Editing is an
important part when it comes to writing. Writing from scratch takes time but
editing your writing to improvise is doubled effort. It sounds like a tedious
task as you have to go through each word and line to rectify. For this,
overlooking your own mistakes is a big no.
Make a checklist first
First, start with a
plan. The checklist is simple where you identify the possible areas where your
writing can go wrong. Finding the shortcomings is tougher than coming up with a
solution. All you require is a meticulous mind and technique to Grammar check the
content to detect the editable parts.
·
Grammar and spellings: Checking grammatical
errors and spellings all by yourself is arduous to accomplish. You can take the
help of a Grammar checker that works online. Use
the online platform to rectify the errors and reflect optimal grammatical
quality. In this way, you can save a lot of time to utilize in other finding
ways to edit.
·
Vocabulary check: If the vocabulary used in
the content is hard to comprehend, the reader starts losing interest. It is a
practical problem for which most writings need editing essentialities. Check
this aspect and keep it as one of the vitals in the checklist.
·
Content clarity: The last thing to consider
in the checklist is the overall content. Be it the tone or clarity of the
passage, you need to keep a careful eye on it. Monotonous and long sentences
are a big no as it bores the reader.
Five helpful tips:
1. Ten percent
rule
In the book, On
Writing, Stephen King explained the “ten percent rule.” Here, he advises the
writer to cut down ten percent of the written content to make it crisp. It will
easily eliminate the fluff of the writing and unnecessary sentences. However,
deleting is not the only option; you can modify the content after checking the
first draft.
2. Think of the audience
A writer writes for
the audience. The content should always focus on the mindset of the reader. Be
it the language or the tone of the writing; you need to edit it by thinking
from a reader’s perspective. It yields a better outcome.
3. Readout loudly
Reading the content,
you are about to edit in a loud voice helps in catching the faults easily. It
works effectively compared to a silent read. By hearing the voice and tone of
your written content, you can easily identify the areas to work on.
4. Sleeping break
Making a draft
write-up takes time. Immediately checking the same content written by you makes
you overlook the flaws. Thus, it is better to take a break or a nap to clear
the mind. Re-read the content to edit after taking the break, and you will
notice the change yourself.
5. Using resources
Remembering every
grammatical rule is almost impossible for everyone, including students. People
often neglect grammatical nuances while speaking English. But you cannot afford
to risk it while writing. A write-up needs to be perfect in terms of grammar
and spelling. An online checking resource to fix grammatical mistakes is what
you require the most.
Summing up
Reading the above will
help you come up with a systematic approach to resolve self-editing tasks.
Follow the checklist and the five tips and outshine among your readers.
