bibliography in MLA, APA or Chicago style, click HERE.
• Avoiding plagiarism

Printouts of most of these documents are available in the Writing Center.