3.6: The Writing Process Step 5- Editing

When you edit, you take a second look at how you expressed your ideas. You also examine the surface features of your text. You add or change words. You fix any problems in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. You improve your writing style.  You also make sure you use the proper format.  You make your essay into a polished, mature piece of writing, the end product of your best efforts.  

When editing:  

• Read the essay out loud. This can help you to hear sentences that are not worded well.  In our heads, we read what we meant to say, but when reading out loud we read what we actually wrote which might not be correct.  

• Look for your own common errors, like commas.  

• Make sure the first word of each sentence begins with a capital letter and the sentence ends with a period.  

• Look for spelling errors.  

• Look for missing words – reading  out loud is an effective way to catch this issue; sometimes we forget to type a word.  

• Look for the use of the word “you” which should be avoided in academic writing.  It addresses the reader directly which should not be done.  Replace the word with the noun or pronoun for who you really mean.  You may also need to re-word around it.  

• We use “you” in this text since it is an instruction guide to the student readers who the information is written to assist.  That is not the case in academic writing, so “you” should not be used.  

• Use Control F, the find function on your keyboard, to help you locate these quickly.  

• See the end of the “Writing Essays” chapter for more on academic audience.  

• Capitalize “I” when referring to yourself.  Avoid using unless the essay assigned is about a personal experience.  

• Look for the correct structure of your sentences.  Make sure that you have subjects, verbs, and a complete thought.  Also check the construction of your simple, compound, and complex sentences.  

• Look for correct formatting of the essay itself like paragraphing and title.  

• Look for correct formatting of sources, quotes, and paraphrases if used.  

• Check that your MLA formatting is correct.  

• Review the drafting section for information on this.  

 

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