EDITING

IN
CREATIVE
WRITING
ALDRIN B. GARCIA
BSE-ENGLISH 3-1
 EDITIN
G process in which a writer or
The stage of the writing
editor strives to improve a draft by correcting errors and
making words and sentences clearer, more precise, and as
effective as possible.
The process of editing involves adding, deleting, and
rearranging words to cut the clutter and streamline overall
structure.
 1. LOOK AT THE OVERALL
STRUCTURE
Be intentional about looking for the overall organization, structure, and flow of the paper. Imagine
yourself as your classmate or instructor.

 Does the order of your sentences flow smoothly within a paragraph?

 Does the tone of each sentence match the rest of the paper?
 Do your paragraphs flow smoothly and logically with transitions?
 Does each paragraph stick to one idea?
 TRANSITION WORDS creating SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

act as bridges that string together the ideas a word, phrase, or clause that usually has in speech the
conveyed in a document by establishing a intonation of a sentence but lacks the grammatical structure
connection between sentences and paragraphs. usually found in the sentences of formal and especially written
composition.

SENTENCE A group of words expressing a complete thought

or idea. (Subject, Verb, Complete thought)

The train was late. Was running late that day.

Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed. Although other researchers disagree.

Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed, although other researchers disagree.

Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed. However, other researchers disagree.
 Fragment: For doing freelance work for a competitor got Snoop fired.
Edited: Rearrange: Snoop got fired for doing freelance work for a competitor.

• Fragment: Biking and swimming after work on Thursday.

Edited: Neki went biking and swimming after work on Thursday.

• Fragment: Because tuition increased again this semester.

Edited: Because tuition increased again this semester, Sirius got a second job as a student assistant.
 2. READ FOR GRAMMAR, SPELLING,
CAPITALIZATION, AND PUNCTUATION MARKS.
CAPITALIZATION is the writing of a word with its first letter in uppercase and the remaining letters in
lowercase.

Her daughter loved the valentine. Her brother could have cared less.
The Shape of the Century: Readings from the Disciplines
The White House and the white house

PUNCTUATION MARKS are symbols that are used to divide written words into sentences and clauses.
Example
the russian Ballet travel’s all over the world, Performing to amazed Audiences. in each new city;
Edited Example
Performing to amazed audiences, the Russian Ballet travels all over the world in each new city.
SPELLING is the ability to arrange letters in the correct order to make words that are communally understood. 

Example
through
He read thru the entire paper looking for a story on the protest march.

Spell check suggests replacing “thru” with “through,” “threw,” or “thorough.”

GRAMMAR is the study of the classes of words, their inflections, their functions, and relations in the sentence.
(Merriam Webster)
adjective
Example
The dance team felt that they had performed bad.

Edited Example
The dance team felt that they had performed badly.
IDENTIFYING WORDINESS Wordiness is using more words than necessary to convey a message. 

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” - JFK
“Don't worry about all the benefits of living in the United States that you may be able to take advantage of at
some point in your life, but instead focus on how you as an individual will be able to improve the community of
people living in this region of North America.”

Unnecessary Words

She knew that the class was ending in five minutes.

She knew the class was ending in five minutes.

As is often the case, students use any excuse for not doing their homework. Unnecessary
Words
Often, students use any excuse for not doing their homework.

The teacher was very happy.

The teacher was ecstatic.
3. STOP WORKING
Stepping away from your paper, whether for a day or just an hour, allows you to revisit
the work with a fresh set of eyes.

4. ASK A FRIEND FOR HELP

Have a friend, classmate, coworker, mentor read through your paper.
The purpose of peer feedback is to receive constructive criticism of your essay.
• It’s okay if some people don’t like it, it doesn’t mean that they don’t like you.

5. REVIEW AND RELEASE

After reviewing the changes suggested by your friend, read through it one last
time. Double-check your citations. Be confident in your word choices and paragraph
breaks.
 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF
DOGS?
Do you likes dogs? i will teach you how to take care of them. You kan
get a dog from a shelter. next, take the Dog to the veterinarian. Then,
don’t forget to buy food Finally, get the dog some toys?

Edited Example

Do you like dogs? I will teach you how to take care of them. You
can get a dog from a shelter. Next, take the dog to the
veterinarian. Then, don’t forget to buy food. Finally, get the dog
some toys.
 Nakkkaw ke Genesse

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