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Edit your drafts

edit your drafts

Everyone needs to go through the process of editing multiple drafts! There are very few writers who don't need to edit their work.

It's important then that you schedule sufficient time to edit your assignments and work. It's best to leave editing until after you have a first draft of a piece of writing.

The secret to editing is to edit in layers!

Here are some tips!

  1. Use your personality preferences to edit to suit your personality type.
  2. If you are a global learner, edit at the big picture level first – the macro level. Then edit at the micro (sentence) level.
  3. If you are a detail-focused sensing learner, edit at the micro (sentence) level first and then the macro or big picture level!
  4. Check that you have a clear argument or thesis that you can identity early enough in your writing.
  5. Check that you have appropriate and sufficient evidence and enough detail.
  6. Check that your sentences are grammatical and your spelling is correct.
  7. Check your referencing conventions are consistent and accurate.
My supervisor used to joke that I liked indulging in 'creative spelling', so even though I'd pass it through my spell checker, I'd always get someone else to proof it for me!
— Natalie

For a comprehensive editing checklist, see the QuickRef on Editing and proofreading your work.

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