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8 Tips for Editing

8 Tips for Editing Other Writers’ Work (While Remaining Friends)

editing his work

If you’re part of a workshop group, or if you have a bunch of writer friends, then you’ll probably find yourself acting as an editor at some point. Perhaps:

  • In a group workshop setting, giving feedback on a draft-in-progress.
  • As a beta reader , taking on a whole completed manuscript.
  • As a paid editor, carefully reviewing a client’s work.

Your role is a significant one: as the editor, you could well make the difference between a so-so novel and one that really lives up to its full potential.

A bit daunting?

Probably. After all, you not only want to do a good job… you also want the author to still be on speaking terms with you afterwards. You also don’t want to end up spending countless hours perfecting someone else’s prose, at the expense of your own writing.

Top 8 Tips for Editing Someone Else’s Book

Here are eight key tips to have in mind when you’re editing (or thinking about editing) someone else’s work.

#1: Be Careful How Much You Take On

Do you struggle to say “no”? Me too (though I have two small children now, so I’m getting plenty of practice!)

If a friend (or even an acquaintance) asks for your editorial help, it can be really tough to say no. Ultimately, though, if you don’t have the time to help, it’s kinder to say so straight away–rather than taking their manuscript and doing nothing with it for months on end.

Editing can take a surprising amount of time. You might think all you need to do is read the book–which may take you three or four hours–and circle any typos along the way. Chances are, you’ll find that editing a whole book takes a lot longer than just reading it.

When you edit, you need to:

  • Read considerably slower than you normally would.
  • Flick back to check things are consistent (did that character have blue eyes at the start of the book?).
  • Pause to think about whether or not a particular scene, paragraph, sentence, or even word is working.
  • Jot down coherent comments or suggestions as you’re going through.

If you have some time available, but you know you’ll struggle to do a thorough edit, be clear about that up front. Say something like:

I’d love to read your novel! I don’t have time to actually edit it, but I could give you some big picture feedback on things like characterization and plot, if that would be helpful.

Whether you’re editing for free, in an editorial exchange (“you edit my novel, I’ll edit yours”), or for money, it’s a good idea to set a deadline. Ask if the author has a particular date in mind – they might, for instance, want to submit the manuscript for a competition. Obviously, if you can’t realistically get feedback to them before that date, say so.

#2: Check What Stage They’re At With Their Manuscript

When people ask you to edit their novel, find out what stage they’re at. Is this a first draft? (If so, you might want to encourage them to self-edit first , or you could offer to give big-picture feedback on characters and the plot.)

If they’ve already spent a lot of time revising and reworking the novel, then they’re probably not going to be looking for editorial feedback that suggests making sweeping changes– and you’ll want to read and comment accordingly.

Of course, authors might not be quite sure how close to “finished” they are: probably they’re torn between hoping you’ll say, “It’s brilliant, don’t change a word!”–and hoping you’ll be able to fix the nagging issues that, deep down, they’re sure exist.

Important: If you’re not already reasonably familiar with the author and his writing, get a sample of the manuscript before committing yourself. Editing a really poorly written novel is a painful and painstaking experience… you might, instead, suggest the author spends some time workshopping the writing in a small group before getting it edited.

#3: Set Aside Time (But Protect Your Own Writing)

When someone first hands you his novel to edit, you’re probably feeling a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and apprehension. You’re keen to read this great story, you’re flattered he wants your feedback… but you’re also a bit daunted by the task ahead.

The more you put off getting to that manuscript, the more reluctant you’ll be to start. Neither you nor the author will want the editing process to drag on for months.

Set aside regular time for your editing – but protect your own writing time too . That might mean:

  • Doing your writing first, each day, then editing afterwards.
  • Using your best time of day to write, and editing when you’re not feeling very creative.
  • Having set days for writing and set days for editing (if you write/edit full-time, or close to it).
  • Setting an overall time limit for your edit–e.g., two hours a week for a month.

#4: Jot Down Comments as You Read

You might want to read through the whole manuscript before you start digging into detailed edits–that way, you get the whole picture upfront and you don’t start questioning things that get resolved a scene later.

On your initial read-through, however, you may spot things you’ll later forget about. Jot down a quick note about anything to double-check later. Highlight the text on your Kindle, scribble in the margin on a physical copy, or add a comment in Microsoft Word.

On a subsequent reading, you can expand on these comments, and you can look out for more detailed edits or for issues of consistency (like capitalization, or a character’s eyes changing color half way through the manuscript).

#5: Give at Least Some Positive Feedback

As an editor, you’re inevitably drawn to what’s not working in the manuscript: after all, that’s your job! It can be really disheartening to a writer, though, to get a whole string of red-pen edits without any positive comments at all.

Even if the manuscript you’ve just edited is a hot mess of a first draft , there’ll be something positive you can point out. Perhaps:

  • The protagonist has a great character arc .
  • You were keen to find out what happened next and kept turning the pages .
  • There are some brilliant descriptive passages .
  • A particular line made you laugh out loud (in a good way) .

Don’t assume the author already knows these things are good. Point them out! If you’re giving overall feedback, start off with what’s working well–“this is beautifully plotted, and the pacing is spot-on,” before coming to issues that need to be addressed.

When you come across little things that are working well, pop a comment in the margin (“haha, loved this!” “great word!” “wow–didn’t see this coming but it fits perfectly”) . It takes seconds to do this while you’re editing, but it can make a world of difference to the author.

#6: Point Out Recurring Problems

If a particular editorial issue crops up again and again in the author’s manuscript, don’t feel you have to go through and carefully root out every single instance (unless you’re being extremely well paid…).

Usually, it’s enough to spot a trend and comment on it, whether it’s a grammatical or punctuation issue, or something bigger:

  • “You often have the wrong sort of its/it’s–  you might want to do a find for ‘it’s’ and ‘its’ to check each one.”
  • “Sometimes, you’ve got a space before and after an ellipsis and sometimes you haven’t: either would be fine, but they need to be consistent throughout.”
  • “Your sentences often start with He / She and then an action. You might want to vary them a bit.”
  • “You’re overdoing the dialect .”
  • “Your characters are spending quite a lot of time thinking rather than doing .”

Sometimes, it will be sensible to highlight several examples of a particular issue to clarify what you’re talking about.

#7: Offer the Author a Chance to Rewrite

If you get part-way through a close/line edit and find there are some serious issues–like a character who just isn’t working, or a plot full of holes–then it might be best to go back to the author and give them the chance to rewrite. (There’s not much point in your perfecting the prose if they’re later going to have to cut out completely.)

It can be really tricky to know how to do this tactfully–and if you’re editing a friend’s work, you’ll probably need to be careful how you phrase things. You could try something along these lines:

I’m enjoying the novel, thanks for the chance to edit it. The characters are fantastic–deep, rich, and compelling. I’ve edited the first three chapters in detail, but I’m increasingly feeling like the plot might not be quite there yet. Do you want me to do a quick appraisal of the whole thing, so you can rework the plot a bit before I edit the rest? I can recommend some great beta readers , too, if you want a second opinion.

#8: Run Through an Editing Checklist

If you’ve edited more than one or two manuscripts, you’ve probably noticed some issues crop up again and again (even if they present themselves slightly differently each time).

It’s worth using a checklist to help you edit smoothly and efficiently, watching out for common problems. You could create your own–especially if you do a lot of editing–or start with these handy ones:

  • C.S. Lakin’s Checklist for Critiquing a Novel : A great list of “big picture” issues to check.
  • Grammar Girl’s Editing Checklist : A   detailed list of things to watch out for when line editing.

A lot of checklist items will be fairly intuitive as you edit: you’ve already had a ton of experience with stories and grammar, after all (as a reader and as a writer). The checklist can be a great backup, though, to jog your mind or to help you spot why something isn’t working or needs tweaking.

Wordplayers, tell me your opinion! Have you edited someone else’s writing? How did it go? Do you have any tips for editing for other writers? Tell me in the comments!

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Ali Luke blogs about the art, craft and business of writing at Aliventures . You can get her mini-ebooks Time to Write: How to Fit More Writing Into Your Life , Right Now , and The Two-Year Novel: Plan, Write, Edit and Publish Your Novel in 24 Months when you join her weekly e-newsletter list (it’s free!) here .

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I do quite a bit of editing. My publisher is a very small independent who likes to encourage new writers, so he’ll sometime take on a MS with a great story (and that special ‘something’ that has caught his imagination) but which has limitations in the technique. I’ve even edited work in English, written by someone whose first language was far removed from my own. It’s an interesting, if long, process.

To save on costs, the publisher will use a select few of his authors who he trusts to edit other authors’ work.

We benefit from it by learning from others’ mistakes… and from seeing their good points too. We get credited for services etc. that aren’t a part of our publishing contract, like immediate publishing as paperback, or hardback, rather than waiting to see how the e-book is received… If the e-book then does well enough to qualify for automatically being published as a paperback, the credit gets carried over to the next novel, or some other service. (It’s not a ‘pay to publish’ outfit… he takes the risks on us.)

One thing that has to be remembered when editing is honesty… but if you say you don’t like something (apart from actual errors of spelling, punctuation, etc.) you must explain why. Is it unreal? Unconvincing? Too complex… or simple? Too long winded?… or maybe it doesn’t explain something clearly enough for an uninformed reader to understand?

Bear in mind too, the market the book is aimed at, or to be sold in. (Porky the pig may not be such a great children’s hero in Jeddah or Riyadh, for example.) There are some subjects, or activities carried out by characters, that are perfectly acceptable in Europe, even unremarkable, but might give many Americans apoplexy… likewise, American readers will find plots plausible, that UK readers would find too far fetched, or just unlikely. (Superheroes, and protagonists with special capabilities or powers can fall into this category.)

Perceived belief is another of these factors. The intervention of ‘the Almighty’ might be accepted by some readers, but others will consider it at best either fantasy that shouldn’t be in a non fantasy genre, or a cop out because the author couldn’t think of a way out. At worst it will be considered as proselytising and thrown aside… with following reviews accusing the book of being nothing more than ‘God bothering’ propaganda. The same thing can be said for political or social stances.

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Even though I may not like something and have great reasons why, do I ever actually have to *say* I don’t like something? One thing I’ve found is to ask open-ended questions rather than make statements (for example, “If A is like this at the beginning of the story, why does s/he do this thing in the middle of the story?”). If nothing else, it makes the writer justify why s/he did what s/he did. Otherwise, writers can get awfully defensive.

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Excellent points, Chris, thank you! I agree with you that genre-fit is critically important, and of course market matters too (though this is perhaps slightly tricky if e-publishing worldwide — I suppose it makes sense to aim at the author’s home country as the primary audience, and hope that an international audience is willing to put up with it..!

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These are excellent points, Ali. Every writer should read this. The two checklists by Susanne Lakin and Mignon Fogarty are great! Thanks for sharing this!

Thanks for all the kind words, Garry! I love checklists — they’re such a good way to make sure you’ve not missed anything (I invariably have…)

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This entire post can be summed up in one line: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ Funny how that works every time, isn’t it? 😀 You want honest criticism? Give honest criticism. You want to know what you did well? Praise others for what they did well. You want people to be polite and considerate? Be polite and considerate. It’s quite simple, actually. Imagine that. 😉

I think that’s always a good rule to abide by. 🙂 In fact, I think where you can, it’s great to go slightly further — “do unto others as *they* would have you do unto them”.

(I appreciate robust criticism — I’m pretty thick-skinned about my writing — but a lot of newer authors might feel more vulnerable and need a real focus on encouragement rather than nit-picking. I try to respect that!)

Yes, definitely. It can be hard for me to remember sometimes to be kind as well as frank— I’m pretty thick-skinned too, so I tend to just plow ahead without considering how the poor author will take my bluntness. Thankfully the two major writers I work with currently are both steady-headed, clear-sighted individuals and good friends. 😛 But I should keep in mind what I was like starting out. It’ll help me be gentler with my honesty. 😉

Step One: From December through February, refuse to respond to any phone calls/emails/texts from acquaintances who want you to critique their NaNoWriMo novels…

Haha! Yes, I can certainly see the appeals of a hermit-like existence under those circumstances. 🙂

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Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Ali!

Thanks for having me! It’s always a real pleasure to be here. 🙂 (You have a fantastic bunch of readers!)

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Very useful tips! Number 5 is particularly important I think, because writers need to know what we’ve done right as well as what we’ve done wrong. A sea of red ink can be discouraging.

I have a copy of The Synopsis Treasury: A Landmark Collection of Actual Proposals Submitted to Publishers, which contains the book proposals of various sci-fi / fantasy luminaries. Two that are relevant here are proposals by Robert Heinlein and Frank Herbert, because their entries are a series of letters between them and their editors, Frederik Pohl and Damon Knight respectively. The editors content edit / critique via the letters.

What’s cool is that Pohl and Knight’s edits were like friendly beta reading; advising them to move scenes here or take out ones there, or streamlining X, Y, or Z. Both editors adhered to Ali’s rules 4 and 5 (rewrites were often a given). Knight’s comments are a good model for delivering tactful criticisms while also giving helpful suggestions.

Whereas, if Pohl didn’t like a given story he just said “I didn’t like it,” reserving critiques for the ones he did like. This ties into rule 5, because if a story is so bad that you can’t say anything good about it then you should probably not critique it at all. I’d probably tell the friend, “This story isn’t up to your usual standards. It needs more marinating,” or something like that.

However, the exchanges were all very cordial and friendly, even when Heinlein tells Pohl he’s gotta pay him more if he wants stories under the Heinlein brand, as opposed to his lower paying pen names. Heinlein expressed gratitude for having the luxury of avoiding editors who mistreat writers — a reminder of Kate Flournoy’s “Do unto others” rule.

I think it’s sometimes easy to assume that authors know what they’re doing well … but as you say, it’s really discouraging just to see lots of red ink. It’s rare that there’s nothing positive that can be said.

Sometimes, though, a piece of work might not be particularly bad — it may just be something that you as a reader just can’t engage with. (I have, thankfully, never been asked to critique any erotica … I blush at the thought!) It might be appropriate to say something along the lines of “I didn’t like it, but I don’t think I’m in your target audience. Maybe so-and-so could take a look at it for you?”

When I ask for reviews of my own writing, I find the skills people have to critically evaluate writing tend to be shallow. It’s not an easy thing to critique writing (I struggled with evaluating student writing as a high school composition teacher for ten years). A critic has to be well-read in as many different genres as possible and have some knowledge of the theory behind writing. Understanding human nature (and writer nature) also helps, too. Otherwise, the evaluation fails to help guide the writer in at least some next steps. Everybody misses stuff (for example, think about the publishers who passed on the first Harry Potter novel), and checklists can only go so far. It’s the relationship between editor and writer that’s key. How many writers do you know who acknowledge their editors as one of the most important people in their lives?

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“…the evaluation fails to help guide the writer in at least some next steps”.

Yes. This. All over the place. And it’s why I don’t let friends edit or critique my work. They can read it and tell me what they think, but they tend to stroke my ego rather than give me anything I can use to make my ms better.

But, there’s also a flip-side to it– writers who want to be edited and/or critiqued, but who don’t really want to be edited or critiqued out of fear that someone will attack and destroy their baby.

I refuse to edit and critique because I’ve figured out some writers only want to be validated, praised, and have their writer’s ego stroked. They’re not interested in getting better or exploring the nuances of craft or genre. I’m okay to look over it and give a first impression, usually something along the lines of ‘it’s a good start, but there are issues to sort out; get it finished first’. But, I’m not going through a draft line by line, looking for inconsistencies, genre problems, or issues with craft.

The only exception to this rule will be those people in my writer’s groups where I’m not the only one editing or critiquing.

And I would suppose that even within a writer’s group there are varying degrees of capable editors, too.

I did find one online critique group that had both amateur and professional writers doing the critiques: Critters Workshop. It was free (unless you wanted to participate in the yearly fund raiser), and I was able to learn a few things about providing useful critiques.

Very good points, Steve and Mollie — thanks for adding those. I agree that critiquing is a specific (and advanced) skill, and obviously you’re not going to get the same level of feedback from a non-writer (but avid reader) friend as you’d get from a seasoned pro.

“But, there’s also a flip-side to it– writers who want to be edited and/or critiqued, but who don’t really want to be edited or critiqued out of fear that someone will attack and destroy their baby.”

— I’ve seen this occasionally, Mollie, and it’s really destructive to the flow of discussion in writing workshop groups. One of my groups had the very sensible rule that people being critiqued had to shut up and listen to all the critiques were done… and only then could they respond!

I certainly don’t think all writers SHOULD edit or critique or anything like that — and of course you’re always well within your rights to say “no”!

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This was amazing, and I needed to read it so badly! THANK YOU so much!!!

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As a freelance editor, I see a lot of manuscripts in various stages. I mostly specialize in military fiction, ensuring the proper weapon use, weapon jargon, and military term’s correct usage. Many writers are not “gun people” and are unfamiliar with the working of a weapon. I help authors correct mistakes, so that they deliver a better book.

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Hi KM, This is a very good article. May I repost it on my Indie publishing site: Words Alive Press (the site is under construction at this time). I will give credit to you and also give your website information. Thanks, Deb Gardner Allard

Deb, this is actually a guest post by Ali Luke. You’ll need to contact her for permission , but if she’s okay with it, so am I. 🙂

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Ah ho, this is great now I can give much better critiques thank you!

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How do I deal with bad grammar I read a friend’s story who has problems with tenses

Unless she’s asked you not to focus on line editing, I would just go through and make the necessary corrections.

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You piece is great and very educative.I must confess that editing a book isn’t a walk in the park.It entails total commitment and time.Ensuring consistency is an art that one has to really grasp the content very well to get in line as a writer and an editor.I am just starting to edit a book right now,i look forward to a great plot with great characters not forgetting comic relief! Thank you!

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Any checklists for Non fiction books?

I have a friend who has asked me to help her edit a book about her experience with God after giving birth to a stillborn baby. She is my best friend, and I’ve read some already. It is amazing how hope-filled it is, and how needed this book is for people still suffering from inexplicable tragedy. She has asked me to edit and to help her organize her thoughts into chapters. I told her to come up with a guiding idea/purpose for the book, something everything connects to like a thesis, and a working table of contents of subjects she wants to address about the experience (which she has done).

I’m trying to figure out if I should wait until she has written most (if not all) of it (providing general comments along the way, but nothing nitty gritty), and then we can work on further organizing and finally the detailed stuff. Would love any guides or checklists to editing a non fiction book.

[…] https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/tips-for-editing-other-writers/ […]

[…] The cardinal sin of editing is rewriting someone else’s work. In this case you do not have a full understanding of the call to action, therefore, you are in no place to restructure the entire work. Instead focus on three main parts to editing: […]

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8.4 Revising and Editing

Learning objectives.

  • Identify major areas of concern in the draft essay during revising and editing.
  • Use peer reviews and editing checklists to assist revising and editing.
  • Revise and edit the first draft of your essay and produce a final draft.

Revising and editing are the two tasks you undertake to significantly improve your essay. Both are very important elements of the writing process. You may think that a completed first draft means little improvement is needed. However, even experienced writers need to improve their drafts and rely on peers during revising and editing. You may know that athletes miss catches, fumble balls, or overshoot goals. Dancers forget steps, turn too slowly, or miss beats. For both athletes and dancers, the more they practice, the stronger their performance will become. Web designers seek better images, a more clever design, or a more appealing background for their web pages. Writing has the same capacity to profit from improvement and revision.

Understanding the Purpose of Revising and Editing

Revising and editing allow you to examine two important aspects of your writing separately, so that you can give each task your undivided attention.

  • When you revise , you take a second look at your ideas. You might add, cut, move, or change information in order to make your ideas clearer, more accurate, more interesting, or more convincing.
  • When you edit , you take a second look at how you expressed your ideas. You add or change words. You fix any problems in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. You improve your writing style. You make your essay into a polished, mature piece of writing, the end product of your best efforts.

How do you get the best out of your revisions and editing? Here are some strategies that writers have developed to look at their first drafts from a fresh perspective. Try them over the course of this semester; then keep using the ones that bring results.

  • Take a break. You are proud of what you wrote, but you might be too close to it to make changes. Set aside your writing for a few hours or even a day until you can look at it objectively.
  • Ask someone you trust for feedback and constructive criticism.
  • Pretend you are one of your readers. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied? Why?
  • Use the resources that your college provides. Find out where your school’s writing lab is located and ask about the assistance they provide online and in person.

Many people hear the words critic , critical , and criticism and pick up only negative vibes that provoke feelings that make them blush, grumble, or shout. However, as a writer and a thinker, you need to learn to be critical of yourself in a positive way and have high expectations for your work. You also need to train your eye and trust your ability to fix what needs fixing. For this, you need to teach yourself where to look.

Creating Unity and Coherence

Following your outline closely offers you a reasonable guarantee that your writing will stay on purpose and not drift away from the controlling idea. However, when writers are rushed, are tired, or cannot find the right words, their writing may become less than they want it to be. Their writing may no longer be clear and concise, and they may be adding information that is not needed to develop the main idea.

When a piece of writing has unity , all the ideas in each paragraph and in the entire essay clearly belong and are arranged in an order that makes logical sense. When the writing has coherence , the ideas flow smoothly. The wording clearly indicates how one idea leads to another within a paragraph and from paragraph to paragraph.

Reading your writing aloud will often help you find problems with unity and coherence. Listen for the clarity and flow of your ideas. Identify places where you find yourself confused, and write a note to yourself about possible fixes.

Creating Unity

Sometimes writers get caught up in the moment and cannot resist a good digression. Even though you might enjoy such detours when you chat with friends, unplanned digressions usually harm a piece of writing.

Mariah stayed close to her outline when she drafted the three body paragraphs of her essay she tentatively titled “Digital Technology: The Newest and the Best at What Price?” But a recent shopping trip for an HDTV upset her enough that she digressed from the main topic of her third paragraph and included comments about the sales staff at the electronics store she visited. When she revised her essay, she deleted the off-topic sentences that affected the unity of the paragraph.

Read the following paragraph twice, the first time without Mariah’s changes, and the second time with them.

Nothing is more confusing to me than choosing among televisions. It confuses lots of people who want a new high-definition digital television (HDTV) with a large screen to watch sports and DVDs on. You could listen to the guys in the electronics store, but word has it they know little more than you do. They want to sell what they have in stock, not what best fits your needs. You face decisions you never had to make with the old, bulky picture-tube televisions. Screen resolution means the number of horizontal scan lines the screen can show. This resolution is often 1080p, or full HD, or 768p. The trouble is that if you have a smaller screen, 32 inches or 37 inches diagonal, you won’t be able to tell the difference with the naked eye. The 1080p televisions cost more, though, so those are what the salespeople want you to buy. They get bigger commissions. The other important decision you face as you walk around the sales floor is whether to get a plasma screen or an LCD screen. Now here the salespeople may finally give you decent info. Plasma flat-panel television screens can be much larger in diameter than their LCD rivals. Plasma screens show truer blacks and can be viewed at a wider angle than current LCD screens. But be careful and tell the salesperson you have budget constraints. Large flat-panel plasma screens are much more expensive than flat-screen LCD models. Don’t let someone make you by more television than you need!

Answer the following two questions about Mariah’s paragraph:

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

  • Now start to revise the first draft of the essay you wrote in Section 8 “Writing Your Own First Draft” . Reread it to find any statements that affect the unity of your writing. Decide how best to revise.

When you reread your writing to find revisions to make, look for each type of problem in a separate sweep. Read it straight through once to locate any problems with unity. Read it straight through a second time to find problems with coherence. You may follow this same practice during many stages of the writing process.

Writing at Work

Many companies hire copyeditors and proofreaders to help them produce the cleanest possible final drafts of large writing projects. Copyeditors are responsible for suggesting revisions and style changes; proofreaders check documents for any errors in capitalization, spelling, and punctuation that have crept in. Many times, these tasks are done on a freelance basis, with one freelancer working for a variety of clients.

Creating Coherence

Careful writers use transitions to clarify how the ideas in their sentences and paragraphs are related. These words and phrases help the writing flow smoothly. Adding transitions is not the only way to improve coherence, but they are often useful and give a mature feel to your essays. Table 8.3 “Common Transitional Words and Phrases” groups many common transitions according to their purpose.

Table 8.3 Common Transitional Words and Phrases

After Maria revised for unity, she next examined her paragraph about televisions to check for coherence. She looked for places where she needed to add a transition or perhaps reword the text to make the flow of ideas clear. In the version that follows, she has already deleted the sentences that were off topic.

Many writers make their revisions on a printed copy and then transfer them to the version on-screen. They conventionally use a small arrow called a caret (^) to show where to insert an addition or correction.

A marked up essay

1. Answer the following questions about Mariah’s revised paragraph.

2. Now return to the first draft of the essay you wrote in Section 8 “Writing Your Own First Draft” and revise it for coherence. Add transition words and phrases where they are needed, and make any other changes that are needed to improve the flow and connection between ideas.

Being Clear and Concise

Some writers are very methodical and painstaking when they write a first draft. Other writers unleash a lot of words in order to get out all that they feel they need to say. Do either of these composing styles match your style? Or is your composing style somewhere in between? No matter which description best fits you, the first draft of almost every piece of writing, no matter its author, can be made clearer and more concise.

If you have a tendency to write too much, you will need to look for unnecessary words. If you have a tendency to be vague or imprecise in your wording, you will need to find specific words to replace any overly general language.

Identifying Wordiness

Sometimes writers use too many words when fewer words will appeal more to their audience and better fit their purpose. Here are some common examples of wordiness to look for in your draft. Eliminating wordiness helps all readers, because it makes your ideas clear, direct, and straightforward.

Sentences that begin with There is or There are .

Wordy: There are two major experiments that the Biology Department sponsors.

Revised: The Biology Department sponsors two major experiments.

Sentences with unnecessary modifiers.

Wordy: Two extremely famous and well-known consumer advocates spoke eloquently in favor of the proposed important legislation.

Revised: Two well-known consumer advocates spoke in favor of the proposed legislation.

Sentences with deadwood phrases that add little to the meaning. Be judicious when you use phrases such as in terms of , with a mind to , on the subject of , as to whether or not , more or less , as far as…is concerned , and similar expressions. You can usually find a more straightforward way to state your point.

Wordy: As a world leader in the field of green technology, the company plans to focus its efforts in the area of geothermal energy.

A report as to whether or not to use geysers as an energy source is in the process of preparation.

Revised: As a world leader in green technology, the company plans to focus on geothermal energy.

A report about using geysers as an energy source is in preparation.

Sentences in the passive voice or with forms of the verb to be . Sentences with passive-voice verbs often create confusion, because the subject of the sentence does not perform an action. Sentences are clearer when the subject of the sentence performs the action and is followed by a strong verb. Use strong active-voice verbs in place of forms of to be , which can lead to wordiness. Avoid passive voice when you can.

Wordy: It might perhaps be said that using a GPS device is something that is a benefit to drivers who have a poor sense of direction.

Revised: Using a GPS device benefits drivers who have a poor sense of direction.

Sentences with constructions that can be shortened.

Wordy: The e-book reader, which is a recent invention, may become as commonplace as the cell phone.

My over-sixty uncle bought an e-book reader, and his wife bought an e-book reader, too.

Revised: The e-book reader, a recent invention, may become as commonplace as the cell phone.

My over-sixty uncle and his wife both bought e-book readers.

Now return once more to the first draft of the essay you have been revising. Check it for unnecessary words. Try making your sentences as concise as they can be.

Choosing Specific, Appropriate Words

Most college essays should be written in formal English suitable for an academic situation. Follow these principles to be sure that your word choice is appropriate. For more information about word choice, see Chapter 4 “Working with Words: Which Word Is Right?” .

  • Avoid slang. Find alternatives to bummer , kewl , and rad .
  • Avoid language that is overly casual. Write about “men and women” rather than “girls and guys” unless you are trying to create a specific effect. A formal tone calls for formal language.
  • Avoid contractions. Use do not in place of don’t , I am in place of I’m , have not in place of haven’t , and so on. Contractions are considered casual speech.
  • Avoid clichés. Overused expressions such as green with envy , face the music , better late than never , and similar expressions are empty of meaning and may not appeal to your audience.
  • Be careful when you use words that sound alike but have different meanings. Some examples are allusion/illusion , complement/compliment , council/counsel , concurrent/consecutive , founder/flounder , and historic/historical . When in doubt, check a dictionary.
  • Choose words with the connotations you want. Choosing a word for its connotations is as important in formal essay writing as it is in all kinds of writing. Compare the positive connotations of the word proud and the negative connotations of arrogant and conceited .
  • Use specific words rather than overly general words. Find synonyms for thing , people , nice , good , bad , interesting , and other vague words. Or use specific details to make your exact meaning clear.

Now read the revisions Mariah made to make her third paragraph clearer and more concise. She has already incorporated the changes she made to improve unity and coherence.

A marked up essay with revisions

1. Answer the following questions about Mariah’s revised paragraph:

2. Now return once more to your essay in progress. Read carefully for problems with word choice. Be sure that your draft is written in formal language and that your word choice is specific and appropriate.

Completing a Peer Review

After working so closely with a piece of writing, writers often need to step back and ask for a more objective reader. What writers most need is feedback from readers who can respond only to the words on the page. When they are ready, writers show their drafts to someone they respect and who can give an honest response about its strengths and weaknesses.

You, too, can ask a peer to read your draft when it is ready. After evaluating the feedback and assessing what is most helpful, the reader’s feedback will help you when you revise your draft. This process is called peer review .

You can work with a partner in your class and identify specific ways to strengthen each other’s essays. Although you may be uncomfortable sharing your writing at first, remember that each writer is working toward the same goal: a final draft that fits the audience and the purpose. Maintaining a positive attitude when providing feedback will put you and your partner at ease. The box that follows provides a useful framework for the peer review session.

Questions for Peer Review

Title of essay: ____________________________________________

Date: ____________________________________________

Writer’s name: ____________________________________________

Peer reviewer’s name: _________________________________________

  • This essay is about____________________________________________.
  • Your main points in this essay are____________________________________________.
  • What I most liked about this essay is____________________________________________.

These three points struck me as your strongest:

These places in your essay are not clear to me:

a. Where: ____________________________________________

Needs improvement because__________________________________________

b. Where: ____________________________________________

Needs improvement because ____________________________________________

c. Where: ____________________________________________

The one additional change you could make that would improve this essay significantly is ____________________________________________.

One of the reasons why word-processing programs build in a reviewing feature is that workgroups have become a common feature in many businesses. Writing is often collaborative, and the members of a workgroup and their supervisors often critique group members’ work and offer feedback that will lead to a better final product.

Exchange essays with a classmate and complete a peer review of each other’s draft in progress. Remember to give positive feedback and to be courteous and polite in your responses. Focus on providing one positive comment and one question for more information to the author.

Using Feedback Objectively

The purpose of peer feedback is to receive constructive criticism of your essay. Your peer reviewer is your first real audience, and you have the opportunity to learn what confuses and delights a reader so that you can improve your work before sharing the final draft with a wider audience (or your intended audience).

It may not be necessary to incorporate every recommendation your peer reviewer makes. However, if you start to observe a pattern in the responses you receive from peer reviewers, you might want to take that feedback into consideration in future assignments. For example, if you read consistent comments about a need for more research, then you may want to consider including more research in future assignments.

Using Feedback from Multiple Sources

You might get feedback from more than one reader as you share different stages of your revised draft. In this situation, you may receive feedback from readers who do not understand the assignment or who lack your involvement with and enthusiasm for it.

You need to evaluate the responses you receive according to two important criteria:

  • Determine if the feedback supports the purpose of the assignment.
  • Determine if the suggested revisions are appropriate to the audience.

Then, using these standards, accept or reject revision feedback.

Work with two partners. Go back to Note 8.81 “Exercise 4” in this lesson and compare your responses to Activity A, about Mariah’s paragraph, with your partners’. Recall Mariah’s purpose for writing and her audience. Then, working individually, list where you agree and where you disagree about revision needs.

Editing Your Draft

If you have been incorporating each set of revisions as Mariah has, you have produced multiple drafts of your writing. So far, all your changes have been content changes. Perhaps with the help of peer feedback, you have made sure that you sufficiently supported your ideas. You have checked for problems with unity and coherence. You have examined your essay for word choice, revising to cut unnecessary words and to replace weak wording with specific and appropriate wording.

The next step after revising the content is editing. When you edit, you examine the surface features of your text. You examine your spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation. You also make sure you use the proper format when creating your finished assignment.

Editing often takes time. Budgeting time into the writing process allows you to complete additional edits after revising. Editing and proofreading your writing helps you create a finished work that represents your best efforts. Here are a few more tips to remember about your readers:

  • Readers do not notice correct spelling, but they do notice misspellings.
  • Readers look past your sentences to get to your ideas—unless the sentences are awkward, poorly constructed, and frustrating to read.
  • Readers notice when every sentence has the same rhythm as every other sentence, with no variety.
  • Readers do not cheer when you use there , their , and they’re correctly, but they notice when you do not.
  • Readers will notice the care with which you handled your assignment and your attention to detail in the delivery of an error-free document..

The first section of this book offers a useful review of grammar, mechanics, and usage. Use it to help you eliminate major errors in your writing and refine your understanding of the conventions of language. Do not hesitate to ask for help, too, from peer tutors in your academic department or in the college’s writing lab. In the meantime, use the checklist to help you edit your writing.

Editing Your Writing

  • Are some sentences actually sentence fragments?
  • Are some sentences run-on sentences? How can I correct them?
  • Do some sentences need conjunctions between independent clauses?
  • Does every verb agree with its subject?
  • Is every verb in the correct tense?
  • Are tense forms, especially for irregular verbs, written correctly?
  • Have I used subject, object, and possessive personal pronouns correctly?
  • Have I used who and whom correctly?
  • Is the antecedent of every pronoun clear?
  • Do all personal pronouns agree with their antecedents?
  • Have I used the correct comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs?
  • Is it clear which word a participial phrase modifies, or is it a dangling modifier?

Sentence Structure

  • Are all my sentences simple sentences, or do I vary my sentence structure?
  • Have I chosen the best coordinating or subordinating conjunctions to join clauses?
  • Have I created long, overpacked sentences that should be shortened for clarity?
  • Do I see any mistakes in parallel structure?

Punctuation

  • Does every sentence end with the correct end punctuation?
  • Can I justify the use of every exclamation point?
  • Have I used apostrophes correctly to write all singular and plural possessive forms?
  • Have I used quotation marks correctly?

Mechanics and Usage

  • Can I find any spelling errors? How can I correct them?
  • Have I used capital letters where they are needed?
  • Have I written abbreviations, where allowed, correctly?
  • Can I find any errors in the use of commonly confused words, such as to / too / two ?

Be careful about relying too much on spelling checkers and grammar checkers. A spelling checker cannot recognize that you meant to write principle but wrote principal instead. A grammar checker often queries constructions that are perfectly correct. The program does not understand your meaning; it makes its check against a general set of formulas that might not apply in each instance. If you use a grammar checker, accept the suggestions that make sense, but consider why the suggestions came up.

Proofreading requires patience; it is very easy to read past a mistake. Set your paper aside for at least a few hours, if not a day or more, so your mind will rest. Some professional proofreaders read a text backward so they can concentrate on spelling and punctuation. Another helpful technique is to slowly read a paper aloud, paying attention to every word, letter, and punctuation mark.

If you need additional proofreading help, ask a reliable friend, a classmate, or a peer tutor to make a final pass on your paper to look for anything you missed.

Remember to use proper format when creating your finished assignment. Sometimes an instructor, a department, or a college will require students to follow specific instructions on titles, margins, page numbers, or the location of the writer’s name. These requirements may be more detailed and rigid for research projects and term papers, which often observe the American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language Association (MLA) style guides, especially when citations of sources are included.

To ensure the format is correct and follows any specific instructions, make a final check before you submit an assignment.

With the help of the checklist, edit and proofread your essay.

Key Takeaways

  • Revising and editing are the stages of the writing process in which you improve your work before producing a final draft.
  • During revising, you add, cut, move, or change information in order to improve content.
  • During editing, you take a second look at the words and sentences you used to express your ideas and fix any problems in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
  • Unity in writing means that all the ideas in each paragraph and in the entire essay clearly belong together and are arranged in an order that makes logical sense.
  • Coherence in writing means that the writer’s wording clearly indicates how one idea leads to another within a paragraph and between paragraphs.
  • Transitional words and phrases effectively make writing more coherent.
  • Writing should be clear and concise, with no unnecessary words.
  • Effective formal writing uses specific, appropriate words and avoids slang, contractions, clichés, and overly general words.
  • Peer reviews, done properly, can give writers objective feedback about their writing. It is the writer’s responsibility to evaluate the results of peer reviews and incorporate only useful feedback.
  • Remember to budget time for careful editing and proofreading. Use all available resources, including editing checklists, peer editing, and your institution’s writing lab, to improve your editing skills.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

What does an editor do?

Would you make a good editor? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

What is an Editor?

An editor is responsible for reviewing, revising, and correcting written material, such as books, articles, reports, and other forms of written communication. An editor's primary goal is to ensure that the content is accurate, clear, and well-organized, and that it meets the intended audience's needs. The editor achieves this by evaluating the structure, coherence, style, and tone of the written material and providing feedback to the writer on how to improve it. Editors are also responsible for correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, ensuring that the content follows the appropriate formatting guidelines, and fact-checking any claims made in the material.

Editors can work in various industries, such as publishing, journalism, advertising, and public relations. They may be employed by a company or work as freelancers, and their tasks can vary depending on the project's scope and complexity. Some editors specialize in particular types of material, such as technical or scientific writing, while others work on a broad range of material. Regardless of their specialization, editors play a crucial role in ensuring that written material is of high quality and effectively communicates the intended message to the audience.

What does an Editor do?

An editor sitting at a desk, editing manuscripts.

Editors are an indispensable tool for anyone involved in writing, be it for academic, professional, or creative purposes. The primary function of editors is to refine and improve written material by correcting errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation. They also enhance the clarity and coherence of the text by restructuring sentences and paragraphs, ensuring that ideas flow logically and smoothly.

Editors are trained to identify inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and ambiguities in the text, and suggest appropriate revisions to address them. In addition to their technical expertise, editors also provide valuable feedback and guidance to writers, helping them to refine their ideas and express them more effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of an editor can vary depending on the specific type of editing they are performing and the industry they are working in. However, here are some general responsibilities that editors typically have:

  • Reviewing and Editing Content: Editors are responsible for reviewing and editing content for accuracy, clarity, and style. This includes correcting grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors. They also ensure that the content is easy to read and understand and that it meets the publication's style guidelines.
  • Managing Editorial Calendars: Editors are responsible for managing editorial calendars and ensuring that content is published on time. This includes working with writers to set deadlines, assigning articles to writers, and ensuring that articles are submitted on time.
  • Commissioning Content: In addition to editing existing content, editors are also responsible for commissioning new content. This includes identifying topics that are relevant to the publication's audience and assigning them to writers.
  • Developing Style Guides: Editors develop and maintain style guides that outline the publication's guidelines for grammar, punctuation, tone, and style. These guidelines ensure that all content is consistent and adheres to the publication's standards.
  • Collaborating with Writers: Editors work closely with writers to help them improve their writing skills and to provide feedback on their work. They may also work with writers to develop new ideas for articles and to help them shape their stories.
  • Fact-Checking: Editors are responsible for fact-checking all content to ensure that it is accurate and free of errors. This involves verifying information with reliable sources and ensuring that all claims are backed up by evidence.
  • Managing Budgets: Editors are responsible for managing editorial budgets and ensuring that projects are completed within budgetary constraints. This includes working with writers to negotiate rates and managing the payment process.
  • Staying Up-to-Date on Industry Trends: Editors need to stay up-to-date on industry trends and developments to ensure that their publications remain relevant and competitive. This includes attending conferences, reading industry publications, and networking with other professionals in the field.

In addition to these responsibilities, editors may also be responsible for managing a team of writers and overseeing the publication's social media presence.

Types of Editors There are several types of editors, each with their specific role and purpose. Here are some of the most common ones:

  • Content Editor: A content editor is responsible for ensuring that the content is clear, concise, and engaging. They work with writers to improve their writing style, tone, and structure, ensuring that the content meets the needs of the target audience.
  • Copy Editor: A copy editor reviews written material for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax. They also check for consistency in style and tone, ensuring that the written material adheres to a specific set of guidelines.
  • Developmental Editor: A developmental editor works with writers to develop their ideas, plot, characters, and overall structure. They provide feedback on how to improve the overall flow of the story, plot, and character arcs.
  • Line Editor: A line editor is responsible for reviewing the written material on a line-by-line basis, focusing on improving the clarity and coherence of the writing. They may also make suggestions for restructuring sentences or paragraphs.
  • Technical Editor: A technical editor reviews technical documents, such as user manuals, software documentation, and scientific papers. They ensure that the content is accurate, concise, and easy to understand for the intended audience.
  • Managing Editor: A managing editor is responsible for overseeing the editorial process from start to finish. They work with writers, editors, and publishers to ensure that the content is delivered on time, meets quality standards, and stays within budget.

Are you suited to be an editor?

Editors have distinct personalities . They tend to be artistic individuals, which means they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive. They are unstructured, original, nonconforming, and innovative. Some of them are also enterprising, meaning they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if editor is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of an Editor like?

The workplace of an editor can vary depending on the type of editing they do and the organization they work for. In general, editors work in an office environment, either for a publisher, a media company, or as a freelancer. They may also work remotely, especially if they are freelancers or if their company allows for remote work.

Editors spend a significant amount of time reading and reviewing written material, whether it's manuscripts, articles, or other types of content. They also spend time communicating with writers, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure that the final product meets their expectations. This communication can take place in person, over the phone, or via email or other digital platforms.

Editors may use a variety of tools and software to perform their work, such as word processing software, grammar and spelling checkers, and project management tools. They may also use specialized software, such as video editing software or photo editing software, depending on their area of expertise.

Depending on their role and level of seniority, editors may also be responsible for managing a team of writers or other editors. They may need to delegate tasks, set deadlines, and provide feedback on their team's work.

Working as an editor can be demanding, as editors often have to work under tight deadlines and handle multiple projects simultaneously. However, it can also be a rewarding career for those who are passionate about language, writing, and storytelling. With the rise of digital media, the demand for skilled editors is likely to continue to grow in the years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Proofreader vs editor.

The roles of a proofreader and an editor share similarities, but they involve distinct tasks within the editorial process. Here are the key differences between a proofreader and an editor:

Proofreader:

  • Focus on Language Mechanics: A proofreader primarily focuses on correcting grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and typographical issues. Their role is more mechanical and detail-oriented.
  • Final Stage of Editing: Proofreading is typically the final stage in the editing process. Once the document has undergone substantive editing and copyediting, the proofreader reviews the text to catch any remaining errors before publication.
  • Consistency and Formatting: Proofreaders ensure consistency in language use, formatting, and adherence to a specific style guide. They pay attention to details like font size, spacing, and page layout.
  • No Structural Changes: Proofreaders do not make significant changes to the structure or content of the document. Their main goal is to polish the text without altering the author's intended meaning.
  • Correction of Surface-Level Errors: Surface-level errors such as typos, misspellings, and punctuation mistakes are the primary focus of proofreaders. They do not engage in rewriting sentences or suggesting major revisions.
  • Final Quality Check: Proofreaders perform a final quality check to ensure that the document is error-free and ready for publication. They play a crucial role in upholding the professional standards of written materials.
  • Content and Structure Focus: Editors work on the overall content, structure, and organization of a document. They assess the document's clarity, coherence, and effectiveness in conveying the intended message.
  • Multiple Editing Stages: Editors are involved in multiple stages of the editing process, including substantive editing (for content and structure) and copyediting (for grammar and style). They may also provide feedback for improving the document's overall quality.
  • Communication with Authors: Editors often collaborate closely with authors, providing feedback on the substance of their work, suggesting revisions, and ensuring that the document aligns with the intended purpose and audience.
  • Style and Tone Guidance: Editors provide guidance on writing style, tone, and voice. They may suggest rephrasing sentences, restructuring paragraphs, or even rewriting sections to improve overall clarity and impact.
  • Substantial Changes Allowed: Unlike proofreaders, editors have the authority to make substantial changes to the document. This includes restructuring sentences, reorganizing content, and suggesting additions or deletions for improved flow.
  • In-depth Review: Editors conduct a more comprehensive review of the document, addressing not only surface-level errors but also deeper issues related to content, logic, and coherence.

In summary, while proofreaders focus on the final polish and surface-level errors of a document, editors are involved in shaping the content and structure at various stages of the editing process. Both roles are essential for ensuring the overall quality and effectiveness of written materials.

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Pros and Cons of Being an Editor

While being an editor can be a highly rewarding career choice, there are also some challenges and drawbacks to consider.

  • Creative satisfaction: As an editor, you have the opportunity to shape and refine written works, making them clearer, more concise, and more engaging. This can be highly satisfying, particularly for those who enjoy working with language and expressing themselves through writing.
  • Intellectual stimulation: Editing requires a deep understanding of language, grammar, and style. As such, it can be an intellectually stimulating profession that challenges you to continuously expand your knowledge and skills.
  • Varied work: Editors can work across a wide range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, journalism, and academic writing. This means that the work is varied and interesting, with each project presenting its own unique set of challenges.
  • Flexibility: Many editors work as freelancers, which offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of when and where you work. This can be particularly appealing for those who value work-life balance.
  • Pressure: Editing can be a high-pressure job, particularly when working with tight deadlines. Editors are responsible for ensuring that the content they work on is accurate, engaging, and error-free, which can be stressful at times.
  • Criticism: Editors are often required to provide feedback and critique on written works. While this is an essential part of the job, it can be challenging to navigate, particularly when dealing with sensitive or emotional topics.
  • Competitive industry: The publishing industry can be highly competitive, with many people vying for a limited number of editing positions. This means that it can be difficult to secure work, particularly when starting out.
  • Repetitive tasks: Editing can be a repetitive job, particularly when working on long-form content. This can become tedious over time, and some editors may find themselves craving more varied work.

In conclusion, being an editor can be a rewarding and intellectually stimulating career choice, but it is not without its challenges. It requires a deep understanding of language and grammar, the ability to handle criticism and pressure, and the willingness to work within a competitive industry. However, for those who enjoy working with language and expressing themselves through writing, it can be an extremely satisfying profession.

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Home > Homeschool Topics > The Writing Process- Drafting and Editing

The Writing Process- Drafting and Editing

Writing is a process that involves several distinct steps: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. It is important for a writer to work through each of the steps in order to ensure that he has produced a polished, complete piece.  The writing process is not always linear.  A writer may move back and forth between steps as needed.  For example, while you are revising, you might have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand your ideas.

Last month we learned about prewriting .  Prewriting is anything you do before you write a draft of your document. It includes thinking, taking notes, talking to others, brainstorming, outlining, and gathering information.  Although prewriting is the first activity you engage in, generating ideas is an activity that occurs throughout the writing process.  During prewriting a writer will choose a manageable topic, identify a purpose and audience, draft a sentence that expresses the main idea of piece, gather information about the topic, and begin to organize the information.  Examples of prewriting include brainstorming, freewriting, and questioning.  Many people find it helpful to use a shape planner or graphic organizer to organize their thoughts during the prewriting process.

The second step of the writing process involves drafting.  During drafting, the writer puts his ideas into complete thoughts, such as sentences and paragraphs.  The writer organizes his ideas in a way that allows the reader to understand his message.  He does this by focusing on which ideas or topics to include in the piece of writing.  During drafting, the writer will compose an introduction to the piece and develop a conclusion for the material.  At the end of this step of the writing process, the author will have completed a “rough draft.”

Drafting—The Process

The process of drafting a piece of writing begins with an analysis of the prewriting.  The author must use his prewriting notes to determine a focus for the piece.  This may involve narrowing the focus of the topic and perhaps identifying a purpose for the piece.

For example, an author may decide to write an essay about dogs.  He could have developed his prewriting notes with information about three topics relating to dogs:  Show dogs, working dogs, and dog racing.  These are all topics that could stand alone in an essay.  During drafting, the author should choose just one of these topics for his piece of writing.

Once he has chosen a topic, he should identify a purpose for the essay.  For instance, if the writing was meant to be informational, he might choose to write about working dogs, his purpose being to impart information.  On the other hand, if he chose to write a persuasive essay, perhaps he would choose to write about dog racing, arguing for or against this controversial topic.  After determining a purpose for a piece of writing, it is easy to begin drafting.  Any information that is unrelated to the topic and its purpose should be eliminated from the prewriting.

The author begins writing by composing an introduction to the piece.  The purpose of the introduction is not only to state the topic of the piece, but it should also draw the reader in to the piece of writing.  For young children, the introduction may be one sentence stating the topic.  More sophisticated writers will create an introductory paragraph that identifies the topic, sets the purpose for the writing, and suggests how the topic will be developed throughout the piece.  The introduction to a piece of writing should be interesting.  The tone of the introduction will vary according to the topic.  If an author is writing a personal narrative, he might decide to begin with a creative quote about his experience.  When writing an informational essay, the tone of the introduction must follow suit.  It should be focused and informative.

A solid, interesting introduction sets the stage for the rest of the rough draft.  An author should begin drafting the piece by organizing his notes in a sequence that will make sense to the reader.  The focus should be on logical connections between topics.  A young writer will compose the body of a piece of writing by including detail sentences related to the topic sentence.  An older author should organize his writing in to paragraphs.  Each paragraph should include its own topic sentence.  Smooth transitions between paragraphs are important in creating a cohesive piece of writing, no matter the subject.  A writer should refer back to his prewriting to keep him on track and ensure that the piece of writing maintains its focus.

A writer should complete a rough draft by composing a conclusion.  The purpose of a conclusion is to wrap up the piece of writing by connecting all of the related thoughts and ideas.  The best conclusions are creative, engaging, and leave few questions unanswered in the mind of the reader.  Younger students can conclude a piece of writing with a simple sentence.  Advanced writers should include a conclusion paragraph.

Upon completion of a rough draft, the writer should take on the first edit of his work.  Editing is an on-going process, not a one time event.  When an author edits his work, he is checking the piece for errors.  These are typically errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and formatting (indenting of paragraphs, etc.).  A writer should be encouraged to edit as much of his own paper as possible.  Early writers should, with some prompting, be able to check a paper for correct capitalization and punctuation.  As a child ages, he will be able to correct other errors on his own.  Some students find it beneficial to read their work out loud while editing.  This makes it easier to find mistakes.  Editing should not be a negative process.  This is a time to work on creating a polished piece of writing that will make the author proud.  The author should be reminded that he will need to edit his work at least two more times.  He will edit before composing a final copy and then use the same process to check over his final product.

The Importance of Modeling

Writing can be a difficult process for children.  Many students are hesitant writers.  Because of this, it is important for the home teacher to demonstrate appropriate writing strategies.  When dealing with a child who does not enjoy writing, it is very important to model each step of the writing process.

The home teacher should plan to model a composition which parallels the one being written by the student.  For example, if the child is writing on the topic “My Favorite Vacation,” the home teacher might choose to write his own composition at the same time as the child is writing, focused on a similar topic.  This topic might be “My Favorite Weekend” or “My Favorite Holiday.”

The home teacher should plan to work through each step of the writing process with his student.  The teacher should show the child, with his own topic, how to complete a prewriting exercise.  He should then assist the student with this activity, moving through the process step by step, focused on the topic chosen by the student.  A child does not instinctively understand how to take prewriting notes and convert them in to a piece of writing.  The home teacher should model the procedure for this with his own topic.  He should take the time to explain to the student how he chose to focus his composition, why he has chosen to include certain ideas instead of others, and how he plans to organize the piece of writing.  The teacher should then encourage the student to verbalize his thought process and work together to assist the child with the assigned composition.

Writing is a flexible process.  A confident author recognizes that there is always room for improvement and celebrates each step toward a finished piece of writing that he is proud of.

Next month, we will continue our series on writing by focusing on revision.

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Constant Content Blog

11 tips for editing your own writing (plus a checklist).

Posted October 11, 2017 by Isaac Justesen in Freelance Writers

editing his work

Good editing can transform a mediocre piece of content into something great. It’s one of the most important aspects of the writing process, but a surprising number of writers underestimate its value.

The Importance of Self-Editing

Becoming a good editor of your own work takes time and practice, but it’s worth it. You’ll learn how to improve the structure and style of your writing, communicate more clearly and eliminate grammatical errors .

Companies want copy that reflects well on their business, provides value to their readers and drives sales, so well-edited content will also look more attractive to content buyers.

Are you ready to become a better editor? You may not have access to a professional editor, but you can use the following tips to help you edit your own writing more effectively.

1. Read Your Writing in a New Format

If you typed it, print it out. Alternatively, convert your Word document to PDF format, or change your text to a different font, color, and size. These techniques will help you see your content from an “outsider’s” perspective and give you a more critical eye.

2. Take a Break

Let your writing rest for a few hours or overnight. Putting a literal distance between you and your work also creates an emotional distance. When you return to it, you’re more likely to spot awkward phrases and obvious mistakes.

3. Read it Out Loud

To discover the rhythm of your writing, read it out loud. The best writing sounds smooth, so if you find yourself stammering through poorly worded sentences, you know it needs improving.

4. Remove Uncertain Language

Good communication sounds authoritative, so avoid wishy-washy sentences. If you use phrases like “seems to be” or “could be a reason for,” you sound indecisive and it weakens your message.

5. Avoid Repetitive Phrases

Try not to rely on certain words or phrases to make your point; readers will notice when you repeat yourself. Aim for variety. Use a word frequency counter to find repetitive words and scan a thesaurus to find alternatives.

6. Eliminate Filler Words

Use your word processor’s find functionality to search for “there,” “here,” and “it” to find redundant words and phrases. For example:

It’s fun to edit your own writing.

The sentence formation weakens the writing with unnecessary words that lack focus. This is more effective:

Editing your own writing is fun.

7. Remove Weak “To Be” Verbs

Using versions of the verb “to be” can weaken the words that follow. Replace “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “been,” and “being” with stronger alternatives. For example:

Weak sentence: They were not enjoying the editing process.

Strong sentence: They hated the editing process.

Stronger sentence: The editing process repulsed them.

editing his work

8. Remove Weak Adjectives

Weak adjectives also spoil your writing. When describing nouns and pronouns, use more powerful adjectives and avoid the words “really” or “very.”

Weak sentence: He was really scared of snakes.

Strong sentence: He was terrified of snakes.

Stronger sentence: Snakes terrified him.

9. Use Grammarly to Find Mistakes

The Grammarly proofreading tool looks at spelling and grammar mistakes and checks more than 250 advanced rules to find mistakes such as double negatives, run-on sentences, and dangling modifiers. After you’ve used Grammarly a few times, you’ll start to see common weaknesses in your writing.

10. Subscribe to The Chicago Manual of Style Online

The well-known writing guide to style, usage, and grammar is now accessible online. If you write for a living, consider paying for an annual subscription. It’s currently $39, but with advice covering every aspect of the mechanics of writing, you’re investing in your future as a writer .

11. Separate Your Editing Tasks

If the thought of editing your own work terrifies you, break down the tasks into a series of manageable steps. In the first read-through, check your ideas flow logically. In the next read-through, look at sentence structure, and so on.

Related: 25 Tips for Editing Your First Draft

An editing checklist will help you clean up your writing and spot common mistakes. Here’s an example of a basic checklist to get you started:

Editing-Checklist

The big-picture edit:

  • Do you have a strong introduction that hooks the reader?
  • Does the content flow logically?
  • Does the ending sum up your main points and include a call to action?

The second edit:

  • Are there any sections where you repeat your ideas?
  • Does each paragraph contain just one topic?
  • Are big chunks of text broken up with subheadings and paragraph breaks?
  • Do you use data, statistics, and quotations to back up our points?

The third edit:

  • Do sentences vary in length?
  • Is all spelling and punctuation correct?
  • Can you replace weak verbs and adjectives with stronger ones?
  • Do you use the passive voice?

Your editing checklist should be tailored to your strengths and weaknesses, and you can adapt it over time to your particular needs as a writer.

Become a Better Editor

Self-editing is a key part of the writing process. It can transform average content into great content that people love to read. As you become more aware of your writing strengths and weaknesses, your editing skills will also improve.

Use these editing tips for your next writing project. Your content will be more enjoyable to read, have more impact on readers, and you’ll increase your marketability as a writer.

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  • freelance writing
  • May 15, 2020

The Importance of Editing Your Written Work, and How to Do It

Avatar photo

No one is immune from making a mistake. And when it comes to your writing, the same rule applies. In fact, the greatest writers are susceptible to the occasional error.

Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, Henry Miller, the Bible!

But thinking that you are immune from making mistakes is the first mistake you make, and it is perhaps the biggest.

Of course, most people realize that they are capable of making mistakes, especially when it comes to their written work. And this is as true of native English speakers as it is for those who speak (and write!) it as a second language, or of course those who are in the process of learning English.

Absolutely everyone benefits from editing their work. Not doing it amounts to saying that you are incapable of making a mistake. Or saying that you don’t care. Neither are desirable options.

And then there is the impression that poorly edited written work gives. Whether you are writing an email for business purposes, posting something on social media, or even speaking in an instant message with a friend, poorly written English can result in a negative impression, or sometimes even worse, a total misunderstanding. This is just as true for sending a message to your boss as it is for sending a WhatsApp message to your best friend.

So, unedited writing can affect your reputation, career prospects, and even relationships. It can also cause headaches in other ways, of course, such as confusion on a form you have completed, or any number of other possibly disastrous misunderstandings.

In short, unedited writing can cause you problems in many ways. But the simple fact is, there is really no reason for it. The solution can be relatively simple. Here are just a few easy ways in which you can successfully edit your written work or communication:

Let your writing breathe

How many times have you seen, or even written and sent, an instant message that makes you look like you, or the sender, was half asleep when they did it? Maybe you, or they, were!

But most of the time it is the ‘instant’ nature of the message that causes the problem. Just give yourself a few moments to consider what you want to say. Replying in the heat of the moment never usually ends well. 

So, breathe deeply, think about what you want to say, and then say it. This is as true when you are writing as when you are speaking. How many people have gotten themselves into trouble on Twitter, for example, for not thinking and breathing before they hit ‘post’. Don’t make that mistake!

This is perhaps the simplest piece of advice that anyone can give, but it is still amazing how many people fail to follow this simple instruction.

Reread what you have written before you send it, post it, upload it, etc..

Yes, this takes a little more time, of course, but it will be worth it.

It gives you a chance to edit any glaring mistakes in spelling, grammar, or whatever it may be, that can cause minor irritation at best, and severe embarrassment at worst. And with programs such as autocorrect at work, everyone can be caught out by not proofreading what they have written.

So just take a little time, and save yourself from the consequences of unproofed writing.

Use another pair of eyes

Where possible, and if the writing is really important, let someone else have a read before you send/post/upload etc. it. Another perspective can be so valuable.

When you are the author, you are so invested in the message that it is incredibly easy to overlook something that is glaringly obvious to another person. This is an approach that truly works, and again can save you from embarrassment.

Keep it simple

Here is some advice that nearly always rings true.

Don’t try to be too clever in your writing. Use simple words where possible. And keep it brief where you can.

If you consider these things when you are editing, you will usually save yourself a lot of trouble.

Use a writing assistant

You are not alone when it comes to editing your work. Fortunately, there are a lot of great tools available for helping with the quality of your writing, and can assist in the editing of your work.

This helps when time is an issue, and also when you lack confidence in the quality of writing you are producing.

But it also helps if you are an accomplished writer, because as we have seen, even the best writers make mistakes.

Linguix is an AI-powered writing assistant that goes to work wherever you write on the web. That means that your writing is edited instantly for mistakes, so you never need make a glaring grammatical or spelling error. Just simply download the free Chrome, Firefox or Edge extension, and you are on your way.

Furthermore, paste (or write) your text in the editing tool, and get an even greater analysis of your work, including editing suggestions, and even a Flesch readability score, as well as an educated analysis of the suitability of your text based on your own pre-defined criteria. In that way, not only will your work be free from errors, but you can also take confidence that what you have written is suitable for your intended audience. Traditional editing methods won’t necessarily delve that deep.

So, when it comes to editing your writing, that second pair or eyes can always be with you. Try Linguix to see how your writing can reach another level.

More from Linguix Blog

editing his work

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Guides • Understanding Publishing

Posted on Sep 01, 2021

4 Essential Tips for Working with an Editor

If you've made it this far into our editing guide, you know what type of editing your manuscript requires. You know where to find the right professional editors . You also know the cold, hard figures and additional factors that go into editing costs — now let’s talk about the collaboration itself!

Here are a few must-know tips that will facilitate a smooth, streamlined, and creatively fulfilling editing collaboration. 

1. Self-edit your manuscript first

How to work with an editor | Self-edit your manuscript first

The number-one way to save yourself grief in a professional editing capacity is actually pretty simple, if not exactly easy : self-edit your manuscript into decent shape before passing it along.

This might seem to go against the whole ethos of hiring an editor. After all, why pay someone for what you can do yourself? But the truth is there’s a vast gap between what you can perceive and edit vs. what a professional editor can achieve with your manuscript. Trust us — no matter how many mistakes you catch as an author, there will always be room to improve.

The goal of self-editing , then, is to make sure your editors spend their time (and your money!) on the things you really need them for: developmental knots you can’t untangle yourself, copy edits that require deep stylistic expertise, and a final proofread that catches every last typo your own eyes have glossed over. The self-editing guide linked above will take you through this process in detail, but here’s what to do at a bare minimum:

Read through your manuscript for “big picture” problems

These include plot holes, inconsistent characterization, extraneous scenes, abandoned themes, etc. You may not have the time or ability to fix all of them, but you can still make notes for your future developmental editor . Even just by pointing out these problem spots, rather than handing them your raw manuscript, you’ll be helping them do their job more efficiently.

Look at your word choice and style, line by line

Does your prose sound how you want it to sound? Is it bare-bones or sumptuously florid? Both writing styles are equally valid, as are all styles in between — just make sure you have a clear grasp on your own intentions, and update your prose accordingly. Again, even if you don’t have the bandwidth to fix everything, being able to articulate your desired style and point to representative passages in your book will help your future copy editor .

Fix obvious mechanical errors

You can do this as you go: simply correct any misspellings, punctuation errors, and glaring repetitions or redundancies. Even if you’re getting a developmental editor — meaning large swathes of your book will likely change anyway — fixing these small errors will make it easier for them to focus on what your book needs on a deeper level.

And once you’ve taken a solid pass at your manuscript, you can move onto the fun part: rifling through our stores of editors to find your perfect match.

2. Find a feedback style that works for you

How to work with an editor | Scout potential editors with care

On top of things like suitable experience, availability, and cost — factors that we mentioned in our section on finding editors — you need to look for someone whose communication style best matches what you need.

How often do they like to be in touch? Is their feedback style blunt or tactful? And so on. Thankfully, most editors will usually give some indication of their personal style on their online profiles. Here are some examples from Reedsy editors:

“I won't pat you on the head and say ‘Great job,’ but I WILL make your work shine and be the very best it can be.” —  Jeannine Thibodeau

“I offer gentle critiques and positive encouragement as we work together to ensure your book is the best it can be.” — Leya Booth

“My editing style is conversational. I offer suggestions for rewrites and ask a lot of questions, but I know the importance of not stepping on an author's toes.” — Octavia Marie Dosier

“ I would describe my approach to cowriting and editing as tough but fair. [...] I like to ‘tell it like it is,’ but at the same time, I will never talk down to you.” — Elizabeth Ridley

“I will be your editor, your life coach, your therapist and your cheerleader.” — Jay Blotcher

“My goal is to challenge authors (where they need to be challenged) and point them in the direction of possibilities they might have missed.” — Kimberley Lim

“My edits are thorough and precise, while very much respecting and preserving your ‘voice’ as a writer.” — Kate Victory Hannisian

You may not get the complete picture of an editor until you contact them, but their profiles should give you a big hint.

editing his work

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3. Establish clear communication

Collaborating with editors | A book titled

Let's say you’ve gone ahead and hired an editor — your work as an author isn’t done yet. Now it’s time to start building a strong, communicative relationship which you can kick off by establishing clear expectations for your first collaboration.

On top of all the basic information in your project brief (the genre, content, length, deadline, and target audience ), you need to let your editor know:

  • how you feel about the state of your manuscript;
  • which areas could use a little extra attention; and
  • your overall goals for the collaboration.

For example, if you’ve hired a copy editor, you may want to clarify the extent to which they should edit your style. Are you looking for a purely mechanical edit to make the sentences flow better, or do you want them to tap into your unique voice and suggest more innovative ways of phrasing things?

As you get into the nitty-gritty of your expectations, your editor will likely have questions and alternative suggestions. Answer their questions clearly and as quickly as possible, keeping in mind that it’s all in service of your book. And when it comes to suggestions… 

4. Trust your editor’s feedback

How to work with an editor | Trust your editor

Our last, arguably most crucial tip for a rewarding editing experience is to trust your editor . Yes, it sounds self-evident — but sometimes editors say things that authors really don’t want to hear. Whether they’re a little too harsh in their critiques , they suggest something that will require a great deal of work, or simply make a point about your book that you disagree with, you (read: every author out there) will be tempted to ignore them.

You're working towards the same goal

While the author will have the final say — it’s your book, after all! — we encourage all authors to approach the collaborative editing process with open-minded flexibility. Particularly if you’re getting a developmental or line edit , you’ll need to prepare yourself for a generous amount of feedback. While you can offset the sting by choosing an editor with a gentle communication style, your ability to take criticism and suggestions will be put to the test.

But if you’re in a place where you trust your editor 100%, that work will feel purposeful, not like a slog. After all, by this time, you should know that your editor is more than qualified to turn your book into the best version of itself; however much you’re paying for their services, you can rest easy that they’re worth it. Not only are they helping you with this book, but they’re also teaching you valuable lessons for future books!

So trust the process, trust your editor, and continue to forge that trust throughout your collaboration. Listening to each other and maintaining an open, respectful dialogue about your book is the key to success — by which we don’t just mean for this book, but also building a relationship to last your entire authorial career .

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Nicole Bianchi

Writing, Copywriting, & Marketing Strategies

How to Edit Your Writing: An Effective 7-Step Process

Published August 22, 2017 | Last Updated November 12, 2023 By Nicole Bianchi 34 Comments

Cup of colorful pens

A reader recently asked, “What is your best advice for editing?”

I was about to type up an email in reply, but then I realized that I’ve never shared my editing process here on the blog. Since this might be of interest to all of you, today I’m sharing the seven steps I follow to edit my work along with the editing advice I’ve gleaned from various famous authors over the years.

This post focuses on editing nonfiction, but I follow a similar process for editing both my fiction and nonfiction writing. You can adapt this advice according to your own writing projects. Read on for my editing tips.

Person looking at architectural plans on computer

When I have an idea for a new article, I spend time jotting down notes, researching (if necessary), and thinking of different ways I can approach the topic. Before I begin writing the piece, I gather all of those notes together and construct an outline. (If I were writing fiction, this would be the plotting stage.)

You wouldn’t begin building a house without construction plans that carefully measure the foundation, how big each room will be, and other precise details. Otherwise, you might end up with a house that looks like this . (Bonus points if you know what movie that’s from.)

Similarly, I find when I don’t outline my piece beforehand, the first draft ends up a tangled mess. That’s because I’m developing my ideas as I go. If I outline first, the piece usually ends up not requiring as many revisions.

Here are two tips for outlining your piece:

First, summarize what your article is about in one sentence. This sentence should present the main idea or argument of your piece. You might end up including this sentence in the introduction of your piece, but even if you don’t, it will be a helpful guide as you write. If a paragraph doesn’t relate back to that original theme or support your argument, delete it.

After you’ve written down your one-sentence summary, you can plan out the main points of each section of your piece. Organize your thoughts into a logical and chronological structure.

See my guide here on how to structure compelling blog posts.

2. Write Your First Draft

Person's hands typing on a computer keyboard

The next step, of course, is to actually write your piece. John Steinbeck advised ,

Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. Rewrite in process is usually found to be an excuse for not going on. It also interferes with flow and rhythm which can only come from a kind of unconscious association with the material.

I try hard to follow Steinbeck’s advice, but I am guilty of rewriting whole paragraphs as I work on my first draft. So don’t beat yourself up too much over this. Every writer has their own unique way of working. William Zinsser observes in his book On Writing Well (Amazon affiliate link),

Some people write their first draft in one long burst and then revise; others can’t write the second paragraph until they have fiddled endlessly with the first.

If a paragraph is giving you trouble, however, remember that you can always skip it and come back to it after you have gotten the rest of the piece down on paper. You might end up discovering that the paragraph wasn’t necessary after all.

3. Substantive Edit

Blank, open notebook next to mug and laptop and ruler

A substantive edit (also known as a developmental edit) means analyzing the structure and flow of your piece.

Once I’ve finished the first draft, I step back from it and try to examine it as if I were the reader. I highly recommend reading your piece out loud at this point.

Ask yourself these questions as you read:

  • Do the paragraphs flow logically and chronologically?
  • If not, do you need to rearrange them or rewrite them?
  • Do you have smooth transitions between each paragraph and from one idea to the next?
  • Is there anything you need to explain in more depth?
  • Are there any parts of the piece that need more context?
  • Any sentences or sections that are repetitious?
  • Any sentences that are vague and could be enriched with more detailed examples?

Most importantly, examine whether every paragraph relates back to that initial one-sentence summary you wrote during the outlining process. As Marion Roach observes in her book The Memoir Project (Amazon affiliate link),

While editing, check back with that original pitch and see if you’ve done what you promised to do. What did you set out to illustrate? Have you fulfilled your obligations?

Maybe the direction of your piece has changed or evolved as you wrote the first draft. In that case, you might need to delete whole paragraphs, no matter how beautifully you’ve written them. Kurt Vonnegut advises ,

Your eloquence should be the servant of the ideas in your head. Your rule might be this: If a sentence, no matter how excellent, does not illuminate your subject in some new and useful way, scratch it out.

4. Have Someone Read Your Piece

Woman in front of computer sitting at a table with a man looking at his phone

Another set of eyes is always helpful at this stage of the editing process. You want to make sure that your piece is easy to read, that there is a logical flow within your paragraphs, and that you’ve effectively communicated your message to your readers.

Usually, I’ll ask my dad to read my nonfiction pieces. He’s frank in his criticism, and he’ll tell me if there are vague paragraphs, confusing sentences, or others that wander without getting to a point.

For my fiction pieces, I’ll turn to my brother, Michael, or my fellow fiction writing friends. Since they write fiction too, they can tell me if one of my scenes isn’t working or point out if I’m guilty of info dumping.

Another benefit of having someone read your piece is that they can prevent you from falling into the trap of perfectionism and over-editing .

While you shouldn’t be concerned with editing grammar at this point, I do recommend running your piece through a grammar and spelling checker to catch any typos or other errors ( Grammarly is helpful for this). This is just a way to ensure that grammar errors don’t distract your volunteer editor.

If you don’t have a friend who can read your piece and give you feedback, I recommend putting your piece aside for at least a day. When you read a piece after a day has passed, you are usually able to examine it more objectively. This is a tip I learned from Neil Gaiman,

The best advice I can give on this is, once it’s done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes. When you’re ready, pick it up and read it, as if you’ve never read it before. If there are things you aren’t satisfied with as a reader, go in and fix them as a writer: that’s revision.

5. Edit for Grammar and Style

Red pen on top of edited essay

At this point, I’ve probably rewritten the piece several times. Now it’s time to evaluate the style of the piece, correct grammar and spelling errors, and strengthen the sentences and paragraphs.

Here are several things to look for:

  • Are there any long-winded sentences that you can shorten or divide into two sentences? Any long paragraphs that you can separate into multiple paragraphs?
  • Do you have any passive sentences? See here for how to spot passive voice.
  • Are you peppering your writing with cliched phrases? Use the cliche finder .
  • Any spelling or capitalization errors? Misplaced modifiers? Misuse of commas? Other punctuation errors?
  • If you’re writing a blog post, are there places where you can use contractions to make your writing sound more conversational?
  • Have you eliminated unnecessary adverbs? Are there any difficult words that you could replace with more commonly known ones?

William Zinsser notes,

…The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word that could be a short word, every adverb that carries the same meaning that’s already in the verb, every passive construction that leaves the reader unsure of who is doing what–these are the thousand and one adulterants that weaken the strength of a sentence.

You can use an application like Grammarly to help with this process, but it might not catch all errors. The Hemingway Editor is another useful tool to determine if you have sentences that are difficult to read (copy and paste your text onto the homepage to use the free version of the app).

And, remember, that you can always brush up on your grammar knowledge by reading a book like  The Elements of Style . I’m planning an upcoming post sharing several of my favorite books that teach how to write well.

6. Have Someone Read Your Piece Again

Computer on table with a document on the screen

Now I’m nearly ready to publish the piece. Since I’ve been reading the same lines over and over, my brain is usually exhausted at this point and will be less likely to notice typos. I try to find someone who will read my piece again to spot anything I might have missed.

Hopefully, your volunteer editor from step #4 is a really, really good friend and doesn’t mind reading your piece a second time. Or you might want to find a different person for a new set of eyes and fresh perspective. If you can’t find anyone to read your piece, however, I recommend printing it out and slowly reading it aloud during step #7.

7. Proofread One Last Time

Person in front of computer resting on a table

The finish line is finally within sight. It’s time to give the piece one last read through.

If you’re working on a blog post, check for these things:

  • Do all of your links work and open in new windows? Have you linked to other articles on your site?
  • Do you need to tweak your headline to make it stronger? Try out the headline analyzer here .
  • Have you properly attributed all of your quotes?
  • If you’re using photos, have you included alt tags?
  • Are your subheadings consistently capitalized?
  • Have you previewed your post to make sure there are no formatting errors?
  • Do you have a call to action at the end of the post that asks readers to comment, share, and subscribe?

If you have a WordPress blog, I highly recommend installing the Yoast SEO plugin as it will remind you to do many of these things. It also evaluates your post’s readability and points out passive sentences.

And, hurrah, we’re finished and ready to publish the piece!

The Takeaway (and a free PDF guide!)

Getting your words down on paper is only half the struggle of creating a story or a blog post. Imagine that writing is like planting a garden. Editing means pruning your bushes and pulling up the weeds in your flower beds. You can’t fully appreciate the beauty of the garden until after you’ve done lots of hard work.

As Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bernard Malamud once said,

…First drafts are for learning what one’s fiction [or nonfiction] wants him to say. Revision works with that knowledge to enlarge and enhance an idea, to re-form it. Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing.

Keep in mind, though, that you shouldn’t obsess so much over the editing process that it prevents you from sharing your writing with the world. See my post here about the dangers of over-editing.

Of course, some pieces of writing might take longer to edit depending on the subject matter you are tackling. But by following an editing process like this one you will become more efficient at editing your work.

I’ve turned this blog post into a PDF guide that you can follow the next time you need to edit a writing project. You can get it by subscribing to the email newsletter .

What’s your editing process like? Let me know in the comments.

And if you found this post helpful, please share it with a friend. You can use the picture below to share it on Pinterest.

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October 11, 2017 at 3:48 pm

This post is so helpful. Thank you! I second getting others to read your work more than once – especially someone that is the potential audience.

Kate Findley says

August 31, 2017 at 12:52 am

I definitely agree with having someone else read your piece. I’m an OCD editor but when it comes to subjective things like flow, clarity, and word choice, it really is good to get a second opinion. I’m lucky that my boyfriend is also a writer so we often edit each other’s pieces!

Nicole Bianchi says

September 2, 2017 at 6:30 pm

Hi, Kate! 🙂 Thanks for commenting. Ha, yes, I’m like you — very nitpicky when it comes to editing so usually I catch any grammatical errors before my volunteer editor reads the piece. That’s great that your boyfriend is a writer too!

Jessica Kromer says

August 30, 2017 at 1:50 pm

Thanks so much for sharing such inspiring and helpful content for writers and bloggers. I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award, and if you choose to accept you can see the details here: http://www.purposefulwriter.com/accepting-blogger-recognition-award-15-blog-nominees/ <3

August 30, 2017 at 7:05 pm

Hi, Jessica! Thanks so much. That’s so sweet of you. 🙂 I’m so happy to hear you find my blog inspiring and helpful. Thanks for the nomination!

Julie Borm says

August 28, 2017 at 11:16 am

Great post! I agree that setting a piece aside for a day can do wonders. Also, nothing replaces the value of a second eye, whether it be a friend, co-worker or family member!

August 28, 2017 at 12:44 pm

Hi, Julie! 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, it’s amazing how effective it is to just take a little break from your first draft. When you come back, you really are able to evaluate the piece more objectively.

joleisa says

August 28, 2017 at 10:48 am

Quite a ueful piece and I’m sure folk will find the PDF useful. Writing is a lovely process, isn’t it?

August 28, 2017 at 11:02 am

Thank you, Joleisa! 🙂 Yes, it certainly is a lovely process.

Lisa Wilton says

August 27, 2017 at 5:39 am

Love this post! This is more or less the method I try to use although I add in something more before the substantive edit (in fiction anyway). I separate out the different character arcs and see if they flow well and make sense within the plot. This also helps when I am looking for any plot holes.

Love your blog too and nice to meet you! 😀

August 27, 2017 at 7:59 pm

Thank you so much, Lisa! 🙂 That’s a great tip. I’m going to add that to my fiction writing process. Nice to meet you too!

michelle monet says

August 26, 2017 at 1:25 pm

Great useful advice Nicole. I will add it to my editing tools. I am honestly into the ‘first shitty draft’ stages which I am enjoying. Soon I know I will have to buckle down and get serious about editing eh?haha I’m glad I have a few good editor friends willing to help me.

August 26, 2017 at 2:12 pm

Hi, Michelle! Thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad you found the post helpful. 🙂 All the best with editing your first draft!! Good editor friends are definitely invaluable.

Lateefah says

August 25, 2017 at 7:31 pm

Great article!! I must say this is a refresher to my usual techniques which I think is amazing. Thanks much!

August 26, 2017 at 2:05 pm

Thank you, Lateefah! 🙂 Glad to hear that.

Krystal Mercer McLellan says

August 25, 2017 at 11:08 am

Lovely post! I tend to want to edit as I am writing my first draft, and it really hinders my progress. I try to suppress that urge, but old habits die hard. Also, I love the advice to try and strip a sentence to its cleanest form. My 8th grade English teacher once asked me to define “mere”, and that’s when I first understood there are such things as meaningless filler words. Thanks for writing Nicole!

August 25, 2017 at 12:51 pm

Thank you for your comment, Krystal! Yes, I too have to restrain myself from editing while writing that first draft. I often find it’s best to just jump to the next paragraph when I catch myself rewriting a passage over and over. Thanks for sharing that story about your English teacher. I had a professor in college who would always write “more specificity please” next to paragraphs in our essays. It really forced me and my fellow students to dig deeper and eliminate all of the vague phrases and meaningless words.

August 25, 2017 at 1:37 pm

Thank goodness for teachers. Where would we be today without them?? I’ll try skipping ahead next time I find myself struggling with the urge to edit as I go. Also bookmarking this post for future reference. Thanks so much again!

August 26, 2017 at 2:08 pm

Definitely agree about teachers. 😉 And, yes, I found skipping ahead helps a lot. I often don’t work on my paragraphs in chronological order. For example, I’ll jump to the body paragraphs before finishing up the introduction.

Colleen Golafshan says

August 24, 2017 at 10:55 pm

Thanks, Nicole! I’ve added this post to my editing resources! 🙂

August 25, 2017 at 10:17 am

So happy to hear you found it helpful, Colleen! 🙂

John DiCarlo says

August 24, 2017 at 10:29 pm

So much value in this post! Many thanks Nicole. And each of your quotes manages to offer something extra. Your post is the first thing I have read this morning (I am writing this from Thailand), and WOW has it given me a lift! I am currently rewriting a pivotal scene in a short novel I am revising. One of the things I love most about the editing process is that sidden epiphany when you realize what a lazy so-and-so you were when drafting the original. Also puts me in mind of an interview with Orson Welles I saw as a boy. When asked where he was happiest, he replied without hesitation, “The cutting room.” Now I understand it! Sorry to ramble on, but your post really i spired me. Please keep it up. And have a great day!

August 25, 2017 at 10:22 am

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to comment, John! I am so glad to hear you found the post helpful and inspiring. Love that quote from Orson Welles. Thanks for sharing. I was reading William Zinsser’s book “On Writing Well” while writing this blog post (that’s why several quotes by him slipped in here), and I think you would enjoy it if you haven’t read it already. It really makes you get excited about the editing process.

Cynthia Pereira says

August 23, 2017 at 3:05 am

Hi Nicole, not sure if you got my DM a few days ago on Instagram. I’m visiting NY soon, let me know if you’d like to meet up. Cynthia.❤️

August 23, 2017 at 2:31 pm

Hi, Cynthia! Thanks for letting me know. I took a little break from Instagram to write this post & work on several other writing projects. 🙂 I’ll check Instagram tonight for your message.

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[…] Editing your own work can be intimidating. Where do you start? In our last post we began sharing some excerpts of Nicole Bianchi’s post, How to Edit Your Writing: An Effective 7-Step Process. […]

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Editing and Proofreading

What this handout is about.

This handout provides some tips and strategies for revising your writing. To give you a chance to practice proofreading, we have left seven errors (three spelling errors, two punctuation errors, and two grammatical errors) in the text of this handout. See if you can spot them!

Is editing the same thing as proofreading?

Not exactly. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, editing and proofreading are two different stages of the revision process. Both demand close and careful reading, but they focus on different aspects of the writing and employ different techniques.

Some tips that apply to both editing and proofreading

  • Get some distance from the text! It’s hard to edit or proofread a paper that you’ve just finished writing—it’s still to familiar, and you tend to skip over a lot of errors. Put the paper aside for a few hours, days, or weeks. Go for a run. Take a trip to the beach. Clear your head of what you’ve written so you can take a fresh look at the paper and see what is really on the page. Better yet, give the paper to a friend—you can’t get much more distance than that. Someone who is reading the paper for the first time, comes to it with completely fresh eyes.
  • Decide which medium lets you proofread most carefully. Some people like to work right at the computer, while others like to sit back with a printed copy that they can mark up as they read.
  • Try changing the look of your document. Altering the size, spacing, color, or style of the text may trick your brain into thinking it’s seeing an unfamiliar document, and that can help you get a different perspective on what you’ve written.
  • Find a quiet place to work. Don’t try to do your proofreading in front of the TV or while you’re chugging away on the treadmill. Find a place where you can concentrate and avoid distractions.
  • If possible, do your editing and proofreading in several short blocks of time. Your concentration may start to wane if you try to proofread the entire text at one time.
  • If you’re short on time, you may wish to prioritize. Make sure that you complete the most important editing and proofreading tasks.

Editing is what you begin doing as soon as you finish your first draft. You reread your draft to see, for example, whether the paper is well-organized, the transitions between paragraphs are smooth, and your evidence really backs up your argument. You can edit on several levels:

Have you done everything the assignment requires? Are the claims you make accurate? If it is required to do so, does your paper make an argument? Is the argument complete? Are all of your claims consistent? Have you supported each point with adequate evidence? Is all of the information in your paper relevant to the assignment and/or your overall writing goal? (For additional tips, see our handouts on understanding assignments and developing an argument .)

Overall structure

Does your paper have an appropriate introduction and conclusion? Is your thesis clearly stated in your introduction? Is it clear how each paragraph in the body of your paper is related to your thesis? Are the paragraphs arranged in a logical sequence? Have you made clear transitions between paragraphs? One way to check the structure of your paper is to make a reverse outline of the paper after you have written the first draft. (See our handouts on introductions , conclusions , thesis statements , and transitions .)

Structure within paragraphs

Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence? Does each paragraph stick to one main idea? Are there any extraneous or missing sentences in any of your paragraphs? (See our handout on paragraph development .)

Have you defined any important terms that might be unclear to your reader? Is the meaning of each sentence clear? (One way to answer this question is to read your paper one sentence at a time, starting at the end and working backwards so that you will not unconsciously fill in content from previous sentences.) Is it clear what each pronoun (he, she, it, they, which, who, this, etc.) refers to? Have you chosen the proper words to express your ideas? Avoid using words you find in the thesaurus that aren’t part of your normal vocabulary; you may misuse them.

Have you used an appropriate tone (formal, informal, persuasive, etc.)? Is your use of gendered language (masculine and feminine pronouns like “he” or “she,” words like “fireman” that contain “man,” and words that some people incorrectly assume apply to only one gender—for example, some people assume “nurse” must refer to a woman) appropriate? Have you varied the length and structure of your sentences? Do you tends to use the passive voice too often? Does your writing contain a lot of unnecessary phrases like “there is,” “there are,” “due to the fact that,” etc.? Do you repeat a strong word (for example, a vivid main verb) unnecessarily? (For tips, see our handouts on style and gender-inclusive language .)

Have you appropriately cited quotes, paraphrases, and ideas you got from sources? Are your citations in the correct format? (See the UNC Libraries citation tutorial for more information.)

As you edit at all of these levels, you will usually make significant revisions to the content and wording of your paper. Keep an eye out for patterns of error; knowing what kinds of problems you tend to have will be helpful, especially if you are editing a large document like a thesis or dissertation. Once you have identified a pattern, you can develop techniques for spotting and correcting future instances of that pattern. For example, if you notice that you often discuss several distinct topics in each paragraph, you can go through your paper and underline the key words in each paragraph, then break the paragraphs up so that each one focuses on just one main idea.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation. You should proofread only after you have finished all of your other editing revisions.

Why proofread? It’s the content that really matters, right?

Content is important. But like it or not, the way a paper looks affects the way others judge it. When you’ve worked hard to develop and present your ideas, you don’t want careless errors distracting your reader from what you have to say. It’s worth paying attention to the details that help you to make a good impression.

Most people devote only a few minutes to proofreading, hoping to catch any glaring errors that jump out from the page. But a quick and cursory reading, especially after you’ve been working long and hard on a paper, usually misses a lot. It’s better to work with a definite plan that helps you to search systematically for specific kinds of errors.

Sure, this takes a little extra time, but it pays off in the end. If you know that you have an effective way to catch errors when the paper is almost finished, you can worry less about editing while you are writing your first drafts. This makes the entire writing proccess more efficient.

Try to keep the editing and proofreading processes separate. When you are editing an early draft, you don’t want to be bothered with thinking about punctuation, grammar, and spelling. If your worrying about the spelling of a word or the placement of a comma, you’re not focusing on the more important task of developing and connecting ideas.

The proofreading process

You probably already use some of the strategies discussed below. Experiment with different tactics until you find a system that works well for you. The important thing is to make the process systematic and focused so that you catch as many errors as possible in the least amount of time.

  • Don’t rely entirely on spelling checkers. These can be useful tools but they are far from foolproof. Spell checkers have a limited dictionary, so some words that show up as misspelled may really just not be in their memory. In addition, spell checkers will not catch misspellings that form another valid word. For example, if you type “your” instead of “you’re,” “to” instead of “too,” or “there” instead of “their,” the spell checker won’t catch the error.
  • Grammar checkers can be even more problematic. These programs work with a limited number of rules, so they can’t identify every error and often make mistakes. They also fail to give thorough explanations to help you understand why a sentence should be revised. You may want to use a grammar checker to help you identify potential run-on sentences or too-frequent use of the passive voice, but you need to be able to evaluate the feedback it provides.
  • Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. If you try to identify and revise too many things at once, you risk losing focus, and your proofreading will be less effective. It’s easier to catch grammar errors if you aren’t checking punctuation and spelling at the same time. In addition, some of the techniques that work well for spotting one kind of mistake won’t catch others.
  • Read slow, and read every word. Try reading out loud , which forces you to say each word and also lets you hear how the words sound together. When you read silently or too quickly, you may skip over errors or make unconscious corrections.
  • Separate the text into individual sentences. This is another technique to help you to read every sentence carefully. Simply press the return key after every period so that every line begins a new sentence. Then read each sentence separately, looking for grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. If you’re working with a printed copy, try using an opaque object like a ruler or a piece of paper to isolate the line you’re working on.
  • Circle every punctuation mark. This forces you to look at each one. As you circle, ask yourself if the punctuation is correct.
  • Read the paper backwards. This technique is helpful for checking spelling. Start with the last word on the last page and work your way back to the beginning, reading each word separately. Because content, punctuation, and grammar won’t make any sense, your focus will be entirely on the spelling of each word. You can also read backwards sentence by sentence to check grammar; this will help you avoid becoming distracted by content issues.
  • Proofreading is a learning process. You’re not just looking for errors that you recognize; you’re also learning to recognize and correct new errors. This is where handbooks and dictionaries come in. Keep the ones you find helpful close at hand as you proofread.
  • Ignorance may be bliss, but it won’t make you a better proofreader. You’ll often find things that don’t seem quite right to you, but you may not be quite sure what’s wrong either. A word looks like it might be misspelled, but the spell checker didn’t catch it. You think you need a comma between two words, but you’re not sure why. Should you use “that” instead of “which”? If you’re not sure about something, look it up.
  • The proofreading process becomes more efficient as you develop and practice a systematic strategy. You’ll learn to identify the specific areas of your own writing that need careful attention, and knowing that you have a sound method for finding errors will help you to focus more on developing your ideas while you are drafting the paper.

Think you’ve got it?

Then give it a try, if you haven’t already! This handout contains seven errors our proofreader should have caught: three spelling errors, two punctuation errors, and two grammatical errors. Try to find them, and then check a version of this page with the errors marked in red to see if you’re a proofreading star.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Especially for non-native speakers of English:

Ascher, Allen. 2006. Think About Editing: An ESL Guide for the Harbrace Handbooks . Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Lane, Janet, and Ellen Lange. 2012. Writing Clearly: Grammar for Editing , 3rd ed. Boston: Heinle.

For everyone:

Einsohn, Amy. 2011. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications , 3rd ed. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Lanham, Richard A. 2006. Revising Prose , 5th ed. New York: Pearson Longman.

Tarshis, Barry. 1998. How to Be Your Own Best Editor: The Toolkit for Everyone Who Writes . New York: Three Rivers Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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  • Editing Techniques
  • Post-Production

What is Film Editing — Editing Principles & Techniques Explained

  • What is Film Editing
  • What Does a Film Editor Do
  • How Does an Editor Control the Rhythm of a Film
  • How to Become a Film Editor
  • What is In Camera Editing
  • What is Screen Direction in Film
  • What is a Rough Cut in Film
  • What is Continuity Editing in Film
  • What is Intercutting in Film
  • What is Stock Footage
  • What is Video Bitrate
  • What is Proxy Video
  • What is Letterboxing in Film
  • Types of Editing Transitions
  • What is a Wipe Transition in Film
  • What is a Dissolve in Film
  • What is a Fade Transition
  • What is a Lap Dissolve
  • What is a Sound Bridge in Film
  • What is Superimposition
  • What is a Film Cut
  • Shot Reverse Shot
  • What is a J-Cut in Film
  • What is an L Cut in Film
  • What is a Jump Cut
  • What is a Match Cut
  • What is a Smash Cut
  • What is an Eyeline Match
  • What is Cross Cutting and Parallel Editing in Film
  • What is Parallel Editing in Film
  • What is a Freeze Frame
  • What is a Cutaway Shot
  • Split Screen Film Examples
  • Best Colleges for Film Editing
  • Best Laptops for Video Editing
  • Best Video Editing Apps
  • Free Video Transitions
  • Best Lower Third Templates
  • Free Sound Effects for Video Editing
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S cene transitions, sudden sounds, quick cuts, off-screen voices, and narrative flow are just among the many terms associated with the “invisible art” known as film editing. Originally seen as a technical tool in the movie making process, film editing quickly evolved to become one of the most important creative aspects of filmmaking. But as its affectionate nickname implies, not everyone knows much about film editing or how it works. So what is film editing, what does a film editor do, where did it come from, and why is it so important?

Watch: Editing Techniques & Principles Explained

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Editing Definition FIlm

First, let's define editing in film.

While the basic definition of film editing is straightforward, there is still a lot that goes into it. But to understand everything else involved in editing, such as the editors themselves and how they collaborate with others, you must understand the basic core answer to “what is film editing?”

FILM EDITING DEFINITION

What is film editing.

Film editing is the art and craft of cutting and assembling finished film. This work is done by a film editor who helps complete the director's vision of the movie. The creative choices of an editor are usually a combination of what they think is best for the film and what the director (and producers) want for the finished project. Mostly done during post-production, aspects of film editing can involve physical strips of celluloid film, digital files, or both.

What does a film editor do:

  • Cuts, splices, (re)arranges raw footage to create shots, scenes, and more.
  • Makes choices that affect the film’s pace, atmosphere, narrative, music, etc.
  • Works with the director and producers to make a final cut.

Editing Definition: Film History

All about film editing.

In the beginning of film, there was no editing. It was a single shot, taken from a single static camera. The fascination with a "moving image" was enough and using the medium to tell fictional stories was still a few years away. Even then, film editing simply involved cutting from one scene to the next. 

Today there are many editing techniques that have evolved over the years to create new forms of film language. As you saw in the video above, these techniques are simple to execute but can have profound effects in visual storytelling and how the audience receives information. 

Below you'll find a collection of these techniques assembled using StudioBinder's storyboard creator . Click the image to download the boards for future reference when editing your next project.

What is Film Editing Various Movies StudioBinder Shot Listing Software

Ultimate Guide to Editing Techniques  •   Download Storyboard

In the old days, it was only when the power of cinematic editing could do to support the storytelling that film editing became a valued process. Let's look back at those early days to see where and how the purpose of editing in film really bloomed.

How It Began

The history of film editing isn’t too fancy, but it does have an early evolution that helped bring it to where it is now. In the early cinema days of the 1890s, the purpose of editing in film was simply a matter of putting frames together to create scenes (back when movies were shorter than 5 or 10 minutes).

During this brief era, very few movies used what would be called “continuity editing,” which meant having continuous scenes strung together seamlessly. Famed French filmmaker Georges Méliès was also experimenting with editing as a visual effect during this time.

With the 1900s, narrative features, like The Great Train Robbery , proved that editing could create the cinematic illusion of time and space. With the power of editing, you could make it look as though a group of robbers have boarded a train and are on the run. So not only can you “trick” the audience into believing what’s happening on-screen, but you create a true narrative, too.

What is film editing history?  •  Editing definition film

Pretty soon after, more filmmakers experimented with the principles of film editing, with some aiming to prove powerful points with it. The Soviet Montage movement emerged in the 1910s and ‘20s, with filmmaker Lev Kuleshov pioneering his famous Kuleshov Experiment .

It involved juxtaposing footage of a man with a bowl of soup, a child in a coffin, and an alluring woman; it would show his unchanging face and cut to one of the three. The idea was, with the power of editing, you could make the audience believe the man had certain feelings towards any one of these scenes.

The Process

Editing film used to literally be a cut-and-paste process, involving splicing and glue by hand. Splicing was the way film editors made their edits, working with copies of negatives and creating workprints. Later on came what were known as “flatbed” machines that made cutting up and splicing film strips much easier, quicker, and precise.

Decades later, digital film editing technology helped make the editing process easier than ever, removing the need to touch the film at all. Once processed, the digitized film strip would be made into a file that the editor (and their assistants) could digitally touch at will on their computers.

Known as non-linear digital editing, this is the way virtually everyone edits their movies today. And if they’re shooting digitally, then that’s one less step they have to take.

What is film editing through the years?

Whether with a splicing machine or a computer, editors still have to compile their “editor’s cut” of a movie. These are often the vision of the film as seen and looked over exclusively by the editor, along with possible notes and such from the director. Later, the director and editor will work more closely together to make a “director’s cut.” This is then followed by a “producer’s cut” or “final cut,” which will include the producer’s input. It’s this “final cut” that, in theory, goes out as the final film.

The Role of Women

Throughout the years, the role of editor has very frequently gone to women. While it has always been difficult for women to break into the role of a director or producer, being an editor was a job women had an easier time getting. This is because, at first, editing was not seen as a “creative” position; rather, it was seen as a “technical” job.

After all, was the purpose of editing in film not simply to put together the scenes compiled by the filmmaker? As a result, there has always been a sizable number of women editors. While appearing to be limiting, they proved that the role of editor can be equally as creative and important to the overall creation of a motion picture.

Related Posts

  • What is a Rough Cut? →
  • Best Video Editing Phone Apps →
  • Guide to Film Editing Techniques →

Types of Film Editing

Editing techniques in film.

All those years of editing and playing around with what you can do with it lead to many film editing techniques we use today. Some of these film editing examples are extremely common while others are used less often.

Continuity Editing

One of the earliest forms of editing, this technique simply ensures that things remain the same from shot to shot. If a person is in the middle of drinking from a cup in one shot, and they’re in the very next shot, they should still be drinking from it, or at least be holding onto it.

Editing techniques in film  •  Jacksfilms meta example

If there’s ever a goof in the continuity, that’s famously known as a continuity error. These are probably among the biggest mistakes that audience members will notice during the course of a movie. Even though it can be fun to point out, it can also take an audience out of a movie if it’s too noticeable or jarring. Thus, keeping continuity is one of the big principles of film editing.

Cross Cutting

Types of film editing  •  cross cutting 

Cross cutting is an editing technique that involves showing two or more separate actions by cutting back to them one at a time. This can create the illusion of them happening all at once, or have the scenes serve as parallels of one another (regardless of when each respective scene is happening).

Editing techniques in film  •  Cutaway shot examples 

A cutaway shot is an abrupt cut from one thing to another. As the name might imply, it is meant to cut away from one thing to bring attention to another. This editing technique can be used for virtually any purpose, from a horror scare to a comedic punchline. In many cases, it is used to provide irony to a scene or to unsettle the audience in some way.

Types of film editing  •  The dissolve

One of the most common editing techniques is the dissolve, which has been in use for an extremely long time. It can be described as having the visuals of one scene overlapping with the visuals of the incoming one. It can be used for various purposes, such as if you want the audience to ruminate on what just happened in one scene before entering the new one. It can also be used for creating parallels or comparisons between the coming and going scenes, or if you want to allude to the passing of time.

Fades are fairly similar to dissolves, but they serve a much different purpose. With a fade, either to white or (most often) black, a scene comes to an end. Unlike a traditional cut, a fade slowly ends a scene definitively. Fades, like dissolves, were very common in the early days of talkies and the pre-Code era of the 1920s and ‘30s, as well as post-Code Hollywood. These days, they’re a little less common, but still used in all genres.

J & L Cut

Editing techniques in film  •  J and L Cut

Cut from the same thread, a J and L cut use sound and imagery to capture the attention of the audience. A J cut is when audio from the next scene infiltrates the current scene before we get to see where the sound is coming from. An L cut is sort of the reverse; the sound from a preceding scene is still with us as we enter the next scene. It is often used in conversation scenes to keep things interesting and less stilted.

Editing types in film  •  Jump cut examples

Popularized during the French New Wave , a jump cut is when there is no continuity between shots. They call them jump cuts because the shots seem to jump ahead in time during the same shot. This editing technique was mainly created to simply cut time off from a movie by eliminating needless seconds in a scene. However, it would soon become influential in the French New Wave scene and beyond.

Cinematic editing  •  Match cuts  •   Subscribe on YouTube

One of the more famous and popular editing techniques out there is the match cut. This is when a new scene carries over elements from the preceding scene. So if you have a scene of a donut in one shot, the very next scene could be of a bagel; same shape, different object. It could also be of a city skyline in the day, immediately cutting to that same skyline at night.

Montage is an interesting editing technique because it can mean different things depending on the context.

Editing types in film  •  Montage example

The most common understanding of a montage in film is when a movie puts together a series of shots and moments together into one scene. It’s pretty common in sports films where an athlete or team is training or preparing. Montages are also implied (or outright stated) to take place over a course of time; this makes the montage a compressed presentation of this time passing.

What is the basic building block of film editing?  •  Soviet montage theory

The other montage would be known as Soviet Montage (or Soviet montage theory), which came about during the 1920s. It exists primarily as a theory that encompasses many aspects related to filmmaking, audience expectations, and experience.

Shot/Reverse Shot

Cinematic editing   •   Subscribe on YouTube

It’s one of the most common editing techniques: shot/reverse shot. If there’s one editing technique (outside of a “cut”) that’s in almost anything, it’s this. Two people talking will almost always feature a shot/reverse shot, with a little bit of the 180 degree rule thrown in for balance. Two or more people don’t even have to be talking, as this technique can also be used to showcase reactions from one or more parties.

  • Understanding Depth of Field →
  • How the Film "1917" Was Made →
  • Learn Editing Techniques from Star Wars →

Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing

Now that we’ve gone over “what is film editing”, what does a film editor do, and film editing terms, take a look at the audio focused side of post-production. We cover sound editing, tips, and examples, along with what differentiates from sound mixing.

Up Next: Sound Editing and Mixing →

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A Guide to the Proofreading and Editing Process

Proofreading and editing are two important parts of the revision process, and they are both essential for written documents that will be published or presented to the public. However, they produce different results depending on the type of document, and writers should be aware of what each step entails so that they can make the right choice when it comes to perfecting their work.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Proofreading vs Editing
  • 2. Editing and Proofreading Examples
  • 3. Stages of Editing and Proofreading
  • 4. Editing Tips and Guidelines
  • 5. Proofreading Checklist
  • 6. Online Editing and Proofreading Services
  • 7. Frequently Asked Questions About Editing and Proofreading

Proofreading vs Editing

Most texts are both edited and proofread after the draft is completed. These texts include essays, research papers, journal manuscripts, and other works for publication or submission. Both editing and proofreading demand careful attention, but each focuses on different aspects of the writing.

What is proofreading?

Proofreading means checking for and fixing objective errors in a text. This includes identifying and correcting the following:

  • Grammar mistakes and mechanics issues
  • Spelling errors and typos
  • Incorrect punctuation
  • Formatting and writing inconsistencies

Before a work is published, proofreaders check a “proof copy” (a printed version of the text) and note errors using standard proofreading marks. Nowadays, most professional proofreaders review digital texts using MS Word’s “track changes” feature or Google Docs’ “editing” mode.

When to proofread

Proofreading is usually the final step of the revision process and is done after editing has been completed. After all errors, formatting issues, and inconsistencies have been corrected, the work is considered complete and ready for publication.

What is editing?

Editing means improving the quality of writing in terms of style, vocabulary, readability, and natural phrasing or “flow.” Editing typically identifies and corrects the following:

  • Wordiness (using too many unnecessary words)
  • Incorrect or inappropriate terms and expressions
  • Repetition and redundancy
  • Unacademic and awkward terms
  • Incorrect formatting of citations and references

After receiving editing (which can include language editing, copy-editing, and line editing), your expressions and terminology should be more precise, your language less repetitive and awkward, and the overall quality of your writing better.

When to edit

Language editing is usually done after the first draft of a document is finished. After reviewing the work to ensure proper content and organization, authors should edit to improve the language and clarity of their ideas and arguments. This increases the writing’s impact on the reader.

Editing and proofreading can be completed in two separate stages or simultaneously. The revision order depends on the type of work being revised (research paper, essay, cover letter, etc.) and whether the author is self-editing or receiving help from a peer or professional editor.

Basic editing can be done by the author or an experienced peer. However, language editing and proofreading are often done simultaneously by a professional editor with subject expertise and a deep understanding of style conventions and English language rules.

Editing Example

In the editing sample below, the editor has improved readability and elevated the language by changing vocabulary terms, rephrasing sentences, and modifying the transitions.

Proofreading Example

In the proofreading sample below, the proofreader has limited their revisions to objective errors: focusing on correcting grammatical, spelling, and mechanical errors. As you can see, potential issues with style, vocabulary, and expression have not been addressed.

The Stages of Editing and Proofreading a Paper

Do i need both editing and proofreading.

Not all texts require both language editing and proofreading. The type of revision your work needs depends on your writing quality, the type of document, and where you are submitting the work.

Whoever edits your work should:

  • Be an “expert” or possess a “professional” level of written English
  • Have a deep, technical understanding of English
  • Have a native-level knowledge of vocabulary terms, phrasing, and expressions
  • Be capable of catching all grammatical, mechanical, and stylistic errors

For these documents, both language editing and proofreading are strongly recommended

  • Texts written by ESL authors ( Academic Editing Services )
  • Scientific journal manuscripts , books , or other long texts ( Paper Editing Services )

For these authors, language editing would be helpful (but perhaps not essential)

  • Academic authors submitting an academic manuscript for publication ( Manuscript Editing Services )
  • Businesses and professionals ( Business Editing Services ; Document Editing Services )

For these authors, proofreading alone is likely sufficient

  • Students, researchers, and other authors with strong writing and editing skills. ( Assignment Editing Services )
  • Fiction and non-fiction writers who have already received editing ( Editing Services for Writers )
  • Bloggers and script-writers ( Blog Editing Services ; Script Editing Services )

Ready to get professional editing and proofreading?

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How much does editing and proofreading cost?

Companies vary in how they calculate editing and proofreading rates: by the hour, by the page, by the individual word, or by bulk numbers of words (one price for 1 to 1,000 words; another price for 1,001 to 3,000 words, etc.).

Authors should receive price quotations from several companies and compare to see whose rates are most affordable for the quality. Some companies require a document to be submitted before offering a price estimate.

Proofreading and editing rates per hour

Per-hour editing rates are usually charged by independent freelance editors and can range from $10 to $100 an hour, depending on the editor’s experience and level of subject expertise.

Editors cannot predict exactly how long it will take to edit or proofread a document; therefore, authors may not know the full price of proofreading or editing until after the revision has been completed. Cost, speed, and quality should all be considered when choosing hourly editing rates.

Proofreading and editing rates per word

Professional proofreading and editing services charge per-word rates ranging from $0.01 (one cent) to $0.10 (ten cents) for “standard” revision, which can include basic style editing or simply proofreading or copy-editing.

Application Essay Editing Services

How long does editing and proofreading take.

Authors should leave enough time for editing and proofreading between drafting and publication. However, for papers or essays with a hard deadline, be sure to find an editing service that can deliver revised files on time.

Most online editing services offer several different turnaround times, but a minimum of 24 hours is recommended for proofreading. For longer documents or documents that may require more extensive revision, it is best to allow for at least 48 hours. Additionally, a longer turnaround time is typically associated with a lower editing price.

Wordvice calculates editing rates based on three factors: document type, word count, and turnaround time. For example, editing for a 1,000-word research paper would range in price from around $.05 per word ($46) for a turnaround of 96 hours to $0.08 cents per word ($80) for a turnaround of 24 hours.

Admissions essay editing for documents such as SOPs or letters of recommendation is priced at $0.04 per word ($40) for a turnaround of 96 hours and $0.09 per word ($90) for a turnaround of 24 hours. Lower rates are available for longer turnaround times, but longer turnarounds are only available for documents with higher word counts (minimum 4,000 words for a 7-day turnaround).

Wordvice offers similar pricing for business editing and book editing. Prices are determined by built-in rates that factor in the amount of time and attention different document types require.

Editing Tips and Guidelines

Basic proofreading and editing skills are essential for anyone who writes. For more basic texts such as college and university essays, blogs, and personal writing, there are some techniques you can use to revise effectively before sharing your work with others.

Take a break from the text before editing

When you write, read, and review the same text for hours or days, it becomes much harder to catch errors. Before proofreading and editing, set your work aside for a day or two so that you can come back to it with a fresh perspective.

Edit your writing before proofreading

Before proofreading your work for grammatical and mechanical errors, thoroughly revise your work for style, vocabulary, and clarity. Fixing minor errors will be the final stage in the revision process, so only proofread once you have completed a draft that you are satisfied with.

Make an editing checklist

Before you begin editing your work, create a list of the exact issues you plan to address so you don’t overlook your editing objectives.

Here are some examples of the issues you might want to focus on:

  • Substitute incorrect or non- academic terminology and vocabulary.
  • Rephrase unnatural phrases, expressions, and sentences.
  • Revise transition terms and phrases to better tie your paragraphs together.
  • Enhance flow and readability by removing unnecessary and repetitive terms.
  • Vary the structure and length of your sentences.
  • Apply active and passive voice correctly.

Use proofreading tools and editing software

Use proofreading tools and editing software

While many research authors use special typesetting systems such as LaTeX, the most widely used word processing program is MS Word. Using Word’s “track changes” function, you can view the precise changes made to a document.

If you have repeatedly misspelled certain words, misapplied capitalization or formatting, or even used UK English when you meant to use US (or vice versa), you can use the Find and Replace function to fix instances of the same mistake.

Once you have finished editing your work using “track changes,” toggle between “Simple Markup” and “All Markup” to view the finalized revision or individual alterations, respectively. Carefully review the revised text before accepting any changes.

Learn from your mistakes to improve your writing

Pay close attention to the specific writing and punctuation errors you tend to make. Understanding what mistakes you repeatedly make can help you understand how to avoid them and improve your writing skills.

Proofreading Checklist: Common Errors in Grammar, Punctuation, and Mechanics

Knowing which errors to look for is challenging. Typos and spelling errors are easy to spot, but mistakes in grammar and punctuation can be more difficult to catch. The table below presents some of the most common objective errors to watch out for when proofreading.

How can you check the quality of an editing service?

Editing quality varies greatly between services, and all authors should do their homework before choosing one to revise their document. Here are a few criteria to assess the quality of an editing company:

A proven record of professional editing and proofreading

Has the service been around for a few years? The length of time an editing company has been in operation can be an important indicator of its quality and trustworthiness.

Highly qualified editors

Does the company have well-qualified editors from a range of academic and scientific backgrounds? Many online editing services display editor profiles on their website.

Client review ratings

Does the service have independent third-party reviews? (e.g., Trustpilot and Google Star Ratings). A good service will often display client reviews and testimonials on their site.

Client review ratings

Affordable rates

Does the service charge a per-word rate rather than an hourly or bulk-word rate? For the most affordable proofreading services, choose a company that charges by the word.

Convenient ordering process

Does the service offer an instant price quote for editing and proofreading based on factors such as word count and delivery time?

A range of delivery times

Does the service offer different turnaround times? Can they provide express delivery (24 hours or less) for urgent documents and multiple-day delivery for longer documents?

Security and confidentiality

Privacy is crucial when choosing any online service. Does the editing service use data encryption and 2-step verification? Do their editors sign non-disclosure agreements to keep submitted documents confidential?

Great customer support

Does the service offer a quality or satisfaction guarantee? Are they available to answer questions or concerns about your order 24/7? Choose an editing service that provides contact information on its website and makes itself available to answer questions about its services.

Recommended Editing Service

Wordvice provides English proofreading and editing for a wide range of documents, including journal manuscripts, academic and research papers, college and graduate admissions essays, theses, dissertations, research proposals, and business and corporate documents.

Our standard academic editing , which includes both proofreading and language editing, begins at a rate of $0.04 per word. We offer turnaround times ranging from from 24 hours to 7 days, with 9- and 13-hour express turnaround times also available. Our standard admissions essay proofreading and editing begins at $0.02 per word with similar turnaround times.

Wordvice has an average client review rating of 4.9 on Google Star Ratings and 4.5 on Trustpilot .

Use our citation generator for APA, MLA, Chicago, and Vancouver styles to ensure accurate reference and formatting styles.

Regardless of the turnaround time, document type, or total word count of your document, Wordvice guarantees professional editing by an editor with expertise in the subject area or topic of your work. In fact, we guarantee 100% language accuracy and will work to revise your document until we have met your expectations. Visit our Pricing page to receive an instant price quotation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Editing and Proofreading

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12 Strategies for Teaching Students to Edit

  • Heather Wagoner
  • January 28, 2021
  • No Comments

Let’s be real. Editing can be exhausting. So why do it? We do it to improve our writing craft in a way that takes our writing from “eh” to “oh, yeah”. I always think back to the example with missing commas. There is a huge difference between “Let’s eat kids!” and “Let’s eat, kids!” (Use this example if you are teaching commas. It always gets laughs from my students.)

editing his work

When it comes to teaching students how to edit, it can become a challenging task filled with hesitation, irritation, and frustration. And I’m not just referring to your feelings as an educator. Keep reading for 12 strategies for teaching your students to edit! #6 is a favorite of mine. ?

Oh, one more thing, can you find the 5 spelling errors in this blog post? Happy editing!

Strategy #1 — Walk the Runway and…MODEL

Obviously, I don’t mean a literal model, but one of the best ways to show students how to edit is to do it yourself. Grab an Expo marker and let them watch you write. Make mistakes on purpose and then go back and correct the mistakes. We all have those students who jump at the chance to tell you that you’ve made some mistakes. GOOD! Let them. Use that to show how to correct spelling or punctuation errors. Talk through your thoughts out loud, it helps them to get into that editing mindset.

#2 — Bust out the Highlighters

This may seem silly but trust me, kids love highlighting. Give them a highlighter and tell them to go to work highlighting their punctuation or have them highlight words they struggled to spell. Something as simple as changing the tool can make it exciting! Fair warning…this may lead to dried-out highlighters so make sure you teach them how to listen for the “click” when they’re finished. ?

Strategy #3 — Use C.O.P.S. to Edit

C apitalization. O rganization. P unctuation. S pelling. Whenever I began an editing unit, I would bring out my students’ recent writing pieces and tell them we were “using the cops”. You could hear a pin drop. I would choose a random sentence from one of the papers, copy it big on the whiteboard (not revealing whose it was), and write out C.O.P.S above it in big letters. Next, I would introduce the acronym and show them how to check for capitalization, organization, punctuation, and speling. They were relieved to find out Mrs. Wagoner wasn’t really calling the cops on their papers.

From then on, whenever we had a sentence example on the board, we called the C.O.P.S and edited the sentence as a group. Now the O in C.O.P.S can get a little confusing, but I described it like this: “Is your writing neat?” “Do you have spacing between words?” I was not blessed with beautiful teacher handwriting so my students LOVED correcting my organization. There are many cute anchor chart ideas on Pinterest too for this, it’s always great to add in a visual reminder.

editing his work

#4 — Leave Room

If you want your students to get in the habit of editing, instruct them to leave space in their writing. Show them how to skip lines as they write. This way, when they go back to correct spelling or correct capital letters, they have room to rewrite the word(s). Many of my students despised editing because they didn’t want to “mess up” what they considered to be a perfect writing piece. When you have them leave the space by skipping lines, it leaves a clean area for them to make corrections. 

#5 — Don’t Do It

…right away. Why do students feel the need to rush into editing? Are we rushing it for them? Even while writing this blog post, I’ve stepped away multiple times and come back to it with fresh eyes. A quick tip is to set a timer. If you’re having them write during whole group, tell them they have _____ minutes to write. (Make sure it’s an odd amount like 5 min and 42 seconds. Trust me. The majority will write the entire time and beg for more.) This puts the focus on the content first. When the time is up, colect the papers and come back to it the following day. You don’t have to rush the editing part. Let them write first and learn to enjoy telling the story.

Strategy #6 — Revise Eyes 

editing his work

Another trick is to pull out the “revise eyes.” Print out some crazy googly eye images. Cut them out, laminate if you wish, and glue them to the top of a popsicle stick. If you don’t have popsicle sticks, use pencils. It’s that simple. Now , when you’re wanting students to read for edits, toss them a set of “revise eyes” to use as their tracker. I’ve seen third graders reread their writings twice just to use two different sets of eyes. If you don’t want to print anyt hing out, try hot-gluing little erasers to the ends (you know those amazing $1 sets from Target you’re hoarding in your closet). Sometimes all it takes is something “new” to get students motivated.

#7 — Give ‘em Resources 

I am a huge believer in providing students with resources and other scafolding tools. If you’re worried they’ll get attached, it’s okay. They’ll move away when they are ready. There are MANY resources out there to help students with their editing. ETTC has a wonderful Grammar Interactive Notebook  bundle FULL of support for students who are editing. Anchor charts are great tools students can use to help them with editing. Please don’t make an anchor chart and stick it on your wall without teaching the students how to use it. Better yet, when creating the anchor charts, have the students help you! This may require some of our Type A teachers out there to let go of the desire to have super neat/cute anchor charts all the time. (I was one of those teachers.?)

#8 — Go on a Treasure Hunt

Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? When you’re having students edit, have them treat it li ke a treasure hunt. Give them ONE thing to look for, such as punctuation, capitalization, or spelling. Spend the time “hunting” for that one specific item. Celebrate every find like it is a “treasure.” If you’re feeling really spunky, add in some pirate themed items to make it a whole mood. Argh, we’re editing, mateys!  

Strategy #9 — Guided Practice

There is a time and place for guided practice. When first introducing the editing process, edit together! (This can tie into the first tip.) There are a lot of resources out there with sentences  designed for the editing process, missing punctuation, misplaced capital letters, misspelled words, etc. ETTC has these 180 Daily Edit Mats , great for daily guided practise.  Put one on the board and have them talk you through it. Do this multiple times and then branch out into some independent work. This works well in small groups too. What if you’re virtual? Well, ETTC has DIGITAL Editing Mats with 180 digital paragraphs for editing.

#10 — Five Star Writing

When you’re evaluated, how do you know how well you’ve done? High five? (Or fist bump, hello social distancing.) Chances are, you’re probably given a rubric, a checklist with the criteria for success. Do the same for your students. Discuss with them what their writing should include and give them their own rubrics when they write. These don’t have to be extensive rubrics, just a few criteria are all they need. Search “Five Star Writing” on TpT and you’ll see plenty of examples/resources for kid-friendly rubrics. 

#11 — Alright Stop, it’s Partner Time        

editing his work

I understand we are in uncharted territory as educators and partner work may not be posible, but hear me out. If you’re able to have students read with a partner, give it a try. Nothing helps someone edit more than having someone else read their writing OUT LOUD. While writing this blog post, I had my mother read it aloud, on the phone with me. Anyone else cringe when someone reads their work? Why is that? We’re afraid they’re going to find mistakes! Well, there you go. Let the partner find the mistakes, or the writer will hear the mistakes and beg for their paper. If partner work is not an option, try taking the editing outside where students can trade papers and sit at a safe distance from one another.  

Strategy #12 — Record and Watch

Who enjoys watching themselves on video? Not me. I don’t know what it is, but I get super uncomfortable watching myself on video. Ask a kid to video themselves, and they’re all for it! So, use it to your advantage. Use Seesaw, Flipgrid, or any other recording tool, to have them record themselves while they read their writing. Chances are, they’ll find errors while they’re recording and want to redo it to make it sound better. If you have a student who is hesitant to record, see if they’d feel more comfortable sitting somewhere else to do it. I had one little boy who LOVED hearing himself on video but didn’t like it when others could see him recording. We compromised, and he videoed while sitting in the hall. 

editing his work

Editing can be challenging, but I hope you’ll find a strategy (or two) to take back to your classroom. Try one out, and let me know how it goes. If it doesn’t work for you, that’s okay! Not everyone wears the same shoes, so not everyone will like the same strategy. Find the one that “fits” and gets your students editing. Do you have any strategies for teaching students to edit that you use in your classroom? If so, please share in the comments below. ??

Written by: Heather Wagoner

editing his work

Welcome! I’m Emily, Founder of Education to the Core. We are all about helping K-2 teachers by providing unlimited access to affordable printables for every subject area.   

editing his work

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What Is Over-Editing and What to Do About It

February 10, 2021 //  by  Janet Grant //   12 Comments

Author Dies While Reading Edited Manuscript

Such a headline might well echo the feelings an author experiences when, much to his horror, he discovers his editor has–ahem–done some pretty creative work on the manuscript sent into the publishing house. (An ailment commonly referred to as over-editing.) The palpitating heart, the churning stomach, and the aching head that can accompany such a revelation leave the author wondering, What do I do now? Let’s explore options.

Let’s Put Editing in Its Context

First let  me say that most editors are conscientious about not violating an author’s creative efforts but instead strive to clarify and elucidate through any changes made. And some authors have thick skins when it comes to the editing process and usually agree to what the editor thinks is best.

But what if, when you read your edited manuscript, you’re confused by some changes, frustrated by others, and downright upset by still  others?

The Over-Confident Writer

I’ve been on both sides of this fence. I still can recall decades ago, as an editor, having a conversation with an author about changes I’d made in his manuscript. Our phone conversation began with his telling me the comma corrections I had made in the first sentence should not be made. I pointed out the sentence had been punctuated incorrectly. He didn’t believe me. I told him I would find the punctuation rule in a grammar book and send the reference to him. He still wasn’t convinced, and I decided we had better move on to the more substantial changes I had made in the manuscript.

Instead he moved on to the second sentence of the manuscript, in which I had made another minor change. I explained the grammar rule that had been violated in his writing. Once again he was unimpressed.

That’s when I realized he was going to challenge every jot and tittle that had been edited. He saw me as someone who was over-editing his manuscript. So I decided to bring a bit of reality into the situation. I asked, “Do you believe your manuscript is inerrant, perfect and without flaw?”

“Yes,” he replied. He was serious! That book never was published because the author wouldn’t allow any changes in the manuscript.

The Overly-Sensitive Writer

I’ve also been on the other side of the fence, that of the author. When I received the edited manuscript for one of my books, I was so appalled by the severity of the edit that I crawled into bed and stayed there for two days. I couldn’t figure out how to approach the editor with such a long list of changes I disagreed with.

On the Other Hand

In contrast to my in-bed-all-day response, one of my clients a few weeks ago told me, “I’ve made an important discovery about myself. I’m not so much a writer as I am an editor. I love the editing process; I don’t actually like to write.” What an important insight. It explained the agonies she goes through to get that first draft. And why she so enjoys working with an editor to clean up that draft.

That doesn’t mean she isn’t sensitive to over-editing. Oh, yes, she’s experienced that and recognized it for what it was.

What’s an Author to do?

If you feel that you’ve been over-edited, start out by knowing your rights.

How can you determine that? Most contracts specify what is appropriate for a publishing house to change. Here’s some typical wording: “The Publisher shall have the right to edit and revise the manuscript; provided, however, that such editing or revision shall not materially change the meaning, or materially alter the text of said Work without the Author’s consent. Editing to correct infelicities of expression, misstatements of fact, misquotations, errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, and editing to make the Work conform to the Publisher’s style of punctuation, capitalization, and like details shall not be considered materially changing the manuscript.”

Over-Editing or Not?

Okay, so we have guidelines as to what is an appropriate change and what isn’t. The author who didn’t think I should change the punctuation and grammatical errors in his manuscript was operating outside the boundaries he had agreed to when he signed the contract.

On the other hand, the editor of my manuscript had added several examples to my manuscript to illustrate points. If I didn’t agree to those additions, I contractually had a right to say I wanted them removed.

What to Do About Over-Editing

What did I do? I remembered what I, in my role as an editor,  had often told authors who questioned why I had made a certain change. “I made the change for a reason. If you don’t like the way I changed it, let’s talk about why I made it. I’m very open to seeing an alternate way to solve the problem I found.”

In that spirit, I went to work on reinstating my sense that this was my manuscript and talking with the editor about how to make the manuscript all it could be. It turned out to be a win-win situation. And I didn’t die from the malady called “the editing process.”

How do you decide when to speak up about editing on your work? Do you enjoy the revision process?

What should a writer do if she suspects her manuscript has been over-edited? Click to tweet.

How to recognize if your manuscript has been over-edited. Click to tweet.

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February 11, 2021 at 3:13 am

Ah, to be at odds with my editor! It would mean have a publisher and a contract. Therefore, this problem would be an answer to my prayers.

For now, I have a critique group. Sometimes their suggestions don’t match my vision. At first, I was offended. But it tells me that my vision wasn’t clear. It’s my call to revise my words, find a better example or add some backstory. Thank you, Janet, for this reminder to be humble, to ask and to listen.

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February 11, 2021 at 9:56 am

Knowing how to respond to critiques is a great lesson to take into your future publishing relationships, Shirlee.

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February 11, 2021 at 6:30 am

What amazing extremes in editing! Editing with my publisher has been fairly painless and I was given clear reasons for the changes required. Reasons such as if I have a beloved pet eaten by a bear … the story is no longer romance! I may have gotten carried away there trying to up the danger level. Don’t worry, I saved the dogs lives and the story was fixed because of it. The more in depth edits have happened with my talented critique partner and I have learned over the years that yes, those manuscripts might bleed red ink, but man are they better in the end. Well worth the pain!

February 11, 2021 at 9:58 am

Unless you’re writing a horror or thriller novel, no precious pets must perish in the telling of the story, right!? Lesson learned thanks to your lending a listening ear to suggestions.

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February 11, 2021 at 7:04 am

I proudly sent my manuscript in for its review, and got it back, like really rifpped to shreds, and something new had usurped my pride of place, my careful-crafted paragraphs; frowns were turned to Happy Face and tears replaced my laughs. I railed and roared and stamped my feet, I retreated straight to bed with a cup of whiskey (neat) and it entered, then, my head that while His edits to my life seemed flawed, they were yet writ by Hand of God.

February 11, 2021 at 9:59 am

Ah, the best editor ever…

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February 11, 2021 at 3:14 pm

Thank you especially, dear Janet, for these words: “When I received the edited manuscript for one of my books, I was so appalled by the severity of the edit that I crawled into bed and stayed there for two days. ” Being in a critique group has helped me recover faster from edits. I read them. Sleep on them. 🙂 And then get back to work. I only speak up about (or ignore parts of a critique) when a suggested edit doesn’t make sense to me. I enjoy improving a manuscript when I understand the why behind the red marks. Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

February 12, 2021 at 10:06 am

Wendy, I did eventually learn, as a writer, to pay attention to the “why” behind the edits. That’s the very best way to learn!

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February 16, 2021 at 12:50 pm

Editing is done to make the manuscript more “saleable.” If publishing is our goal as writers, then editing is that final “polishing” the work may need. My editor pointed out areas that could be problems. She suggested alternatives; I took the time to understand what her objections were, and why she would make them. I then went in and made a compromise solution. We were both happy, and the manuscript is better for it. If we writers view Editors as our teammates and not our adversaries, we can go a long way towards our goal of publication.

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June 12, 2021 at 6:42 pm

One of the most important questions that you need to ask yourself when thinking about how to find a good essay writing service is this: Have you researched the company before you hire them? The internet is a wonderful tool for many things, but it can also be your worst enemy. Before you start on any assignment with an essay writer, you should always check references. Make sure that the person that they are referring to has not only been referred to them but that they have proof that they actually did what they said they would do. Now that we know you need to check references; how do you go about finding one?

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June 15, 2023 at 6:34 pm

One of my clients, a few weeks ago, said, “I’ve made a significant revelation about myself, in contrast to my in bed all day answer.

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June 19, 2023 at 10:03 pm

As one going though the edit process this was a great piece

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Editing Exercises

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  • Updated on  
  • Jan 22, 2024

Editing Exercises

Editing Exercises : As English has established itself as a global language, it is more necessary than ever to be thorough with its fundamental concepts as well as reading, speaking and writing skills . One such skill includes content editing skills. Through this blog, we are bringing you a worksheet of Editing exercises, helpful tips on how to solve them, fun videos and much more. Continue reading the blog article given below.

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This Blog Includes:

What are editing exercises, easy editing exercises with answers, free editing exercises pdf, editing exercises for practise, other editing exercises, answers to editing exercises, tricks solve editing exercises.

A Guide for you to Master your English Language Skills: How to Speak Fluent English in 30 Days?

Editing exercises are included in English workbooks in schools to build a good grammatical foundation in students, preparing them for formal communication by developing sentence structuring and editing skills. Editing exercises generally comprise a short passage which is divided into small sentences. Each of these sentences has a misfitting phrase or word which requires editing. Students are supposed to identify and rectify the error, following the process throughout the passage.

Editing exercises can help you:

  • Build a habit of proofreading your written content efficiently and covering all aspects of errors.
  • Improves writing skills by giving snippets of content with errors in them, thus ensuring minimal errors when you try writing yourself.
  • Strengthen your grasp of English which can help in avoiding errors in both spoken and written communication.

To guide you beyond simple tips and tricks, here are some solved practice questions on editing. In the given passages, there are incorrect phrases and words which require correction. Identify the mistakes correctly and replace them with the best possible alternative:

Read the passage given below and identify the words that are incorrect and correct them.

Once upon a time, their lived a very poor girl who has very big dreams but didn’t work hard enough too achieve it. One day she had enough milk to sells in the market so she though if she could sell the milk she should earn enough money and move into the city and start an new job there. So she pour the milk in a large can and carried it in her head to a nearby market. While going to the market she started to dreaming about how she would earn a lots of money and make all her dream come true and if someone ask her for money, she would scold them and sent them back. Just while thinking so, she jerk her head so fast that the milk can keep on her head fall down and all the milks got spilled on the ground.

Take a look at the following passage and the incorrect and correct words:

For this editing exercise, go through the passage with each incorrect sentence:

Select the word which should be edited from the following sentences to make them grammatically correct .

1. I have been living in Ireland there for two years.

2. She did not want to do work today.

3. Harry lent his book to me on yesterday.

4. Sherry, my friend, who is a writer.

5. I wanted to stay out away of this.

6. I have wrote this song yesterday.

  • None of the above

7. I would like that you deliver this letter for me.

8. The office where I work at is very small.

9. She wrote to me this letter.

  • None of the Above

10. I asked to him if he wants to go out.

Q 2: Solve the following passage by highlighting the incorrect phrase and mentioning the correct phrase in the next column.

Q 3: Find the incorrect phrases in this paragraph and put them in the columns:

Q 4: Locate the incorrect words in the following paragraph and add them to the columns with correct words.

While practising these editing exercises, don’t forget to check out Omission Exercises !

Q 5: Solve the incorrect words in the following passage.

Q 6: Find the incorrect words and their corrections and add them to the corresponding columns.

Q 7: Find the incorrect words in the passage and correct them

Q 8: Solve the incorrect words in the following passage.

Q 9: Find the wrong words in the passage and correct them.

Q10: Identify mistakes in the passage and correct them.

Q11: Locate errors in the passage and rectify them.

I. 3 II. 3 III. 2 IV. 1 V. 1 VI. 2 VII. 1 VIII. 3 IX. 1 X. 1

Also Explore 10 Ways to Be a Good Orator Along with Some Well-Known Orators

Solving editing exercises requires basic lingual skills, with an awareness of sentence structuring and articulation. However, there are a few tips that can help you out in answering editing questions quickly while checking all the boxes for grammar. Here are some of them:

  • Subject-verb agreement is paramount in editing exercises. If the verb and subject do not indicate similarity as singular/plural, there is an error.
  • Focus on sentence punctuation more as it would help you in determining the correct use of proverbs and conjunctions, also keeping in check the coordinating conjunctions. The apostrophe is one of the most crucial punctuation in editing.
  • Make sure that the tenses are in line throughout the passage. In case there is a discrepancy, make sure you edit the singular anomaly instead of correcting tenses in every sentence as it has a very high chance of being wrong.
  • Try reading the passage backwards too. Sometimes, it is hard to anticipate mistakes when editing while reading from top to bottom. Reading it in reverse makes the text unpredictable and helps the brain isolate every sentence, bringing out minor mistakes.
  • Errors in articles are frequent in editing exercises and are easy to comprehend. Just remember the vowel and special subject rule.
  • Check the noun and pronoun agreement throughout the text. There may be different number errors between the two or the pronoun used may be completely incorrect.

Related Posts

In editing, students have to find the error in the sentence/part of the sentence. The error or wrong word has to be written in the space provided. Then the student has to identify the correct word that should replace the wrong word. This correct word should be grammatically correct.

Editing when we have to create a document then we see, sometimes we leave one or more words in a sentence or line then we have to recover it we must have edited in that place. OMISSION when we are in writing one or many sentences then we got one or more mistakes then we have to replace the mistake word to correct it.

Murch’s six rules on editing consist of Emotion, Story, Rhythm, Eye trace, Two- dimensional Plane of Screen, and Three-dimensional Space of Action, which all have different values in order of importance for the cut

Hence, this article encapsulates the basic knowledge related to Editing exercises and how to solve them. Editing exercises are not only included in the school curriculum but can also help you prepare for English proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL . If you are aiming to appear for IELTS or TOEFL, sign up for our Leverage Live online classes and avail dedicated doubt-clearing sessions, best-in-class study materials, and tips and tricks to achieve your dream score!

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Very good thanks so much

Thanks for reading. Also, check: How to be an Editor? Article Rules Understanding GMAT Sentence Correction

Thank you very much for providing this editing exercise. I did some mistakes but later corrected them. And of course, the quiz was nice with gifs.

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Thanks, it’s really helpful to have good exercises other than usual repeated stuff we find online. Thankyou so much

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Tom Priestley, Oscar-Nominated Film Editor on ‘Deliverance,’ Dies at 91

T om Priestley, the acclaimed British film editor known for his remarkable work on movies like ‘Deliverance,’ ‘The Great Gatsby,’ and ‘The Return of the Pink Panther,’ has passed away at the age of 91. The son of the renowned British playwright J.B. Priestley, Tom Priestley made significant contributions to the world of cinema, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.

Priestley’s editing skills were particularly evident in his work on ‘Deliverance,’ where he meticulously assembled the iconic dueling-banjos sequence and the intense “squeal like a pig” attack, earning him an Oscar nomination. The film, directed by John Boorman, tells the story of four weekend adventurers who face a nightmare during a canoe trip down a Georgia river. Despite its controversial scenes, ‘Deliverance’ became one of the highest-grossing films of 1972 and received critical acclaim for its gripping narrative and stunning visuals.

In addition to ‘Deliverance,’ Priestley collaborated with Boorman on two other films, ‘Leo the Last’ (1970) and ‘Exorcist II: The Heretic’ (1977), showcasing his versatility and skill as an editor. He also worked on a variety of other projects, including ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1974), ‘The Return of the Pink Panther’ (1975), and Roman Polanski’s ‘Tess’ (1979), leaving his mark on some of cinema’s most iconic films.

Born in London in 1932, Priestley developed an early interest in cinema, which led him to pursue a career in film editing. He studied at Cambridge University and began his career as a sound editor before transitioning to film editing. His early credits include films like ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ (1961) and ‘This Sporting Life’ (1962), where he showcased his talent for storytelling and his ability to capture the essence of a scene.

READ MORE: Berlin: Mubi Takes Scorsese-Narrated ‘Made in England’ in Multi-Territory Deal

Priestley’s work was not limited to film editing; he also had a keen interest in the art of storytelling and the power of cinema to convey complex themes and emotions. His collaboration with James Dickey, the author of the novel ‘Deliverance,’ was particularly memorable, as Dickey had a cameo in the film and was deeply moved by Priestley’s editing.

In his later years, Priestley continued to work on a variety of projects, including Michael Radford’s ‘1984,’ an adaptation of George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel. Despite his age, Priestley remained passionate about his craft and dedicated to telling compelling stories through the medium of film.

Tom Priestley’s contributions to the world of cinema are undeniable, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers and editors. His unique vision and unparalleled talent have left an indelible mark on the art of film editing, and he will be remembered as one of the true masters of his craft.

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Tom Priestley, Oscar-Nominated Film Editor on ‘Deliverance,’ Dies at 91 2

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Esther Rantzen

Esther Rantzen: ‘An editor at the BBC, a self-confessed misogynist, used to aim his air gun at a can balanced just over my head’

The broadcaster on being boring, wanting more time, and wishing she’d been the first female controller of BBC One

B orn in Hertfordshire, Rantzen, 83, was educated at Oxford University. In 1973, she began presenting That’s Life!, a popular BBC show which ran for 21 years. In 1986, she founded Childline, and later the Silver Line, which is now part of Age UK. In 2023, she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and joined Dignitas. She supports the UK campaign for Dignity in Dying, which has launched a petition for assisted dying to be debated in parliament. She lives in the New Forest and has three children with her late husband, the documentary maker Desmond Wilcox.

What is your greatest fear? Being boring.

Which living person do you most admire and why? Alan Bates, Lord Arbuthnot and Nick Wallis for exposing the Post Office and Fujitsu and, let’s hope, for ensuring everyone is properly compensated.

Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought? My hybrid car. Not glamorous, not fast, but indispensable.

What is your most treasured possession? My photo albums.

Describe yourself in three words: Young, beautiful, deluded.

What would your superpower be? To have conversations with animals. And plants.

What makes you unhappy? Reading accounts of children suffering.

What scares you about getting older? Possible dementia.

Who is your celebrity crush? Judi Dench (especially as Elizabeth I).

What do you most dislike about your appearance? Most of it.

Who would play you in the film of your life? Samantha Spiro already has .

What did you want to be when you were growing up? A teacher and a nightclub singer.

Would you choose fame or anonymity? Fame was fun, but either will do.

What was the last lie that you told? That was delicious, said to the cook.

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What is your guiltiest pleasure? Messaging from my phone at all hours.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? To everyone I’ve bored.

What does love feel like? Like intoxication, sometimes followed by a hangover.

Which living person do you most despise, and why ? Donald Trump. He follows Hitler’s propaganda techniques. When Hitler’s version of events was contested by journalists, he accused them of Lügenpresse . It’s a term which translates as “fake news”.

What is the worst job you’ve ever done? When I started as a researcher in the BBC, I was working for an editor who was a self-confessed misogynist. He used to practise shooting by aiming his air gun at an aerosol can balanced just over my head. I made it a matter of pride not to flinch as the pellets whizzed by.

If you could edit your past, what would you change? Maybe I should have agreed to take the job of controller of BBC One when Bill Cotton offered it to me. I do feel a wimp; I would have been the first woman in the job. What do you consider your greatest achievement? I don’t really claim credit, I hope, for helping to launch Childline and the Silver Line and Silver Stories . It is an achievement that they all exist, but that is down to their amazing teams.

Would you rather have more sex, money or fame? Time, please.

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Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Joe Biden and his son

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U.S. President Joe Biden boards Marine One at Joint Base Andrews

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Additional reporting by Andrew Goudsward in Washington Editing by Rami Ayyub and Matthew Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

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Thomson Reuters

Kanishka Singh is a breaking news reporter for Reuters in Washington DC, who primarily covers US politics and national affairs in his current role. His past breaking news coverage has spanned across a range of topics like the Black Lives Matter movement; the US elections; the 2021 Capitol riots and their follow up probes; the Brexit deal; US-China trade tensions; the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on a religious dispute site in his native India.

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  • deadly shooting

Amazon employee was followed from work and gunned down in front of Katy home, family said

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KATY, Texas (KTRK) -- It's been almost three months since Christopher Boyd was gunned down as he drove to his home in Katy. Police recently revealed the 30-year-old Amazon delivery driver was followed from work, and the suspect has been arrested and charged.

On Tuesday, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared on social media that Vicline St. Hilaire had been arrested and charged in connection with the Nov. 26, 2023, shooting death of Boyd.

The shooting happened at about 6 a.m. in the 24000 block of Grand Harbor Drive. Gonzalez said Boyd was ambushed and shot multiple times while he was driving as he got home from work .

Deputies said Boyd fled the area, crashed into a gate, hit a tree, and ran to his apartment, waking up his wife and kids, who tried to save him but couldn't.

Following the announcement of the arrest, ABC13 spoke with Boyd's wife, Chelsea Morris-Boyd, who said this started over a petty parking lot fight.

"When he collapsed on the floor and took his last breath, it was just heartbreaking...his kids saw it," Morris-Boyd said.

She added that her husband was riddled with bullet holes when he came barreling into their Katy apartment.

"He immediately came in, and he was like, 'He shot me,'"Morris-Boyd recalled, who says the "He" her husband referred to was St. Hilaire.

Boyd and St. Hilaire worked together at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Richmond. Morris-Boyd said St. Hilaire nearly hit her husband's car after running a stop sign, ensuing the feud.

"From there, (St. Hilaire) was like trying to fight him in the restroom at work, and we were like, 'What are you trying to fight him for? He (doesn't) know you, and you don't know him," Morris-Boyd said.

After the parking lot incident, both men had a second run-in. A few weeks later, St. Hilaire followed Boyd home that November morning, according to Morris-Boyd.

"To the person who did this, you really took something - not just from me but from his kids," Morris-Boyd said, as she is now left alone to raise 6- and 8-year-old boys.

Investigators said they had been eyeing St. Hilaire from the beginning, and on Tuesday, they gathered enough evidence to arrest him during a traffic stop. During that, authorities also served a search warrant at St. Hilaire's home.

"I was just so happy, like so relieved. Because that was one of my biggest fears, him not getting caught or him not getting justice," Morris-Boyd said.

According to records, this isn't St. Hilaire's first crime. He was reportedly sentenced to 16 years in prison for an aggravated assault in Fort Bend County in 2008. Court records show he was paroled in 2019 and was arrested again for car theft and assault.

ABC13 also talked with Boyd's mother, Lequisha Abron, who lives in Dallas, and said St. Hilaire destroyed more than one life, and she can't believe her son is now a jar of ashes.

"There's no words that will make it any better besides that I miss my baby every single day, " Abron said.

For updates on this story, follow Alex Bozarjian on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

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Ex-F.B.I. Informant Is Charged With Lying Over Bidens’ Role in Ukraine Business

The informant’s story was part of a series of explosive and unsubstantiated claims by Republicans that the Bidens engaged in potentially criminal activity.

  • Share full article

Hunter Biden in a suit and tie appears with others outside.

By Glenn Thrush

Reporting from Washington

The special counsel investigating Hunter Biden has charged a former F.B.I. informant with fabricating claims that President Biden and his son each sought $5 million bribes from a Ukrainian company — a stinging setback for Republicans who cited the allegations in their push to impeach the president.

The longtime informant, Alexander Smirnov, 43, is accused of falsely telling the F.B.I. that Hunter Biden, then a paid board member of the energy giant Burisma, demanded the money to protect the company from an investigation by the country’s prosecutor general at the time.

The explosive story, which seemed to back up unsubstantiated Republican claims of a “Biden crime family,” turned out to be a brazen lie, according to a 37-page indictment unsealed late Thursday in a California federal court, brought by the special counsel, David C. Weiss.

Mr. Smirnov’s motivation for lying, prosecutors wrote, appears to have been political. During the 2020 campaign, he sent his F.B.I. handler “a series of messages expressing bias” against Joseph R. Biden Jr., including texts, replete with typos and misspellings, boasting that he had information that would put him in jail.

Republicans pressured the F.B.I. to release internal reports after they learned of Mr. Smirnov’s claims. In May last year, Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, threatened to hold the bureau’s director, Christopher A. Wray, in contempt if he did not disclose some details.

In July, after Mr. Wray complied, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa released a copy of an F.B.I. record that included the false allegation without naming Mr. Smirnov, or questioning its veracity.

He then described Mr. Smirnov’s claims as “very significant allegations from a trusted F.B.I. informant implicating then-Vice President Biden in a criminal bribery scheme.”

Mr. Comer, in a statement released after the charges against Mr. Smirnov became public, took no responsibility for spreading a claim that prosecutors suggested was a smear intended to hurt Mr. Biden politically.

Instead, he blamed bureau officials for privately telling the committee their “source was credible and trusted, had worked with the F.B.I. for over a decade and had been paid six figures.”

But F.B.I. officials did not seem to think much of Mr. Smirnov’s allegations from the start, and requested he provide travel receipts to prove he attended meetings cited in his report. In 2020, they concluded that his claims did not merit continued investigation, and told senior Trump administration officials in the Justice Department of that decision, prosecutors wrote.

Mr. Smirnov now faces two charges of making false statements and obstructing the government’s long-running investigation into the president’s troubled son. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

The indictment did not say if Mr. Smirnov was a U.S. citizen, or specify his country of origin — only that he is a globe-trotting businessman who speaks Russian and who became an F.B.I. informant in 2010.

He was arrested in Las Vegas on Wednesday after disembarking from an international flight and detained pending a hearing on Tuesday.

In 2015 or 2016, Hunter Biden promised to protect the company “through his dad, from all kinds of problems,” Mr. Smirnov falsely claimed to his bureau handler in 2020, according to Mr. Weiss, who has charged the president’s son twice over the past year on tax and gun charges.

This claim was easily disproved, prosecutors said: Mr. Smirnov was only in contact with Burisma executives in 2017, after Mr. Biden left office — when he “had no ability to influence U.S. policy.”

Mr. Smirnov told F.B.I. investigators that he had seen footage of Hunter Biden entering a hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine, that was “wired” by the Russians, suggesting that Russia may have recorded phone calls made by Mr. Biden from the hotel, according to the indictment.

But Mr. Biden had never been to Ukraine, let alone that hotel, prosecutors wrote.

Mr. Smirnov is accused of exaggerating his “routine and unextraordinary business contacts with Burisma” into “bribery allegations” against the president, who is identified in the filing as “Public Official 1.”

He repeated some of his fabricated claims when he was interviewed by F.B.I. agents in September 2023, “changed his story as to other of his claims and promoted a new false narrative after he said he met with Russian officials,” according to the indictment.

It was not clear who was representing Mr. Smirnov in the case.

The president’s son still faces indictments on a gun charge in Delaware and tax charges in California. But his lawyers said Mr. Smirnov’s indictment was proof that he was the target of a mendacious and politically motivated smear campaign.

“For months, we have warned that Republicans have built their conspiracies about Hunter and his family on lies told by people with political agendas, not facts,” Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, said in a statement. “We were right, and the air is out of their balloon.”

Luke Broadwater and Kenneth P. Vogel contributed reporting.

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice. He joined The Times in 2017 after working for Politico, Newsday, Bloomberg News, The New York Daily News, The Birmingham Post-Herald and City Limits. More about Glenn Thrush

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  3. 21+ Inspirasi Penting Editing Work

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  4. 13 Steps for Writing and Editing Your Own Work

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  1. Chito Editing his own video #cat #edit #blender

  2. how does his brain work like this ??! #Lineup

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  5. applying as your video editor! 4$ for each type of edit or we can negotiate!!

  6. How to become a Video Editor? Which skills required to become a good video editor?

COMMENTS

  1. How to Edit Your Own Writing

    Writing is hard, but don't overlook the difficulty — and the importance — of editing your own work before letting others see it. Here's how. George Wylesol By Harry Guinness Published April 7,...

  2. my boss won't let me edit his terrible writing

    Keep in mind this can impact your own reputation-people will assume you are editing his work. His poor writing can also prevent you from having a portfolio. Chinook * June 18, 2013 at 3:28 pm. KarenT, I love all your reccomendations. This was the tact I took with junior high students when editing and marking their essays.

  3. Career Explainer: What Does an Editor Do?

    Magazine editing . Magazine editors work closely with staff and/or freelance writers to bring a print or online magazine article from the idea phase through publication, says Muse career coach Eliot Kaplan of Eliot Kaplan Coaching, who worked his way up the ranks as a magazine editor and also served as the VP of Talent Acquisition at Hearst ...

  4. 25 Editing Tips for Tightening Your Copy (Plus an Editing Checklist)

    Is it really possible edit your own work when all the words you just finished writing are so precious? Yes! It can be done — and for the sake of making your writing stand out, it must be done. So pull up your most recently saved draft, and get to work.

  5. 8 Tips for Editing Other Writers' Work (While Remaining Friends)

    Doing your writing first, each day, then editing afterwards. Using your best time of day to write, and editing when you're not feeling very creative. Having set days for writing and set days for editing (if you write/edit full-time, or close to it). Setting an overall time limit for your edit-e.g., two hours a week for a month.

  6. 8.4 Revising and Editing

    Tip How do you get the best out of your revisions and editing? Here are some strategies that writers have developed to look at their first drafts from a fresh perspective. Try them over the course of this semester; then keep using the ones that bring results. Take a break.

  7. What does an editor do?

    An editor is responsible for reviewing, revising, and correcting written material, such as books, articles, reports, and other forms of written communication. An editor's primary goal is to ensure that the content is accurate, clear, and well-organized, and that it meets the intended audience's needs.

  8. The Writing Process- Drafting and Editing

    Upon completion of a rough draft, the writer should take on the first edit of his work. Editing is an on-going process, not a one time event. When an author edits his work, he is checking the piece for errors. These are typically errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and formatting (indenting of paragraphs, etc.). A writer should be ...

  9. How to Edit Your First Draft Like a Pro

    In his 2017 book Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts, Ryan Holiday explains: "Nobody creates flawless first drafts. And nobody creates better second drafts without the intervention of someone else. Nobody." So, send the draft to your editor for critical feedback and explain where you're stuck.

  10. 11 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing (Plus a Checklist)

    1. Read Your Writing in a New Format If you typed it, print it out. Alternatively, convert your Word document to PDF format, or change your text to a different font, color, and size. These techniques will help you see your content from an "outsider's" perspective and give you a more critical eye. 2. Take a Break

  11. Types of Editing: An Inside Look at What Editors Do

    1. Editorial assessment An editorial assessment is often the first piece of professional help a manuscript will receive. Your editor will offer you some broad, insightful feedback on major strengths and weaknesses in your plot, characters, or structure.

  12. The Importance of Editing Your Written Work, and How to Do It

    Here are just a few easy ways in which you can successfully edit your written work or communication: How many times have you seen, or even written and sent, an instant message that makes you look like you, or the sender, was half asleep when they did it? Maybe you, or they, were!

  13. 4 Essential Tips for Working with an Editor

    Here are four unbeatable collaboration tips. #amediting. Click to tweet! 1. Self-edit your manuscript first. Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash. The number-one way to save yourself grief in a professional editing capacity is actually pretty simple, if not exactly easy: self-edit your manuscript into decent shape before passing it along.

  14. How to Edit Writing in 3 Steps, With Examples

    Write with Grammarly What is editing? Editing is the process of reviewing writing to ensure that it communicates its point clearly and as intended, and that it is free of errors. Simply put, editing means making sure that you've said what you mean, neatly and cleanly.

  15. How to Edit Your Writing: An Effective 7-Step Process

    3. Substantive Edit Photo by Oli Dale. A substantive edit (also known as a developmental edit) means analyzing the structure and flow of your piece. Once I've finished the first draft, I step back from it and try to examine it as if I were the reader. I highly recommend reading your piece out loud at this point. Ask yourself these questions ...

  16. Editing and Proofreading

    Some people like to work right at the computer, while others like to sit back with a printed copy that they can mark up as they read. Try changing the look of your document. ... If possible, do your editing and proofreading in several short blocks of time. Your concentration may start to wane if you try to proofread the entire text at one time.

  17. Use Stephen King's 10% Rule to Have a Sharply Edited Piece

    In his book, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" Stephen King introduces an editing strategy he calls "the 10 percent rule." He simply says, when you finish writing your first draft of your writing, let it sit for a while — that "a while" can depend on the form of your writing, if it's a novel we are talking about, let it sit a few days.

  18. What is Film Editing

    This work is done by a film editor who helps complete the director's vision of the movie. The creative choices of an editor are usually a combination of what they think is best for the film and what the director (and producers) want for the finished project. Mostly done during post-production, aspects of film editing can involve physical strips ...

  19. A Guide to the Proofreading & Editing Process

    What is editing? Editing means improving the quality of writing in terms of style, vocabulary, readability, and natural phrasing or "flow." Editing typically identifies and corrects the following: Wordiness (using too many unnecessary words) Incorrect or inappropriate terms and expressions Repetition and redundancy

  20. 12 Strategies for Teaching Students to Edit

    When first introducing the editing process, edit together! (This can tie into the first tip.) There are a lot of resources out there with sentences designed for the editing process, missing punctuation, misplaced capital letters, misspelled words, etc. ETTC has these 180 Daily Edit Mats, great for daily guided practise. Put one on the board and ...

  21. How to create your own work as an actor

    Find a short play that you love and option the rights to it or buy it outright and adapt it to the screen. Find a writer to write a script for you. Acquire rights to an existing screenplay. Find a writer/director and offer to produce their next film if they cast you in it.

  22. What Is Over-Editing and What to Do About It

    Author Dies While Reading Edited Manuscript. Such a headline might well echo the feelings an author experiences when, much to his horror, he discovers his editor has-ahem-done some pretty creative work on the manuscript sent into the publishing house. (An ailment commonly referred to as over-editing.) The palpitating heart, the churning ...

  23. Editing Exercises and Worksheets For Class 6,7,8,9 and 10

    Editing exercises can help you: Build a habit of proofreading your written content efficiently and covering all aspects of errors. Improves writing skills by giving snippets of content with errors in them, thus ensuring minimal errors when you try writing yourself. Strengthen your grasp of English which can help in avoiding errors in both ...

  24. Tom Priestley, Oscar-Nominated Film Editor on 'Deliverance ...

    Tom Priestley, the acclaimed British film editor known for his remarkable work on movies like 'Deliverance,' 'The Great Gatsby,' and 'The Return of the Pink Panther,' has passed away ...

  25. Esther Rantzen: 'An editor at the BBC, a self-confessed misogynist

    When I started as a researcher in the BBC, I was working for an editor who was a self-confessed misogynist. He used to practise shooting by aiming his air gun at an aerosol can balanced just over ...

  26. Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Joe Biden and his son

    The U.S. special counsel leading a criminal probe into President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, said a former FBI informant was charged with lying about the pair's alleged involvement in business ...

  27. Amazon employee was followed from work and gunned down in front of Katy

    KATY, Texas (KTRK) -- It's been almost three months since Christopher Boyd was gunned down as he drove to his home in Katy. Police recently revealed the 30-year-old Amazon delivery driver was ...

  28. Ex-F.B.I. Informant Is Charged With Lying Over Bidens' Role in Ukraine

    The special counsel investigating Hunter Biden has charged a former F.B.I. informant with fabricating claims that President Biden and his son each sought $5 million bribes from a Ukrainian company ...

  29. Gene Editing and the War Against Malaria

    His work in philosophy of science and, specifically, philosophy of biology includes topics like evolutionary theory, scientific evidence and probability, intelligent design, and human psychology. His forthcoming book, The Philosophy of Evolutionary Theory (Cambridge University Press), analyses concepts, arguments, and methods of inference in ...