8: Step 6 (Edit)

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US Air Force
US Department of Defense

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This chapter covers:

Editing vs. Feedback
Editing Fundamentals
Editing Efficiently: A Three-Step Approach
Drafting Basics: Do You Apply Them?
Common Grammar Traps
Common Writing Errors

Spotting problems in our own writing is not easy. Many of us take great pride in what we write. Once our words are on paper, we resent the suggestion that something could be wrong. We don’t like to check and change the words, the organization, the limits of the subject, the spelling, the punctuation or anything else, and we often have trouble taking the time to edit properly.

Yet editing is critical. Take the time to make sure you have a cohesive, clear, error-free product that the audience can relate to. Here’s the good news: if you completed the steps described in chapters 3-7, the editing will be a lot easier ... and at this point, you’re almost home free.

When you revise from the top down, from global structure to paragraphs to sentences to words, you are more likely to discover useful revisions than if you start at the bottom with words and sentences and work up.
-The Craft of Research