Editing Workshop
Master the revision process to transform drafts into polished, publication-ready writing.
Learn
Editing is where good writing becomes excellent writing. This lesson distinguishes between revision (rethinking content and structure) and editing (refining language and correcting errors), providing strategies for both.
Revision vs. Editing
- Revision (Global): Examining argument logic, organization, evidence use, and overall coherence
- Editing (Local): Refining sentences, word choice, grammar, and mechanics
Always revise before editing. There is no point in perfecting sentences that may be cut during revision.
The ARMS Strategy for Revision
- A - Add: What information, evidence, or explanation is missing?
- R - Remove: What is redundant, off-topic, or weakening the argument?
- M - Move: What would be more effective in a different location?
- S - Substitute: What could be replaced with stronger content?
Editing Focus Areas
- Clarity: Is every sentence immediately understandable?
- Concision: Can any words be cut without losing meaning?
- Coherence: Do sentences and paragraphs flow logically?
- Correctness: Are grammar, punctuation, and spelling accurate?
- Consistency: Is style uniform throughout?
Common Issues to Address
| Issue | Example | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Wordiness | "Due to the fact that" | "Because" |
| Vague language | "This shows that things changed" | "This evidence demonstrates that attitudes shifted" |
| Weak verbs | "There is a need for reform" | "Reform is necessary" or "The system requires reform" |
| Pronoun ambiguity | "They said it was important" | "The researchers emphasized the significance of this finding" |
| Passive overuse | "The study was conducted" | "We conducted the study" or "Smith conducted the study" |
Editing Strategies
- Read aloud: Hearing your writing reveals awkward phrasing
- Read backward: Reading sentences in reverse order helps catch errors
- Change the format: Print your draft or change the font to see it fresh
- Take breaks: Distance from your writing improves objectivity
- Use checklists: Systematic review catches consistent issues
Examples
See revision and editing strategies in action.
Example 1: Revision for Argument Strength
Original:
"Social media affects teenagers. Many studies have looked at this topic. Some say it is bad and some say it is good. More research is needed."
Revised:
"Research on social media's impact on adolescent mental health yields conflicting conclusions. While Twenge (2017) links increased screen time to rising depression rates, Odgers (2019) argues that correlation does not establish causation and that methodological limitations undermine alarmist claims. This debate highlights the need for longitudinal studies that account for individual differences in usage patterns."
What changed: Added specific evidence, acknowledged complexity, identified a clear direction for the argument.
Example 2: Editing for Concision
Original (47 words):
"In today's modern world, there are many different challenges that face contemporary society. One of the most important challenges that we face today is the challenge of climate change, which is a very significant issue that affects all of us."
Edited (15 words):
"Climate change represents one of contemporary society's most significant and universal challenges."
Techniques used: Eliminated redundancy ("today's modern"), removed filler phrases ("there are"), combined related ideas, chose precise language.
Example 3: Editing for Clarity
Original:
"The implementation of the policy, which was controversial from the start and faced opposition from multiple stakeholder groups who had varying concerns about different aspects of it, ultimately failed to achieve its stated objectives."
Edited:
"The controversial policy faced opposition from multiple stakeholder groups and ultimately failed to achieve its objectives. Critics raised concerns about implementation timelines, funding mechanisms, and enforcement procedures."
What changed: Broke up the long sentence, specified the "varying concerns" to add substance.
Practice
Apply editing and revision strategies to these exercises.
Practice Item 1
Revise this paragraph using the ARMS strategy (Add, Remove, Move, Substitute):
"Education is important. People need education to get jobs. Schools teach many things. Students learn reading and math. Education helps society."
Practice Item 2
Edit this sentence for concision (target: under 15 words):
"It is important to note that there are a number of different factors that contribute to the overall success of a business in the marketplace."
Practice Item 3
Identify and correct all errors in this passage:
"Their are several reasons why student's struggle with writing. First, many student's dont read enough, which effects their vocabulary. Second, they dont practice regular. Third, there not taught proper revision techniques in high school."
Practice Item 4
Rewrite these sentences to eliminate vague language:
- "The study found some interesting things."
- "This shows that something needs to change."
- "The results were significant in various ways."
Practice Item 5
Convert these passive constructions to active voice:
- "The experiment was conducted by the research team."
- "It was decided that changes should be made."
- "The data were analyzed using statistical software."
Practice Item 6
Improve the coherence of this paragraph by adding appropriate transitions:
"Online learning offers flexibility. Traditional classrooms provide structure. Students have different learning styles. Some thrive independently. Others need face-to-face interaction. Hybrid models attempt to combine both approaches."
Practice Item 7
Edit this passage for parallel structure:
"Effective leaders must communicate clearly, making decisions quickly, and they should also be inspiring their teams to achieve goals."
Practice Item 8
Identify the pronoun reference errors and rewrite for clarity:
"When the managers met with the employees, they expressed concern about the new policy. They said it would affect their work, and they promised to reconsider it."
Practice Item 9
Revise this introduction to create a stronger hook and clearer thesis:
"This paper is about technology in education. I will discuss how technology affects learning. There are both positive and negative effects that I will explore in this essay."
Practice Item 10
Edit for consistency in tone (choose academic or conversational and maintain it):
"The empirical evidence demonstrates a correlation between socioeconomic status and educational outcomes. Basically, if you're from a poor family, you're gonna have a harder time in school. This disparity warrants further scholarly investigation."
Practice Item 11
Create an editing checklist with at least 8 items specific to your own writing weaknesses.
Practice Item 12
Take a paragraph from your own writing and apply the complete revision and editing process, documenting each change you make and why.
Check Your Understanding
Evaluate your editing and revision skills.
- Can you distinguish between revision (global) and editing (local) concerns?
- Are you able to apply the ARMS strategy systematically?
- Can you identify and correct common errors in grammar, punctuation, and mechanics?
- Do you have strategies for improving concision without losing meaning?
- Can you recognize and fix issues with clarity, coherence, and consistency?
- Have you developed a personal editing checklist based on your patterns?
Next Steps
- Create a personal editing checklist based on feedback you have received
- Practice editing peers' work to develop your critical eye
- Move on to the Unit Checkpoint to demonstrate your college writing skills
- Build the habit of multiple revision passes for all important writing