Editing and proof-reading

Editing is the stage of your writing when you check for the meaning of what you have written, look at how you have expressed your argument and ensure that you have a sense of flow from one paragraph to the next.

When editing you might want to check that you have: 

• linked any references from other people’s ideas to your own argument
• not made statements which generalise about an event or group of people, but that are backed up with evidence and are specific
• used a variety of sentence lengths throughout your writing
• a sense of flow, which guides the reader through your work and your thought-process.

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You can check for your flow of ideas, and that you have clearly shown the reader through your work, with ‘signposts’.

Study resource: Understanding and using 'signposts' in your writing 

Watch: 'Checking the flow of your argument'

The last stage before you hand in a piece of work is to check it carefully by proof-reading. This can include:

• Checking for spelling errors and misused words
• Ensuring numbers are presented correctly
• Checking punctuation in your writing such as commas and brackets
• Ensuring that graphs and figures are labelled accurately
• Consider how you have paraphrased or quoted the ideas of others.

Ensure you include time for proof-reading when you planning your schedule for any written assignment. Proof-reading can be tricky as you may be so familiar with your work that you don’t notice small mistakes.

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Study resource: Strategies for proof-reading

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