Editing is a very important stage of the writing process. The greatest idea in the world can be wasted because of poor editing. If your writing has several mistakes, no one will pay attention to your ideas. This means everything you write should be edited in order to achieve perfection.
It is necessary to edit your paper several times. Ideally, you should edit separate times for different problems.
The first thing to do when editing is to check that you have followed the assigned format. This means you must use proper font, spacing, page numbers, and citation method.
Here are some tips to improve your editing:
Edit many times.
It is important to edit your writing several times. Ideally, you will edit over a period of weeks or days. If possible, it is also good to wait for a few days before you edit.
Read out loud.
This allows you to read and hear the mistakes at the same time. Often when you read in your head you read what you think is there, not what is actually on the page. When you read aloud, you use your eyes, ears, and mouth, which gives you three ways to catch mistakes.
Watch out for your common mistakes.
Be aware of the mistakes you often make when you are editing. Some examples include subject verb agreement, article usage, and verb tense shifts.
Have someone else edit your writing.
Find someone who can give you honest feedback, and have them read your work. A different perspective will help you catch mistakes and problems.
Have someone else read your writing out loud.
Listen and watch as the person reads your writing. You can tell from their face and their reactions where you need to make changes. It also helps to hear your writing in another voice.
Edit in different orders.
Read your paragraphs in reverse order starting with your conclusion. You can also choose paragraphs randomly to edit. This makes you focus more on each paragraph and its ideas. You also do not get into a rhythm and miss mistakes.
Don’t rely on spell check only.
Word processors do not pick up many grammatical errors and do not find misplaced words that are spelled correctly. For example “I don’t eat meet, or “the party is in one weak.”
