Revising and Editing
Revising improves ideas; editing fixes language.
About this topic
Revising means re-seeing the whole piece: Is the thesis clear? Is the organisation logical? Are ideas supported and developed? Does it suit the audience? You may add, cut, move or rewrite sections. Editing comes after, focusing on sentence-level issues: grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice and style. Proofreading is the final check for small slips.
Treat these as separate passes, since fixing commas in a paragraph you later delete wastes time. During revision, use a reverse outline: write the main point of each paragraph in the margin and see whether the order makes sense. During editing, trim wordiness, replace weak verbs, vary sentence openings, and look for repeated words.
Worked example: a draft sentence such as "There are many people who think that the school day is too long" can be edited to "Many people think the school day is too long", saving words without losing meaning. Reading aloud, printing the text and reading it from the end to the start can reveal errors your eyes skip when reading on screen.
Common mistakes include relying only on spell check, editing too early, and being too attached to every sentence. Be willing to cut. Good writers also ask for feedback from others, and then decide which advice to take. Leave time between writing and revising so you can approach the draft like a fresh reader.
Key ideas
- Read aloud
- Cut wordiness
- Check grammar and spelling last
Quick check
Use cases: where Revising and Editing helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Revising and Editing before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Revising and Editing without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Revising and Editing changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Revising and Editing in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Strong reading and writing are needed in every subject, job and exam.
Frequently asked questions
What is Revising and Editing?
Revising improves ideas; editing fixes language.
What will I learn in Revising and Editing?
Read aloud. Cut wordiness. Check grammar and spelling last.
Is Revising and Editing part of English?
Yes. It is one of 60 English topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Revising and Editing lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Revising and Editing?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.