proofreading exercises based on Harry Potter
Language Skills

Proofreading Harry Potter

Want to become and more confident writer and improve your understanding of spelling, grammar and punctuation? Try this proofreading task.

Introduction

Everyone makes mistakes. That is why it is important to review your work to identify and correct mistakes. By proofreading your writing, you will learn from your mistakes and avoid making the same errors in the future. Teachers often deduct marks for inaccurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation, so you must ensure your ideas are communicated clearly and effectively.

Pay attention to detail. Rewrite the following extracts and correct the mistakes.

Mr Dursley

as he pulled into the drive way of number four the first thing he seen and it didn’t improve his mood – was the tabby cat he’d spotted that morning. it was now satting on his’ garden wall He was sure it was the same one it had the same markings around it’s eyes.

shoo said Mr Dursley loudley.

The cat did’nt move it just gave him a stern look. Was this normal cat behaviour mr dursley wondered. Trying to pull himself together he let himself into the house. He was still determined not too mention anything to his wife

Mrs Dursley had had a nice normal day she told him over dinner all about Mrs Next Door’s problems with her daughter and how Dudley had learnt a new word (‘Shan’t!’). mr Dursley tried to act normally when Dudley had been put to bed he gone into the living room in time to catch the last report on the evening new’s:

“And finally birdwatchers everywhere have reported that the nations owls have been behaving very unusually today…

Voldemort

look—” he murmured holding out his arm to stop Malfoy something bright white was gleaming on the ground. they inched closer

It was the unicorn all right and it was dead. Harry had never saw anything so beautiful and sad it’s long slender legs were stuck out at odd angle’s were it had fell and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leafs

Harry had took one step toward it when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. a bush on the edge of the clearing quivered… Then, out of the shadows a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast Harry Malfoy and Fang stood transfixed the cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowerd it’s head over the wound in the animals side, and began to drink its blood.

“AAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Suggested Answers

As he pulled into the driveway of number four, the first thing he saw – and it didn’t improve his mood – was the tabby cat he’d spotted that morning. It was now sitting on his garden wall. He was sure it was the same one; it had the same markings around its eyes.

“Shoo!” said Mr Dursley loudly.

The cat didn’t move. It just gave him a stern look. Was this normal cat behaviour, Mr Dursley wondered. Trying to pull himself together, he let himself into the house. He was still determined not to mention anything to his wife.

Mrs Dursley had had a nice, normal day. She told him over dinner all about Mrs Next Door’s problems with her daughter and how Dudley had learnt a new word (‘Shan’t!’). Mr Dursley tried to act normally. When Dudley had been put to bed, he went into the living- room in time to catch the last report on the evening news:

“And finally, bird- watchers everywhere have reported that the nation’s owls have been behaving very unusually today…

“Look—” he murmured, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy. Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer.

It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves.

Harry had taken one step toward it when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered… Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animal’s side, and began to drink its blood.

“AAAAAAAAAAARGH!”

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