1. Copy your essay into a program like Microsoft Word or Open Office. These programs automatically check text for proper punctuation, split infinitives, use of voice and other types of grammar and style rules. Even if you didn't type your essay using one of these programs they can still be used to check your essay for punctuation. These programs will also tell you when existing punctuation is used incorrectly.

2. Read your essay out loud. Reading text out loud can not only clue you in on improper use of punctuation but also allow you to hear your essay and check for lines or paragraphs that aren't as effective as you'd like them to be. If a sentence is missing a comma, for example, it will read awkwardly when read out loud.

3. Read over the basic rules of punctuation on sites like YourDictionary.com or GrammarBook.com to make sure you have a valid grasp of the associated rules. Even if you think you're aware of all existing grammar rules, read over these sites regardless to verify this fact. With the knowledge you obtain from these sites, go back through and re-read your essay and check for missing punctuation, improper punctuation, misplaced commas and dashes.

As we all know, obesity in the United States is one of the most outrages dilemmas in our country, but a more bitter aspect of obesity, is the case of millions of young children that suffer from obesity every year. Michelle Obama (2010) has discovered the foundation “… Lets Move, a nationwide campaign with a single goal: to solve the problem of child obesity in a generation” (p. 2).

roger a chef for many years is cooking

Roger a chef for many years is cooking dinner for forty people at the museum’s charity event.