The Purpose of Revising

1. Revising in the Writing Process

Recall that the writing process is made up of these repeatable steps:

• Prewriting
• Drafting
• Revising
• Editing
• Proofreading

It's important to understand the difference between revising, editing, and proofreading. Editing focuses on improving language, clarity, and style at the sentence and word levels, while revising is a look at the entire draft. Proofreading is when mistakes in grammar, mechanics, and spelling are identified and corrected.

Editing and proofreading are the final steps in the writing process. Before editing or proofreading a written work, you must first revise to ensure that the goals of the work have been accomplished. Although beginning writers sometimes overlook revision, skipping the bigger picture items and jumping right into editing and proofreading smaller items will not correct errors that must be addressed during revision.

term to know

Revising

The act of re-envisioning an essay or other writing project.

2. The Importance of Revising

Revising enables writers to assess and improve their work at the “big picture” level. During the revising step, writers take stock of their entire project. They confirm that the thesis is well-supported, and that the structure enhances a smooth, logical presentation of ideas.

hint

Because revising, like the other steps in the writing process, is repeatable, you should revise as many times as necessary to improve your work. Even professional writers may complete dozens of drafts before publishing their work.

Revising is also a good way to overcome writer's block. Experienced writers know that they must revise, usually more than once, to realize the potential value of their work.

3. Revising for Language and Tone

Recall that an important part of revision is often getting feedback from others, particularly experts on the topic you’re writing about, members of any demographic groups impacted by the piece, or members of the target audience. This will help the writer be aware of any issues with language or tone that interfere with getting the message across. Perhaps, for instance, the terminology is too advanced for the audience, or the tone is inappropriate for the occasion.

There are aspects of writing where only another point of view can give you the insight you need to ensure the message will be effective. You should polish the piece as much as possible before asking for feedback so your test readers can focus on these core issues instead of issues like clarity and structure.