Papers that are changed before submission generally obtain higher ratings than those that are not. When editing, prioritize large changes (moving paragraphs, removing sections, adding new information) above minor adjustments (grammar, spelling, citation formats). Consider whether the change is worth the time it will take to make it correctly. If not, leave it for later.
Writing strategies include any practice that helps writers improve their work, be it learning how to write better or using certain tools. There are many strategies effective writers use. Here are just a few: rereading, planning, self-editing, seeking feedback, thinking about audience needs and desires, trying different styles/forms.
Many writers find it helpful to create writing routines that keep them focused on their project. They may plan what task they will do next, such as writing for a specific amount of time, saving their work periodically, or hiring someone to edit their paper for them. Others find relief in working on something else for a while after finishing a section or paragraph. This allows their mind to focus without straying into thoughts about what should happen next, which can sometimes cause problems when returning to their work later.
It's important to know what strategies work for you so you can use them on your paper.
Designing a Revision Strategy
You strengthen your reading and analytical abilities during the editing process. You learn to question your own views, which deepens and strengthens your argument. You learn to identify your writing's flaws. Only by viewing your work through other eyes can you get a clear picture of what needs to be changed or improved.
The first draft is where you develop and refine your ideas and opinions by writing them down. It is not intended to be read or heard by anyone other than you. As you edit your work, you will become more aware of its weaknesses and deficiencies, which will help you in identifying how to improve it.
Revising allows you to see your story from another perspective, which can only benefit it later on. Also, it forces you to be concise and clear in your writing. If there are parts that you feel are not necessary, they will eventually disappear as you continue writing.
Finally, revising improves your ability to analyze information because you have to do so while thinking about what will be needed later on when rewriting sections or whole paragraphs.
In conclusion, revision is essential for strong writing. Without it, your work will fall short of reaching its full potential.
Revising allows you to preview your work on behalf of the intended reader. Revision is much more than proofreading, but it does include some detail checking in the final editing step. A good revision and editing process may turn a bad first draft into an outstanding final paper. The aim of revision is to make your writing better by considering all aspects of style and structure.
Editing is about making improvements that will not distort the meaning of your work. This includes grammar, spelling, punctuation, layout, and tone. You should never submit a manuscript for publication without having gone through at least one major revision.
Sometimes authors feel that because they wrote something down quickly on a notebook page or in their mind while riding the bus home from school that it would be fine as a draft. But unless you edit this "quick draft" before submitting it for publication, you could be exposing yourself to legal issues or worse yet, someone else's idea!
The purpose of editing is to remove any ambiguity or uncertainty about the message of your paper. If anything about your work is unclear or confusing, your readers will miss the point you are trying to make. They need to understand exactly what you are saying with no misunderstanding allowed during interpretation of your ideas.
Thus, editing is also about clarification of thought and expression. It helps your writing to be consistent and clear across multiple sentences and paragraphs.