How to Edit Your School Essay to Make It Spotless


Editing is an extremely important step of the essay writing process. You must learn how to do it correctly in order to be sure that you don’t miss anything when polishing your paper to make it perfect.

  • Plan your time

    Do not forget that quality editing and proofreading require time. You need to incorporate this into your writing plan to be sure that you won’t have to rush before the due date. It will be best to set the paper aside for a day or so before you start editing it. This way, you will see the errors more clearly.

  • Fix one thing at a time

    Go slow when you start editing your work. Check for one thing at a time. This will be trying, but it’s the best way to achieve perfection. Rereading the paper numerous times and assessing it from different angles will help you see the places that need to be changed or improved. Usually, your first draft will have little in common with the final paper after you finish editing it.

  • Proofread

    Carefully check the entire text for spelling errors. Word processors usually have a built-in spellchecker, and using it will help you greatly. However, do not forget that some spelling mistakes are not highlighted by this service. Thus, you have to rely on your own attentiveness.

  • Revise your grammar

    Use grammar checker in your word processor to spot and fix grammatical mistakes. This function is also imperfect, so you need to manually look deeper. You should brush up on your grammar, and have an English textbook within easy reach when editing. You can also study specialized writing manuals that provide the most common grammar rules.

  • Print out the paper

    It is usually easier to spot mistakes when working on a hard copy than seeing it on the screen.

  • Assess the content

    Does every argument seem logical? Is the evidence solid? Does every paragraph have a clearly defined structure? Is the paper easy to read and understand? If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, you must rework the problematic parts until you manage to make the narration flow smoothly.

  • Check the overall structure of the paper

    Pay extra attention to the introduction and conclusion. They must be well-developed and meet the requirements designated for these sections.

  • Read the paper aloud

    Hearing the words will allow you to assess the text from another angle. You may need to change some parts to make it truly flow.