Editing
Editing is the final step of the writing process. Check your grammar,
your punctuation and spelling, make sure you kept any promises you made
throughout your paper, make sure references are cited in correct MLA
(page 137) or APA (page 141) format, etc.
Reading your paper out loud makes editing easier because most
people’s ears are better trained at noticing misteaks than the “inner voice”
of the mind which tends to repair errors on the fly without noticing them.
Did you catch the typo in the last sentence, for example?
Do not confuse mere editing with thorough revision.
Failure to edit carefully can create a negative impression that may
annoy readers, reflect poorly on the author, or discredit your entire paper.
If the author appears uneducated, sloppy, careless, or rushed, then how
dependable does that make the paper’s ideas?
This chapter will cover the most frequent editing needs.