EDITING
Whether the problem is a typo, a sentence that got deleted while leaving behind an extra period, or simply a misspelled word, the need for editing is just part of writing. Just as details of personal appearance (a stained shirt, unkempt hair, or the like) can leave a negative impression, so too can details of personal communication.
Overview:
Editing involves actively looking for and mistakes. Computer programs are fairly adept at catching major errors, but they are not infallible. Frequently, they will ‘correct’ something only to replace one mistake with another. Additionally, sometimes the programs are just wrong. Most importantly, neither the grade nor the job of the computer program is at stake. Therefore, writers need to be responsible for their own editing.
Frequently, one problem inexperienced writers have with editing is that they do not know what to look for when examining a piece of writing. After all, mistakes sometimes happen not by accident but because the writer is unaware that the mistake is wrong. Therefore, writers need to pay careful attention to the feedback they receive so that they can look for similar issues in the future.
For example, writers who know that they struggle with proper comma usage can make it a point to look at how they use commas. Even if they do not know, specifically, what they are looking for, they can still note places that seem awkward.
Application:
When student writers find themselves at a pausing point in their work, reviewing the material should be a simple habit. Reading a work from front-to-back and back-to-front can help reveal mistakes. Additionally, when using computer systems, student writers should try to understand why a correction is being suggested and not just that a suggestion is being made.
Understanding the mechanical rules of academic writing is a difficult task. If students do not make an active effort to study and apply the advice given by others, they will not get better at it.
What to Avoid:
Student writers need to make sure that they do not confuse editing with revision. Additionally, students should avoid thinking that having access to ‘the writing center’ or ‘a tutor’ is the same thing as understanding the rules themselves. Student writers need to work on internalizing the rules so that they can improve the overall quality of their writing for future application.
Whether the problem is a typo, a sentence that got deleted while leaving behind an extra period, or simply a misspelled word, the need for editing is just part of writing. Just as details of personal appearance (a stained shirt, unkempt hair, or the like) can leave a negative impression, so too can details of personal communication.
Overview:
Editing involves actively looking for and mistakes. Computer programs are fairly adept at catching major errors, but they are not infallible. Frequently, they will ‘correct’ something only to replace one mistake with another. Additionally, sometimes the programs are just wrong. Most importantly, neither the grade nor the job of the computer program is at stake. Therefore, writers need to be responsible for their own editing.
Frequently, one problem inexperienced writers have with editing is that they do not know what to look for when examining a piece of writing. After all, mistakes sometimes happen not by accident but because the writer is unaware that the mistake is wrong. Therefore, writers need to pay careful attention to the feedback they receive so that they can look for similar issues in the future.
For example, writers who know that they struggle with proper comma usage can make it a point to look at how they use commas. Even if they do not know, specifically, what they are looking for, they can still note places that seem awkward.
Application:
When student writers find themselves at a pausing point in their work, reviewing the material should be a simple habit. Reading a work from front-to-back and back-to-front can help reveal mistakes. Additionally, when using computer systems, student writers should try to understand why a correction is being suggested and not just that a suggestion is being made.
Understanding the mechanical rules of academic writing is a difficult task. If students do not make an active effort to study and apply the advice given by others, they will not get better at it.
What to Avoid:
Student writers need to make sure that they do not confuse editing with revision. Additionally, students should avoid thinking that having access to ‘the writing center’ or ‘a tutor’ is the same thing as understanding the rules themselves. Student writers need to work on internalizing the rules so that they can improve the overall quality of their writing for future application.
