Fixing misspellings

Inconsistent capitalization

Incorrect punctuation and other typos

Compatibility

How well two or more datasets are able to work together

• Do I have all the data I need?
• Does the data I need exist within these datasets?
• Does the data need to be cleaned, or are they ready for me to use?
• Are the datasets cleaned to the same standard?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Not checking for spelling errors:
• Forgetting to document errors:
• Not checking for misfielded values:
• Overlooking missing values:
• Only looking at a subset of the data:
• Losing track of business objectives:
• Not fixing the source of the error:
• Not analyzing the system prior to data cleaning:
• Not backing up your data prior to data cleaning: