1. Editing and Revising What is the difference in editing and revising? -The Complete Idiots Guide to Writing Well

2. Revising The word revise, means “to see again.”The word revise, means “to see again.” Revision is evaluating your writing to find ways to make it better. The process involves deleting, adding, replacing, and moving words, sentences, and passages in text.Revision is evaluating your writing to find ways to make it better. The process involves deleting, adding, replacing, and moving words, sentences, and passages in text.

3. Editing When you edit your draft, you are looking for mechanical errors in your writing. Search for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.When you edit your draft, you are looking for mechanical errors in your writing. Search for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.

4. Spit and Polish: Revising and Editing You wouldn’t leave the house without glancing in the mirror and patting that stray strand of hair in place. In the same way, you would never turn in a piece of writing that had not been carefully proofread for revisions and edits.You wouldn’t leave the house without glancing in the mirror and patting that stray strand of hair in place. In the same way, you would never turn in a piece of writing that had not been carefully proofread for revisions and edits.

5. The Proof’s in the Pudding Your writing will always be better if you go over it with a critical eye. Revise and edit your draft by cutting material, replacing material, adding material, and rearranging what’s already there.Your writing will always be better if you go over it with a critical eye. Revise and edit your draft by cutting material, replacing material, adding material, and rearranging what’s already there. Don’t be shocked if your revised draft bears as much resemblance to the first draft as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.Don’t be shocked if your revised draft bears as much resemblance to the first draft as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.

6. Judgment Day Revising and editing are part of the creative process of writing.Revising and editing are part of the creative process of writing. When you come to this step in the writing process, you evaluate your document to see what needs to be deleted, added, and moved to make your message more effective.When you come to this step in the writing process, you evaluate your document to see what needs to be deleted, added, and moved to make your message more effective.

7. Little Things Matter Revision isn’t one stop shopping because you must rethink your writing several times before you are satisfied.Revision isn’t one stop shopping because you must rethink your writing several times before you are satisfied. As you make each round of improvements, you again assess your writing to see if it suits your audience and purpose.As you make each round of improvements, you again assess your writing to see if it suits your audience and purpose.

8. Audience and Purpose Audience is the people who will read your writing. To meet their needs, ask yourself,Audience is the people who will read your writing. To meet their needs, ask yourself, “What does my audience know about my topic?” Purpose is your reason for writing. To focus on the purpose, ask yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish?” There are four main purposes:Purpose is your reason for writing. To focus on the purpose, ask yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish?” There are four main purposes: 1. To entertain (narrative)1. To entertain (narrative) 2. To prove a point (persuasive)2. To prove a point (persuasive) 3. To explain an issue (expository)3. To explain an issue (expository) 4. To describe something (descriptive)4. To describe something (descriptive)

9. Revising and Editing is like Exercise Revising and editing, like exercise and oat bran is good for you.Revising and editing, like exercise and oat bran is good for you. It doesn’t mean you didn’t do a fine job on your first draft or that you are not a good writer.It doesn’t mean you didn’t do a fine job on your first draft or that you are not a good writer. In fact, just the opposite is the case. The finest writers tend to do the most revising.In fact, just the opposite is the case. The finest writers tend to do the most revising. The revision process involves judging and rethinking your first thoughts to make improvements.The revision process involves judging and rethinking your first thoughts to make improvements.

10. Revise for Form and Content After revising for audience and purpose, next revise for the form and content of your work. Form is the shape of your writing. For example, the form of your writing may be a story, poem, or play. Adjust your draft until it meets the requirements for that specific type of writing. Content is what you’re saying. When you revise for content, you make sure that each part of your draft is clear and logical.

11. Revising and Editing Once you understand how the revision and editing process works, you’ll find the process relatively painless and even interesting. It’s actually my favorite part of writing because it’s like a puzzle, as I try to see how each piece fits best.Once you understand how the revision and editing process works, you’ll find the process relatively painless and even interesting. It’s actually my favorite part of writing because it’s like a puzzle, as I try to see how each piece fits best.

12. Less Can Be More As you learned earlier, revision involves deleting material that’s off topic, or repeats of what you’ve already said. As you revise, look for ways to tighten your sentences by removing unnecessary material that clogs your writing.As you learned earlier, revision involves deleting material that’s off topic, or repeats of what you’ve already said. As you revise, look for ways to tighten your sentences by removing unnecessary material that clogs your writing. Good things often come in small packages, but never fear: You don’t have to cut to the bone to improve your writing,Good things often come in small packages, but never fear: You don’t have to cut to the bone to improve your writing,

13. Less Can Be More Look for the following unnecessary words: RepetitionRevision Bring it to final closure.Bring it to closure. FillerCut the fluff The point that I am tryingNever miss a good The point that I am tryingNever miss a good to make is that you should chance to shut up. to make is that you should chance to shut up. never miss a good chance to never miss a good chance to shut up. shut up. Unnecessary ModifiersSelect the best modifier The big, huge, massive cloudThe massive cloud covered completely covered over the sun.the sun.

14. All Dressed Up and Ready to Go Effective writing uses relevant support toEffective writing uses relevant support to bring your topic to life, prove your point, and engage your readers. This “support” can be details, facts, definitions, examples, statistics, and quotations. Adding them to a draft is called elaboration. As you revise your draft, see where you need to add more detail to make your writing come alive.

15. Elaboration & Deletion ElaborationElaboration The girl cried. Mary, a 13-year-old girl,weeped hysterically because her mom died in a car accident.Mary, a 13-year-old girl,weeped hysterically because her mom died in a car accident. Deletion of unnecessary words (fluff)Deletion of unnecessary words (fluff) As a matter of fact, in my personal opinion, I feel that students should be allowed to carry personal cell phones, as long as they store them in their lockers during school hours. Students should be allowed to possess cell phones, as long as they store them in their lockers.Students should be allowed to possess cell phones, as long as they store them in their lockers.

16. Revise by Rewording Sometimes, you’ll need to select new words to get your meaning across. When you revise by rewording, you replace words and revise sentences to make your writing accurate and fresh.Sometimes, you’ll need to select new words to get your meaning across. When you revise by rewording, you replace words and revise sentences to make your writing accurate and fresh. Look for words you used too often.Look for words you used too often. Replace repeated nouns with pronouns.Replace repeated nouns with pronouns. Substitute other repeated words with synonyms.Substitute other repeated words with synonyms. Ditch empty, overused adjectives such as excellent and nice.Ditch empty, overused adjectives such as excellent and nice. Sharpen your words by finding the precise word you want, not a close relative.Sharpen your words by finding the precise word you want, not a close relative.

17. Crazy Glue Your Sentences If your ideas don’t cling together like toddler’s and chocolate, you can add transitions.If your ideas don’t cling together like toddler’s and chocolate, you can add transitions. A transition can be a word (such as also) or a phrase (such as for example) that shows how ideas are related. Each transitional word and phrase indicates a slightly different shade of meaning, so choose your transitions as carefully as you choose your peaches.A transition can be a word (such as also) or a phrase (such as for example) that shows how ideas are related. Each transitional word and phrase indicates a slightly different shade of meaning, so choose your transitions as carefully as you choose your peaches.

18. Transitions Addition of Information: and, also, besides, finally, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, next, too, thenAddition of Information: and, also, besides, finally, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, next, too, then Result: accordingly, as a result, consequently, due to this, so, thereforeResult: accordingly, as a result, consequently, due to this, so, therefore Time Order: after, at length, before, currently, during, eventually, finally, first, immediately, in the future, later, meanwhile, next, now, second, secondly, soon, subsequently, then, thirdTime Order: after, at length, before, currently, during, eventually, finally, first, immediately, in the future, later, meanwhile, next, now, second, secondly, soon, subsequently, then, third