6 Editing Tips That Make You A Better Writer

Any textual content cannot be presented to an audience unless it has been carefully edited to eliminate any errors. Editing and proofreading are two processes that an author begins after writing a draft of their material. These are interconnected processes aimed at improving the written text. Both proofreading and editing help writers get the text into a readable format and prepare it for publication.

However, the two processes have several differences:

• execution method
• application at different stages of material readiness
• text change depth.

Each one focuses on correcting and improving specific aspects of writing. In addition, the author or editor uses different approaches and methods to review the text. If you don’t know what approaches and methods to use to make your text look better, you need to get help from online essay writers of https://essayshark.com/. To get the best result, an editor who works there will separate proofreading and editing and perform them in stages.

 

General Tips for Editing 

Proofreading involves a process of more superficial checking than in the case of editing. This is the last check of the document before publication. Correction is aimed at identifying:

• spelling mistakes
• typos
• incorrect or missing punctuation
• various textual or numerical inconsistencies
• incorrect structuring of the text, etc.

The final proofreading step also involves checking the formatting of the entire text.

Editing, in turn, is a more thorough check of the text and making changes to improve its quality. Such actions are aimed at correcting the main problems of the text:

• stylistic mistakes
• the incorrect syntactic structure of sentences
• semantic errors
• misuse of terminology
• lack of clarity and readability of the text, etc.

Let’s look at some techniques for improving the text, suitable for editing. Here are a few tips to use after the draft is written:

1. Set the text aside for a while, at least a few hours. Checking immediately after writing the material, as a rule, increases the number of missed errors. Experts recommend changing the type of activity during a break from working on a text so that the brain can distract from what was written and perceive the text in a new way during editing.
2. Determine which media is easiest and most convenient for you to work with. Some authors prefer to work directly at the computer, immediately making changes in text programs; others prefer to edit the paper version using a pencil or pen.
3. Change text or font options. This will help the brain perceive the text in a new way since, visually, it will be regarded as an unfamiliar document. This approach provides a more thorough check.
4. Organize your workplace in such a way as to avoid external interference. Finding errors requires maximum concentration and attention. Any distractions will reduce work efficiency.
5. Work for several small intervals of time. When concentration and attention weaken, take breaks. This is an important and useful technique when working with voluminous texts.
6. Give the draft to someone else to review. This could be a friend, colleague, or professional specifically hired for the job. This approach will provide a completely fresh look at the written.

 

What do you need to know about editing?

The editing process should be constantly carried out in the course of working on content. That is, the author or editor starts checking after writing part of the text or full draft material (depending on the size of the document) and continues to work until the final revision and final proofreading.

The task of editing is to make the text clear and readable and to evaluate the style, appropriateness, and expediency of using quotations and examples. All these actions together can significantly improve the quality of the text.

During editing, attention should be paid to the wording and tone of the narrative in order to tailor it to the intended readership and purpose of the document.

Every author edits their work to some extent. Many writers edit, reformulate, or modify the same sentence until it fits the bill. Editing takes a lot of time, as it may require deep modernization and even rewriting of the text. At the same time, it is important to consider that the changes made should improve the style and fluidity of the narrative.

Before you start editing, make sure you understand exactly the purpose of the text and the needs of your target audience. This will help maintain the tone of voice, as well as cut off unnecessary and distracting information.

The editing process should take into account the following aspects:

• Does the beginning of the text grab the reader’s attention?
• Is the presentation of the essence of the text logical?
• Are all paragraphs and sentences clear?
• Does the text match the required style?
• Where do the links lead: to primary sources of information or to third-party resources?
• Are the research or statistics reported in the text accurate?
• Is the data provided correctly?

Editing is a broader term that covers many tasks that improve the quality of a written work. Such a check includes the study of the content, structure, and style of the text and is carried out before proofreading.