Assignment no:- 1

Topic name:- Editing

Roll no#19
Class :- Bs( Accounting and Finance)
Subject name:-Writing Skills
Date of Submission:- 06-05-2019

Presented to:-
Professor Bilal Farooqi

Presented by:-
Rana Muzamil

Government College of Commerce

Editing:

Editing is the process writers use to catch errors typical to their own writing. Because editing
focuses on problems that are particular to an individual writer and that occur again and again
effective editing requires that you know the types of errors you typically make and that you have
specific strategies for finding those errors.

Types of Editing:

Technical editing

Technical editing involves reviewing text written on a technical topic, identifying usage errors
and ensuring adherence to a style guide.

Technical editing may include the correction of grammatical mistakes, misspellings, mistyping,
incorrect punctuation, inconsistencies in usage, poorly structured sentences, wrong scientific
terms, wrong units and dimensions, inconsistency in significant figures, technical ambivalence,
technical disambiguation, statements conflicting with general scientific knowledge, correction of
synopsis, content, index, headings and subheadings, correcting data and chart presentation in a
research paper or report, and correcting errors in citations.

Large companies dedicate experienced writers to the technical editing function. Organizations
that cannot afford dedicated editors typically have experienced writers peer-edit text produced by
less experienced colleagues.

It helps if the technical editor is familiar with the subject being edited. The "technical"
knowledge that an editor gains over time while working on a particular product or technology
does give the editor an edge over another who has just started editing content related to that
product or technology. But essential general skills are attention to detail, the ability to sustain
focus while working through lengthy pieces of text on complex topics, tact in dealing with
writers, and excellent communication skills.
Editing services

Paid editing redirects here. For paid editing on Wikipedia, see Paid editing on Wikipedia .Editing
is a growing field of work in the service industry. Paid editing services may be provided by
specialized editing firms or by self-employed (freelance) editors.

Editing firms may employ a team of in-house editors, rely on a network of individual contractors
or both. Such firms are able to handle editing in a wide range of topics and genres, depending on
the skills of individual editors. The services provided by these editors may be varied and can
include proofreading, copy editing, online editing, developmental editing, editing for search
engine optimization (SEO), etc.

Self-employed editors work directly for clients (e.g., authors, publishers) or offer their services
through editing firms, or both. They may specialize in a type of editing (e.g., copy editing) and in
a particular subject area. Those who work directly for authors and develop professional
relationships with them are called authors' editors.

Technical Editing:

Technical editing involves reviewing text written on a technical topic, identifying usage errors
and ensuring adherence to a style guide.

Technical editing may include the correction of grammatical mistakes, misspellings, mistyping,
incorrect punctuation, inconsistencies in usage, poorly structured sentences, wrong scientific
terms, wrong units and dimensions, inconsistency in significant figures, technical ambivalence,
technical disambiguation, statements conflicting with general scientific knowledge, correction of
synopsis, content, index, headings and subheadings, correcting data and chart presentation in a
research paper or report, and correcting errors in citations

Strategies for editing:

 Read the paper aloud as if you are reading a story. Listen for errors. If you listen carefully,
you will be able to correct any errors that you hear. Listen for incomplete phrases, sentences
and ideas, as well as things that sound funny.

 Stop and change anything you wish as soon as you see it punctuation, spelling, and sentence
structure. Move through the paper at a reasonable rate.
 Read the entire paper. Listen for spots that aren’t readable, that feel or sound awkward, or
that don’t seem clear. Mark these spots. Then, when you’re done reading the whole paper,
go back to fix them.

 Allow yourself sometime between writing your paper and editing. Ideally, wait a day; this
allows the writing to get cold, giving you an opportunity to "see" the errors. If you can’t wait
a day, go away and do something else for a while work for another class, cleaning, eating so
that you can return to your work with a fresh mind and fresh eyes.

Steps for Editing:

Read one sentence at a time

Using a sheet of clean paper, cover all the text except the first sentence. Read this sentence
carefully. Does it sound and look correct? Does it say what you want it to say? Continue down
the page in the same way.

Look for patterns of error

Personal patterns: All writers make mistakes that are typical of their writing. If you always
forget commas, check for commas. If you always have trouble with transitions, look for
transitions. If you work on wordiness, look for this. Bring your essays to the writing center! A
tutor can help you to locate the patterns of error.

List

Keep a list of your trouble spots. Use this as a checklist and refer to it as you edit.

Know your grammar and punctuation rules

Study the rules of grammar and punctuation. Review the ones you don’t know. If you have a
writing handbook or handouts, keep them out when you write. Refer to them when you have
questions as you write and edit.

The Importance of Self-Editing:

Becoming a good editor of your own work takes time and practice, but it’s worth it. You’ll learn
how to improve the structure and style of your writing, communicate more clearly and eliminate
grammatical errors.

Companies want copy that reflects well on their business, provides value to their readers and
drives sales, so well-edited content will also look more attractive to content buyers.

Tips for Editing:

1. Read Your Writing in a New Format

If you typed it, print it out. Alternatively, convert your Word document to PDF format, or change
your text to a different font, color, and size. These techniques will help you see your content
from an “outsider’s” perspective and give you a more critical eye.

2. Take a Break

Let your writing rest for a few hours or overnight. Putting a literal distance between you and
your work also creates an emotional distance. When you return to it, you’re more likely to spot
awkward phrases and obvious mistakes.

3. Read it Out Loud

To discover the rhythm of your writing, read it out loud. The best writing sounds smooth, so if
you find yourself stammering through poorly worded sentences, you know it needs improving.

4. Remove Uncertain Language

Good communication sounds authoritative, so avoid wishy-washy sentences. If you use phrases
like “seems to be” or “could be a reason for,” you sound indecisive and it weakens your
message.

5. Avoid Repetitive Phrases

Try not to rely on certain words or phrases to make your point; readers will notice when you
repeat yourself. Aim for variety. Use a word frequency counter to find repetitive words and scan
a thesaurus to find alternatives.

6. Eliminate Filler Words

Use your word processor’s find functionality to search for “there,” “here,” and “it” to find
redundant words and phrases. For example: It’s fun to edit your own writing. The sentence
formation weakens the writing with unnecessary words that lack focus. This is more effective:

7. Remove Weak “To Be” Verbs

Using versions of the verb “to be” can weaken the words that follow. Replace “am,” “is,” “are,”
“was,” “were,” “been,” and “being” with stronger alternatives. For example:

Weak sentence: They were not enjoying the editing process.

Strong sentence: They hated the editing process.

Stronger sentence: The editing process repulsed them.

8. Remove Weak Adjectives

Weak adjectives also spoil your writing. When describing nouns and pronouns, use more
powerful adjectives and avoid the words “really” or “very.”

Weak sentence: He was really scared of snakes.

Strong sentence: He was terrified of snakes.

Stronger sentence: Snakes terrified him.

9. Use Grammarly to Find Mistakes

The Grammarly proofreading tool looks at spelling and grammar mistakes and checks more than
250 advanced rules to find mistakes such as double negatives, run-on sentences, and dangling
modifiers. After you’ve used Grammarly a few times, you’ll start to see common weaknesses in
your writing.

10. Subscribe to The Chicago Manual of Style Online

The well-known writing guide to style, usage, and grammar is now accessible online. If you
write for a living, consider paying for an annual subscription. It’s currently $39, but with advice
covering every aspect of the mechanics of writing, you’re investing in your future as a writer.

11. Separate Your Editing Tasks

If the thought of editing your own work terrifies you, break down the tasks into a series of
manageable steps. In the first read-through, check your ideas flow logically. In the next read-
through, look at sentence structure, and so on