Why It's Important to Edit Your Essays

Editing is an extremely important step in the essay-writing process, because it provides the final polish for your ideas. With the proper editing, it is possible to turn an average essay into a great essay. Editing is generally done in two areas: editing for content, and editing for technique.

Edit for Content

When providing evidence to support your thesis statement, accuracy is everything. Be sure to confirm that your facts really are facts. If the information you're providing turns out to be false, the entire integrity of your essay can be called into question. If you are providing general ideas or summaries from books or articles, check to make sure you have cited to proper place. If you have used direct quotes, double-check your wording to make sure you have them typed exactly as they have appeared in your sources.

When re-reading your essay, you should also ask yourself if everything is relevant-not only to the thesis statement in general, but also to the paragraph in which it is located. Make sure you have placed all your evidence in the proper paragraphs. Also, you should ensure the statements you are making really do support your thesis. You can't prove a thesis statement with information that has nothing to do with the topic.

Edit for Technique

When you edit for technique, you get into the nitty-gritty details of the essay. Checking for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word/page count will allow you to pinpoint minor problems that, when added up, can bring your essay down an entire letter grade, or perhaps more.

With things like automatic computerized spell-checking, spelling errors are not as prevalent as they may have once been. When you're typing, your word processing program may see your misspelling and correct it without you having to manually catch the error and fix it. However, most programs can only assume what you were intending to spell, and may end up creating the wrong word from your spelling. Read over your essay carefully, and make sure everything is indeed spelled properly.

While a lot of word processing programs can look for spelling mistakes, most can't affectively track down poor grammar. Even if your essay is well thought-out and backed up with a wealth of logical information, an essay that is chock full of bad grammar will end up making you look as if you did not put enough time or energy into your essay, and may even go so far as to lower your professor's opinion of your overall intelligence or competence. Good grammar, on the other hand, shows that a student is capable of effectively communicating their ideas.

Also included in editing for technique is adhering to proper formatting regulations. Check your assignment information, and see if your professor prefers a certain page length, word count, or margins. Ensure your essay adheres to these guidelines; ignoring them can lead to a grade lower than the one you deserve.

All in all, editing your essay is essential for eliminating all those silly mistakes that can severely compromise your grade. When you edit, not only are you proving to your professor that you can effectively express your ideas, you also are increasing your chances of making an 'A.'