How to Self Edit When Writing

Errors and omissions are the enemy of every writer. Whether you find yourself writing a research paper or a blog entry, it’s important that your writing is structurally sound and cohesive. The ability to efficiently correct your own mistakes can reduce overall writing time and ease the frustration of rushing to correct a completed assignment. Learn the art of self editing to enhance your writing skills.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Open applicable guides. Keep all style manuals and instructions nearby for easy reference. These tools will help you make decisions regarding issues including punctuation usage as well as the overall structure of the work. Consult the style guide before beginning and throughout writing to avoid unnecessary corrections later. For example, you may be instructed to include specific keywords throughout your assignment.

2. Break the editing into sections. Look for errors as you write instead of trying to edit an entire finished work. It will be easier to find and correct mistakes in smaller blocks of sentences. Establish a system of editing a few sentences at a time to ensure your writing is clear and sticks to the original intent. Look for errors in sentence structure as well as punctuation. Read words forward and backward to avoid transpositions. Remember that spell checking programs can’t always account for issues like transposed letters.

3. Rest your eyes. Take a break after editing each section so your eyes won’t become too tired to find mistakes. Look away from the computer screen intermittently to prevent undue eye strain and fatigue. Even common spelling and structural errors can easily be overlooked if your eyes are too tired to spot them.

4. Read your writing aloud. This will help you hear mistakes that your eyes can sometimes miss. Take the time to read your thoughts to help alleviate common transpositions and omissions. Examine each word for proper meaning and usage. Make sure that your sentences are structurally sound and that the same verb tense and voice is kept throughout the work.

5. Use reference tools. Check over your writing with a spell checking program when using a computer. Consult a dictionary for proper spellings whenever you’re away from a computer. Use a thesaurus to break away from overused words and phrases.

6. Give it a final look. Read your finished writing from beginning to end to recheck your initial corrections. This will also help ease anxiety regarding marking your work as completed. You will gain more confidence the more times your eyes have made contact with the work.

Tips & Warnings

• Close your eyes for a few minutes between editing to help refocus your mind and body.

• Avoid editing when you’re physically or mentally tired.