Whether you’re a student at high school, college, or university, a fresh graduate sending out your resume, an employee in a large corporation, or the owner of a business, learning how to edit your own writing is an important skill.
The difference between a poorly edited and a well edited piece of writing can be vast. A polished assignment can help you earn a passing grade, a polished resume may earn you a job interview, and a polished email can mean that you’re taken more seriously by your peers.
Learning how to self-edit can take time and years of practice. Fortunately, there are some effective tips that can help you polish your own writing more quickly.
#1 Ask a Friend to Read Your Work
If you have a friend who edits professionally, then ask them for help. They can edit your assignment, resume, or essay and give you some pointers. However, your friend may politely decline if they’re too busy with their own work.
Alternatively, you can ask your mentor to read your work before submitting it. They may spot errors that you missed.
#2 Don’t Rely Solely on Your Word Processor
Most people rely only on their word processor to catch errors. Unfortunately, word processors are far from perfect and can easily be fooled. Use at least one more proofreading software for more polished work.
#3 Try a Professional Service
One of the most effective ways to improve your work is to use custom essay writing services from a genuine, experienced, and reputable company. Here is what to look for:
- Their writers are native English speakers. Hiring a service that employs second-language speakers may leave your assignment with more errors than before.
- Their staff is familiar with a variety of subjects, including English, history, literature, marketing, business, finance, management, law, and more.
- Their writers are professional academics with years of experience and qualifications like MA and PhDs. Such experts are more likely to polish your paper to perfection.
#4 Try Taking a Break
It’s human nature to gloss over the mistakes in your own writing after you’ve read it a few times. Take a break for a few hours to reset your brain. After you return, you may spot obvious grammatical mistakes and syntax errors.
#5 Try Reading Your Writing in a Different Format
Try printing out the assignment you’ve written on your computer. Reading it on a paper may help you spot problems. You can also try changing the font size, color, or type. These methods may help create an emotional distance between you and your assignment.
#6 Read It out Loud
When you read silently, your mind can move too fast. When you read it out loud, your mind is more likely to move at the at same pace. This can help you catch errors. You may also try reading with your finger. Point at each word as you read to stay focused.
These tips can help you edit your own writing. It will take practice and you’ll learn from your mistakes. And if your work is important then don’t hesitate to hire a professional.