Editing is the foremost step that writers take after completing their first draft. Editing manuscript includes re-reading and revising the first draft several times to ensure that the paper is well-organised, the transitions among paragraphs are even and logical, and the facts and data provided support the subject matter of the paper. The present article ‘tips on editing manuscript’ provides some effective tips and strategies to improve the revision and editing of any written paper.
Effective Tips on Editing Manuscript
Editing manuscript needs careful study and critical assessment. Editing can be done on a number of levels as described below.
Subject-matter
- Ensure that everything that the assignment needs has been completed.
- Ensure that all the claims made in the paper are accurate.
- Ensure that all the claims are consistent and are supported with sufficient proof.
- Clarify whether the paper is presenting an argument. If yes, then ensure that the argument is complete.
- Ensure that all the data and information provided in the paper is significant to the assignment and/or writing objective.
General Structure
- The paper should have a suitable introduction and conclusion.
- The thesis should be evidently stated in the introduction section.
- Each and every paragraph of the paper should be associated to the thesis.
- Ensure that the paragraphs are arranged in a consistent order with a smooth flow between them.
- In order to check the overall structure of the paper, an outline of the paper can be made after finishing the first draft.
Paragraph Organisation
- Each paragraph should have a clear and concise topic sentence.
- Ensure that every paragraph provides adequate details about the concerned topic.
- Check that there are no irrelevant or misplaced sentences in any of the paragraphs.
Clarity
- Define and give adequate details about any important term that might seem unclear to the readers.
- Ensure that the meaning of each sentence is clear and understandable.
- Check and ensure that each and every pronoun (he/she, it/they, who/which, this/that, etc.) is clear to what it refers to.
- Choose the correct/appropriate words and phrases to convey your ideas.
- Avoid using difficult and complex words that aren’t part of your normal vocabulary since they may be misused, thereby destroying the sentence meaning.
Style and Method
- Check and ensure that the tone (formal/informal/persuasive) used is apt and proper.
- Vary the length and structure of the sentences in the paper.
- Avoid the overuse of passive voice in the paper.
- Avoid the use of superfluous words and phrases, such as ‘there is’, ‘there are’, ‘due to the fact that’, etc.
Citations
- Quotes, paraphrases, facts and information taken from different sources should be cited appropriately.
- Ensure that the citations are in the proper format.
By following the above given tips on editing manuscript, you can learn to make considerable modifications and corrections in the subject-matter and wording of your paper. Tips on editing manuscript provide the basic guidelines and strategies to identify the patterns of error and correcting them effectively. After identifying the patterns of error, one can develop methods for spotting and correcting further occurrences of that pattern.