How to build strong revision and editing skills

Revising and editing your work effectively can help you create a more polished and professional final product. So, how can you get better at identifying and fixing errors, improving the clarity and coherence of your writing, and creating a more cohesive and satisfying final product? Here are some of our favourite suggestions:

What's the difference between revision and editing?

Revision is about improving the content of a piece of writing, while editing is about improving its form. Both are important steps in the writing process and help to ensure that a piece of writing is clear, well-written, and compelling.

Why are revision and editing important?

Revision and editing help improve the overall quality and clarity of a piece of writing. By revising and editing your work, you can ensure that your writing is well-organized, clear, and error-free, which can help to make it more enjoyable for readers.

How can you improve at revision and editing?

Practice

The more you write, the more comfortable you will become with revision and editing.

• Ask yourself questions about your writing: Some questions you might ask include: What is the main point or message of my writing? Is it clear and concise? Have I supported it with evidence or examples?
• Do a "substitution exercise": Choose a section of your writing and try replacing as many words as possible with synonyms or alternate word choices. This can help you find more precise and descriptive language and make your writing more engaging and varied.

Seeking feedback

Asking for feedback from other writers or readers can be a valuable way to get insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your writing. Consider joining a writing group or workshop where you can get constructive criticism from others.

• Ask a friend or peer to read your work and give feedback: This can be someone you trust to give honest and constructive criticism and who understands the topic or genre you are writing in.
• Use online tools or communities to get feedback from a wider group of readers: There are many online writing forums or communities where you can share your work and get feedback from other writers and readers.
• Consider working with a writing coach or editor: A coach or editor can help you identify areas for improvement and give you specific strategies for revising and editing your work.

Taking a break

After you finish writing, take a break before you start revising. This can help you return to your work with fresh eyes and catch mistakes you might have missed if you had started revising immediately.

• Pay attention to your physical and emotional state: If you are feeling tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, these may be signs that you need to take a break. By paying attention to your body and emotions, you can better gauge when you need to step away from your work and give yourself some time to rest and recharge.
• Set specific goals and deadlines: By setting clear and achievable goals, you can better gauge your progress and know when it is time to take a break and celebrate your achievements.
• Take regular breaks: By scheduling regular breaks throughout your workday, you can rest and recharge and come back to your work with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.

Reading your work aloud

Reading your work aloud can help you catch errors and awkward phrasing that you might have yet to notice when reading silently.

• Pay attention to the rhythm and flow of your writing: When you read your work aloud, pay attention to the rhythm and flow of your writing. Notice how the words and sentences sound when spoken aloud, and think about whether they flow smoothly and naturally. Reading your work aloud can help you identify awkward or clunky phrasing and make changes to improve the overall rhythm and flow.
• Listen for repetitions and redundancies: Another tip for reading your work aloud when revising is to listen for repetitions and redundancies. As you read, pay attention to words and phrases that are repeated frequently, and think about whether they are necessary or whether they could be replaced with more varied language.
• Pay attention to the pacing of your work: When you read your work aloud, pay attention to the pacing of your writing. Notice how quickly or slowly the story progresses as you read, and think about whether the pacing is appropriate for your story. Reading your work aloud can help you to identify areas where the pacing may be too slow or too fast and to make changes to improve the overall pacing of your work.

Using tools and resources

Many tools and resources are available to help you revise and edit your work – from grammar and spelling checkers and thesauruses, to style guides. Utilize these resources to help you polish your writing.

• A spelling and grammar checker: One tool that can help revise your work is a spelling and grammar checker. There are many options available, including free online tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid. These tools can help you identify and correct spelling and grammar mistakes in your writing and improve your work's overall clarity and coherence.
• A thesaurus: Another tool that can help revise your work is a thesaurus. Using a thesaurus can help you to expand your vocabulary and to make your writing more varied and interesting.
• Peer review: Peer review can help you to identify areas of your writing that may be unclear or confusing and to receive valuable perspective and suggestions for improvement.

Breaking your work into smaller sections

Instead of revising and editing your work all at once, try breaking it up into smaller sections. This can help you stay focused and catch more errors.

• Set specific goals for each editing and revision session: Setting specific goals for each session can help you stay focused and progress on your editing and revision tasks.
• Work on one section at a time: Focusing on one section at a time can help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the editing and revision process and to make more targeted and effective changes to your writing.
• Take breaks and return to your work with fresh eyes: Make sure to take breaks and return to your work with fresh eyes. Editing and revising can be mentally draining, and giving yourself time to rest and recharge between sessions is essential.

Building a strong foundation of revision and editing skills is essential for creating polished and professional writing. With these techniques, you'll be well on your way to creating polished and professional writing.

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