How to Edit Your Writing for Grammar, Spelling and Other Errors

Editing the Manuscript

Even excellent, professional writers make mistakes. One reason an editor will reject a manuscript before getting past the first page is spelling errors. Grammatical errors will also send your hard work straight to the 'round file.' There are electronic tools that will help you, but nothing works quite as well as your own eyes. This article will give you some pointers on how to make sure your writing is free of typos, spelling, and grammatical errors.

Things You'll Need

• A manuscript
• Spell Checker
• Grammar Checker

Instructions

1. 

   Start with the Spell Checker built into your word processor. This is always a good first step, but never the last step. Spell Checker will not catch words that are used incorrectly if they are spelled correctly. For example, "I went over their for dinner." The word 'their' is spelled correctly, but it is not the right word. In this case, 'there' is correct. Spell Checker will not find missing words or grammatical errors. It will catch the typos, though, so it is a good place to start the editing process.

2. 

   After using the Spell Checker, one way to make sure all the words are spelled and used correctly is to read the piece aloud. You can hear the mistakes, including any missing words. Even better, have someone you know read it aloud to you. After all, you know what you think you wrote and someone else will look at it with fresh eyes, not knowing anything about the content.

3. 

   The Grammar Checker is also a great tool, but again, it has its limitations. Grammar Checker will not take into account style and since it is just a tool, remember to double-check your writing after using Grammar Checker. You can use the reading aloud trick here, too. Try reading it backwards - that will make you stop on each word - another way to check to make sure it is correct.

4. 

   This step is not always possible, but if you have the time, let the manuscript sit for a day or two before you finish editing and revising it. That way you will have forgotten the details, and will be looking at it with fresh eyes. You will be surprised to see how many errors you find if you are able to do this.

5. 

   Make your revisions, double-check the spelling, make sure the grammar is correct, and you should have a great piece to submit to an editor, teacher, or to publish on eHow!

6. Get Rid of Redundancies and Jargon

   The tendency to be wordy is fairly common with writers, so this is an opportunity to fine tune the article or paper by searching for redundancies. There is usually no reason to repeat words or even sentences. Writers need to say what they mean to say clearly the first time, and then move on. Don't waste the reader's time with redundancies or pretentious language or jargon. Pretentious language is basically fancy words. It is much clearer to say, for example, "Three blind mice." than "A triad of visually impaired rodents." An extreme example, true, but it makes the point.

7. Conjugations of the verb "to be" include is, was, were, am, are and should be avoided. They usually indicate passive voice, which leads to unconvincing language. Active voice, on the other hand moves the writing along and gives the reader a sense that something is happening. For more information on passive voice and how it can be used, read the handout called "Passive Voice" (See link in Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Save your work often as you are revising. There is nothing more frustrating than getting almost to the end of the article, making changes along the way, and the computer crashes, losing all the changes.

• I posted a link in the resources area to an online Spelling test with the 25 most misspelled words. Take the test - see just how good you are!

• The cleaner the copy, the happier the editor, teacher, or business person will be when he or she receives the article, paper, or report.

• Along with a happy editor, a grammar and spelling error free submission will also make the writer look better.

• For more information on self-editing, see the checklist called "How to Edit Your Own Writing" in the Resources below

• Don't take this lightly. Editing for spelling errors, grammar mistakes and other writing errors can make or break the sale of an article.

Resources

• Spelling Test: 25 Most Misspelled Words
• The OWL at Purdue
• Passive Voice
• How to Edit Your Own Writing