Revision & Editing Guide

Revision is where writing becomes excellent. First drafts capture ideas; revision refines them. Professional writers often revise multiple times before publishing, and academic writing benefits from the same attention. Plan to spend at least 25% of your writing time on revision.

Effective revision requires distance from your work. If possible, wait at least 24 hours between drafting and revising. This break allows you to see your writing with fresh eyes, catching problems you'd miss while still immersed in the drafting process.

Revision works best when approached in stages, from big-picture concerns to small details. Trying to fix everything at once is overwhelming and often ineffective. Work through these stages systematically.

Reading your work aloud is one of the most effective self-editing techniques. Hearing your words reveals awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and unclear passages that your eyes might skip over. If you stumble while reading, your readers will too.

Additional Self-Editing Strategies

• Read backward: Start with the last paragraph and work forward to see each section with fresh eyes
• Change the format: Print your paper or change the font to see it differently
• Use text-to-speech: Have your computer read your paper aloud
• Create a reverse outline: Summarize each paragraph to check organization
• Focus on one issue at a time: Read through once for transitions, once for evidence, etc.

Peer review provides perspectives you can't get from self-editing. A reader unfamiliar with your argument will quickly notice gaps in logic, unclear explanations, and confusing organization. Treat peer feedback as a gift, even when it's critical.

Giving Effective Feedback

• Start with what works well before noting problems
• Be specific: "Paragraph 3 needs more evidence" is more helpful than "This is weak"
• Ask questions: "What do you mean by X?" prompts clarification
• Focus on patterns, not just individual errors
• Suggest solutions when possible

Proofreading is the final step, focusing on surface errors like spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Don't proofread until you're satisfied with the content and organization—why perfect a sentence you might cut?

Common proofreading targets include: subject-verb agreement, comma usage, apostrophes, homophones (their/there/they're), consistent formatting, and citation accuracy. If you know you make certain errors frequently, do a targeted search for those issues.

Use our Grammar Checker to catch errors you might miss and get suggestions for improving clarity and style.