The art of writing is really the art of rewriting.

 

“Whew! That’s finally done!” you might exclaim as you finish writing the first draft of your paper.

 

whoa Whoa Nelly! Not so fast!

 

When you write an article, essay, report or business letter, the first draft is just the beginning of the writing process, not the end. No matter how good your first draft is, you will still have to do some editing, or you might find yourself on the receiving end of a death-stare from your lecturer.

Therefore, to avoid the malevolent glare of your lecturer, it is a good idea to realize that editing is an essential function of any writing process.

 

What is editing?

Editing is rewriting again and again and again until you are satisfied that every word is perfect. It is what good writers do most of the time.

When you proofread, you check for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and typing. When you edit, you do more than this. You look for poorly written sentences and weak word choices. You add variety, emphasis, coherence, transition, and detail. You eliminate wordiness and cut out what seems irrelevant or inconsistent. By editing, you take an average piece of writing and turn it into an excellent one.

How should you edit your writing?

There is no one right or wrong approach to editing. The following suggestions, though, will help you understand the process:

  1. Write first, edit later. When you write the first draft, just get your words onto the page. Let your creativity flow. Don’t worry about structure or word choice.

“It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.” – C. J. Cherryh

  1. If you have finished your first draft by hand, type it up on the computer. Use the spelling and grammar check function (turn on the English dictionary option) on Microsoft Word to catch major errors. Then print a copy of your first draft, and take out a red pen.
  2. Read your paper out loud to yourself. Listen to how it sounds. Then ask yourself these questions:
  • Does the first paragraph grab the readers’ attention and make them want to read on?
  • Does each paragraph have a topic sentence that states the main idea?
  • Are the paragraphs in logical order?
  • Does each idea lead smoothly to the next? Are major points connected?
  • Does any sentence or idea seem out of place?
  • Have I included enough specific details?
  • Are my sentences varied enough, or are they monotonous? Do any sections sound sing-song (short and choppy)?
  • Is the emphasis of each sentence in the right place?
  • Is there a strong concluding sentence that unifies the whole piece?
  • Is the point of view appropriate and consistent?
  • Is the dominant impression the one I want to give?
  • Have I expressed myself clearly? Have I said exactly what I wanted to say?

By reading your paper aloud, you will catch things that your eyes might miss if you merely read it silently.

  1. After you have done this, take a break! Put your paper away for a while. Allow yourself time to think about other things. Then return to your work with a fresh eye and mind.
  2. Read the paper out loud again slowly. This time check how the paper sounds in English. Does it sound natural or like something you have translated from Indonesian? Does it have good rhythm?
  • Check the length of your sentences. Long sentences are tiring to read. The average English sentence has 22 words. Make sure a single sentence does not go over 30 words. If it does, break it into two or three shorter sentences which are easier to read. Likewise, use variety in sentence lengths, so that it is more interesting to read.
  • English is direct and active. Change passive sentences into active ones.
  • Make sure that each verb is energetic, specific, and says exactly what you To do this,
  • Change constructions that use the various forms of “to be”. Sentences that begin with There, such as There was, There were, and It is are lifeless and boring. Rewrite them. Example:

Original sentence: There were several reasons for my coming late.

Revised sentence:  I came late for several reasons.

Change nouns into verbs to make your sentences more active. Example:

 

Original sentence: The tsunami was a threat to the people of Aceh.

 

Revised sentence: The tsunami threatened the people of Aceh.

  1. Proofread your paper a final time.
  2. Check to make sure that every word is spelled correctly. If you are unsure of the spelling of any word, look it up in a good dictionary.
  3. Check your sentence structure for the following:

Tenses: Have I used the right tense in each sentence? Have I incorrectly jumped about in different tenses? Keep the same tense unless there is a reason to change it.

Verb forms: Have I used the correct verb forms, especially for irregular verbs?

Subject-verb agreement: Look for the lexical verb of every sentence. Find which verb goes with which noun. Does each singular subject have a singular verb and each plural subject a plural verb?

Pronoun agreement: Look at each pronoun. Look for the noun that the pronoun replaces. Does each pronoun (especially it, this, they, their, and them) agree in number and person with the noun it replaces?

Fragments: Does each sentence have a subject, verb, and a complete thought?

Run-on sentences: Have I run two sentences together incorrectly without a conjunction, period, or semicolon to separate them?

Parallel structure: Are the words connected by and, or, not only … but also, either … or, neither … nor, both … and in the same grammatical form?

  1. Check your punctuation and mechanics carefully.
  2. Have I used correct punctuation throughout the paper? Does the punctuation make the meaning of the sentences clear?
  3. Have I used accurate capitalization?
  4. Once you have fixed your paper, read it out loud again. Continue to revise it until you are satisfied.

Consider that your writing represents you as a person. Don’t be satisfied with sloppy, inferior work.

Or, if you are still doubtful about the quality of your work, you can ask a friend or acquaintance to give you feedback through a peer-review process. By having several people read your essay, they can provide you with valuable tips in how to edit your paper. After several people help you with editing, you will be ready to submit your work.doubtful

 

Remember, too, that the art of writing is the art of rewriting. If you want your readers to like your work, then edit it. Never submit a paper until you have edited it several times and are satisfied that it is the best you can do.

 

 

Finally, keep in mind that “The only kind of writing is rewriting.”

– Ernest Hemingway   ernesrt