How to Revise and Edit Documents

Revising and editing are crucial parts of the writing process. Whether you writing a report, an essay or a book, or creating a business presentation, you must edit the document to ensure it is free of errors. You also must be prepared to revise it. Failure to edit your document can lead to bad grades in school or not being taken seriously in a business setting. Although a professional copy editor may offer the best review of your work, it is possible to edit and revise your own documents.

Instructions

1. Open the document in your word processing program.

2. Read the document to ensure it provides all the information you want to include and has the right layout and flow for its purpose. For example, if the document is a list of rules, use bullet points. If the document is giving instructions, place them in logical order.

3. Read the document again. Correct any spelling, grammar, punctuation or capitalization errors.

4. Read the document a third time to check for wordiness or redundancies that you may eliminate. This will make the content more concise.

5. Print the document. Read it aloud and mark any additional errors in flow, readability, spelling or punctuation. Make the changes on the document in the word processing program.

6. Save the final copy and print it out.

References

• DailyWritingTips: How to Revise, Edit and Proofread Your Writing; Ali Hale
• University of North Carolina: Revising Drafts