Self Edit

Do you catch more errors on hard copies?

Some experts in language such as Merrill Perlman of Columbia University suggest that printed-out versions of a piece of writing have a tangible or final nature that can cause self-editing writers to catch more errors. It also helps with better line editing. If printing gets costly or difficult to access, changing the font, type size, or other moves to reformat can cause the editing eye to react differently to the content. It becomes a trick to see it “fresh.”

read the essay aloud or under your breath

For the first time or couple of times, it’s a good idea to read the essay aloud or under your breath. By doing this, you can catch the more glaring errors and get a sense of whether the writing is readable and well organized. By reading aloud, it also slows the process down and helps catch errors that way. When reading aloud, you also should slow your pace from even your normal read-aloud speed, so as not to miss anything.

Consider Including Line Editing in the review process

On the second reading, consider getting a ruler or something with a straight edge, reading the piece line by line. Or use the document’s window size and scrolling tool to force your eye to one line. This prevents your mind from reading ahead and gets focus on the handful of words on a line. Smart editors or self-editing writers will use two straight edges so they are only looking at a line at a time, or buy special rulers with windows built into them. Line editing is called that because it suggests editing an article line by line.

Spell/Grammar Check Can Help, but...

Over the years, the spellcheck and grammar-check on word-processing programs, as well as ones online such as Grammarly, can go a long way toward catching problems in writing. However, simply “running spellcheck” is no replacement for a person editing. Several errors can still emerge in writing even after the computer checks it. So, use the tools in Word or other programs, but do not rely on them. And, the more you engage as an editor, the better your command of language will be in both written and spoken contexts.

... or is it?

A Second Set of Eyes Can Really Help

Consider finding another student with whom you can exchange essays and writings in order to get that "second set of eyes." Much like our peer review process, many studies show student exchange of work has enough net positives to make this a worthy endeavor. Ask them to watch for certain kinds of errors you struggle with and to line edit the writing to avoid embarrassing or costly errors.

Setting the writing aside can help

When working on a plan to create an essay, build in some time where you complete the essay a day or two before the deadline, set it aside for some period of time and return to do the revisions and edits. This allows your brain to disconnect from the essay and not anticipate what is on the page, and instead read what is actually there.

Common Errors can keep us on notice

Luckily, common errors are the ones that occur most often, so writers and editors make a conscious point to look for those. For example, a common basic error comes with the misspelling of homonyms, such as “no and know,” “to, two, and too,” “there, their, and they’re” or “it’s and its.” Watch for words you know to sound the same with different spellings. Even practiced writers commit these errors. Double check language or stylebooks or check the Internet if you’re unsure of usage.

Some possible issues to watch for

1. Subject-verb agreement

2. Pronoun/antecedent agreement

3. Pronouns have understood antecedents

4. Possessive words and phrases have apostrophes where needed

5. Commas are present where necessary, absent where they are not

6. Sentences are not run-ons

7. Sentences are not fragments

8. All sentences end in punctuation (no missing or double periods)

Some other issues to watch for

9. Note adjectives of quantity, make sure they’re used correctly

10. Note comparative and superlative adjectives and their use

11. Same-sounding words are not confused or misused

12. Watch for repeating words (sometimes we accidently write two words twice)

13. Break down complex action (“managed to create” just becomes “created”)

14. Watch for missing articles or prepositions.

15. Before you send off your paper, triple check proper name spellings, such as authors and titles. Some professors take off huge points for this kind of error. Misspelling the name of a famous scholar, for example, could cost you.