Some Editing Techniques

  • Sleep on it. The problem with editing something you’ve just written is that you are too close to it. You will tend to see what you expect to, rather than what is actually there. Similarly, you are less likely to spot structural problems on a document you have just written. Once a little time has passed, you can come to it fresh.
  • Print it out. Editing on screen is something many people find difficult. Most people find it easier to see typos and other problems on paper.
  • Use a monospaced font. A monospaced font is one, like Courier, where all the characters occupied the same amount of horisontal space, i.e. like a typewriter or a computer terminal. They are not suitable for finished work, because they look ugly. But some people find it easier to spot mistakes in a monospaced font.
  • Give it to someone else. A second opinion is often useful. Someone who does not know the detail of your case is more likely to spot gaps in your argument. And a fresh pair of eyes is more likely to spot mistakes.
  • Read it aloud. This is likely to be embarrassing, but is often worth doing anyway. Reading aloud will slow you down, making it easier to spot problems. Also, reading aloud will often show up stylistic problems that are harder to spot when reading.

All of these tips are just suggestions. Use what you find useful and ignore the rest.

If you have any tips of your own, please do share them in the comments.

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