Editing Your Own Work. Self editing

edit, proofread, Proofreading, editing, rewriting, self-editing | How to edit your own work. Many experienced writers and authors choose self editing - to edit their own work. This works well if the writer is proficient in the language, understands basic writing dictates and has a flair for words and nuances and, most importantly, the time. They get the "opportunity" to perform a self editing job if hiring an editor to edit and proofread their output isn't always a readily available option, or if they prefer not to outsource the editing job.

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Editing Guide - Self editing

Editing is a demanding and exacting task, and demands patience, an uncluttered mind and discipline. Self-editing is even more stringent. Self editing, as in outsourced editing, is a multiple-pass undertaking that needs considerable concentration. Although it always helps to have your work professionally edited, you can correct many of the grammar and tone issues that undermine your message.

Editing Your Writing - 'self-editing'

Writing is hard work. Editing is much more punishing -- editing usually takes nearly as long as it took to originate the writing. Here are some rudimentary rules to help keep your writing active, concise, and professional.

Read Aloud
You don't need oratory skills for this. By reading aloud you can immediately catch awkward phrasings and words that you are repeating too often.

Express in the Positive
    Most of the time a sentence is stronger when positive, though sometimes the word "not" is useful for emphasis.

Dictionary Check
    Know the exact meaning of words before using them. Look up a word in a dictionary when you aren't sure of its meaning. I've many times surprised myself when I have used a word repeatedly only to find it has an entirely different meaning from what I believed.

Action and Active Voice
Your writing will be clearer if you structure your sentences as subject-verb-object; expressing action rather than outlining situations.

Synonyms
In self editing, as in any writing task, a good thesaurus is an invaluable tool. Use a good thesaurus and look up synonyms wherever you feel a better word might more accurately express your intended message. Avoid using complex, multi-syllable words when simpler ones will do.

Similes and Metaphors
These lend color to your writing, but try to be apposite within the context of your descriptions. Sometimes too liberal a metaphor can shift the reader's focus and weaken your message.

Commas
Commas separating a list of ideas are OK. Commas setting off parenthetic expressions are alright. Other commas, however, need careful examination -- should it be a semicolon, a colon, a dash, or parentheses?

Rewording or rewriting Your Language and Sentences
Important words go at the beginning of the sentence; the important sentences are at the beginning of the paragraph. A good practice is to briefly repeat these at the end. Keep related words together -- adjectives next to their nouns.

Words Have Inflection
Sometimes reading can be awkward due to the "raggedness" of the accented syllables. Reword passages that have too many accented syllables in close proximity.

Spell and Grammar Check
Finally give the document the good old spell and grammar check with Microsoft Word or any other editing software that you prefer. But be careful. These are not perfect and occasionally suggest corrections that make no sense whatsoever, or miss isolated letters and other typos.

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