3 Easy Editings Tips After You've Finished Your Paper

When you put the very last period in your essay, it's tempting to call it done. You are never completely done until you've taken the time to do some final proofreading and revising. It may sound like more work is ahead of you, but if you genuinely want to hand in a successful paper and get your best grade, revising, editing, and proofreading are essential. You are going to be looking at your essay as a whole to see what works, what doesn't, and what final touches you need to fix. We have for you several of our best tips to make sure your essay is the best it can be.

1.  Walk away from it for a while.

Even if you are getting close to your deadline, take a break from your paper. By putting your paper down, you are giving your brain a chance to refresh. That way, when you come back to it, it will be with fresh eyes. Suddenly, you'll be able to spot errors and fix phrasing and wording when it wouldn't have been as obvious before. Even if you give yourself 20 minutes and go for a quick coffee break, you'll be glad you gave yourself that extra time. Ideally, put your paper to the side for 24 hours before you go back to it.

2.  Read it out loud.

It may feel incredibly change, but when you read your essay out loud, you will immediately notice any flaws. You can usually spot an area you need to fix if you can't read a sentence without stumbling, or it comes across awkwardly as you read it. If you can, have a friend read it to you so you both can catch any errors. By doing this, your brain processes the information in a new way. You'll notice sentences that are too long, too short, or repetitive.

3.  Make sure it is properly formatted.

Your instructor has provided specific formatting requirements for your essay. Go through the essay and ensure you are following the guidelines they have set out. They may be asking you to use APA or MLA format. If you have any problems with these formatting types, visit your local writing center and ask a tutor to assist you with any errors you have made with this type of formatting. Also, check for things like any spacing requirements, fonts, and headers you are required to have in your paper. These are things that you can miss in the final draft. Also, make sure you check your citations and make sure they are correctly quoted and cited.

By following these editing tips, you are giving yourself the best chance at turning in a paper that will impress your instructors. The next time you are tasked with a paper, be sure to check out our writing guides for assistance. We offer tools that can help make your next essay assignment an easy one.