Grade: Grade 10 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Advanced Vocabulary Lesson: 5 of 6 SAT: Craft+Structure ACT: Reading

Editing Workshop

Learn

Effective editing is a crucial step in the writing process. This lesson focuses on editing strategies specifically related to vocabulary: identifying imprecise words, correcting misused vocabulary, eliminating redundancy, and ensuring stylistic consistency throughout a text.

The Vocabulary Editing Checklist

  1. Precision Check: Are there vague words (things, stuff, nice, good, bad, very) that could be replaced with specific vocabulary?
  2. Accuracy Check: Is every word used correctly? Look up any words you are uncertain about.
  3. Redundancy Check: Are there unnecessary repetitions or words that add no new meaning?
  4. Connotation Check: Do word choices convey the intended tone and attitude?
  5. Consistency Check: Is the level of formality consistent throughout?
  6. Overloading Check: Are there sentences with too many advanced words that obscure meaning?

Common Vocabulary Errors

  • Commonly Confused Words: affect/effect, complement/compliment, principle/principal, allusion/illusion
  • Malapropisms: Using a word that sounds similar but means something different (e.g., "pacific" for "specific")
  • Dead Metaphors: Overused figurative language that has lost its impact ("thinking outside the box")
  • Jargon Overuse: Technical language that alienates general readers

Editing Strategies

Read Aloud: Hearing your words helps identify awkward phrasing and word choice issues.

Reverse Outline: Summarize each paragraph in one word or phrase to check for consistent focus.

The 24-Hour Rule: When possible, set your writing aside before editing to see it with fresh eyes.

Examples

Example 1: Precision Editing

Original: "The thing that makes this book good is that it has interesting stuff about history."

Edited: "This book's strength lies in its compelling analysis of overlooked historical events."

Changes Made: Replaced "thing" with "strength," "good" with "compelling analysis," and "interesting stuff" with specific content description.

Example 2: Redundancy Editing

Original: "In my personal opinion, I think that the author's main point is essentially that technology has completely transformed and changed modern society entirely."

Edited: "The author argues that technology has transformed modern society."

Changes Made: Removed "in my personal opinion, I think," "essentially," and "completely...entirely" (redundant modifiers), and "transformed and changed" (redundant synonyms).

Example 3: Connotation Editing

Original (unintentionally negative): "The politician's scheme to reform healthcare was ambitious."

Edited (neutral): "The politician's plan to reform healthcare was ambitious."

Changes Made: "Scheme" has negative connotations (deceptive plotting); "plan" is neutral.

Example 4: Consistency Editing

Original (inconsistent): "The study's findings demonstrate a correlation between sleep deprivation and cognitive impairment. Basically, not getting enough shut-eye makes you dumber."

Edited (consistent): "The study's findings demonstrate a correlation between sleep deprivation and cognitive impairment. In practical terms, insufficient sleep diminishes mental acuity."

Changes Made: Replaced informal language ("basically," "shut-eye," "dumber") with academic vocabulary that matches the first sentence.

Practice

Edit the following passages for vocabulary precision, accuracy, redundancy, connotation, and consistency.

1. Edit for precision: "There are a lot of different things that can make a person successful in life, and some of them are more important than others."

2. Edit for redundancy: "The biography provides a true and accurate account of the actual facts and real events of the historical figure's past life history."

3. Edit for accuracy (find and correct the misused word): "The teacher was very complementary about the student's essay, praising its organization and insight."

4. Edit for connotation (make the tone more positive): "The aggressive journalist interrogated the celebrity about their personal life."

5. Edit for consistency (match formal to formal): "The empirical evidence substantiates the hypothesis. So yeah, the scientists were pretty much right about everything."

6. Edit this paragraph using the full vocabulary editing checklist: "There are many different reasons why environmental conservation is really, really important and essential to our future survival. One thing is that without the environment, we would not have the things we need to live. Another thing is that animals and plants are nice to have around. In conclusion, the environment is very important and we should try to save it."

7. Edit for accuracy (find and correct the misused word): "The principal reason for the company's decline was its inability to adapt to changing market conditions."

8. Edit for overloading: "The magniloquent orator's grandiloquent peroration obfuscated the perspicuous verities of the matter at hand."

9. Edit for dead metaphors and cliches: "At the end of the day, we need to think outside the box and push the envelope to move the needle on this issue."

10. Edit this passage for all vocabulary issues: "The affect of social media on teenagers is a hot button issue that effects many people. Alot of parents are worried about there kids spending to much time online. Some people think social media is good and some people think its bad. Its a very complicated situation that requires us to look at all the different aspects and factors involved."

11. Edit for connotation (make the tone more negative): "The determined protesters occupied the building for three weeks, refusing to leave until their demands were considered."

12. Comprehensive editing: Revise this paragraph to improve vocabulary at every level: "The book is about a guy who goes on a trip to find himself. He has some good experiences and some bad experiences along the way. In the end, he learns some important lessons about life and stuff. I thought it was a pretty good book overall."

Check Your Understanding

1. What are the six elements of the vocabulary editing checklist?

2. What is a malapropism? Give an example.

3. Why is reading your work aloud an effective editing strategy?

4. How can inconsistent vocabulary levels affect a reader's experience?

Next Steps

  • Apply the vocabulary editing checklist to a recent piece of your own writing
  • Create a personal list of commonly confused words you need to watch for
  • Complete the Unit Checkpoint to demonstrate your advanced vocabulary skills
  • Return to practice problems periodically for review