Make Copy Shine By Editing 2023

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM EDITING BEST PRACTICES With so many different areas of writing that must be edited, it is imperative that each story is read multiple times. Each time you read through a story, look for something different. Use the pattern below as a guideline. • Read once for content. • Read once for organization. • Read once for language.

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READ STORIES ALOUD

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It is amazing the errors in content and language that are uncovered simply from reading something aloud. Our voices tend to find the errors and inaccuracies that our minds glaze over. Read to your friends, your editors, your parents, your pets… anyone who will listen. If all else fails, read it out loud to yourself. As you find errors, pause to make the corrections.

READ ALOUD TO A SMALL GROUP

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Instead of reading through your story multiple times looking for different areas of concern, allow a group of peers to help you go through the editing process. Assign one person to listen for content, one to listen for organization and one to listen for language. Your editing audience can write comments on a feedback form, like the one below, as you read, or you can provide a copy of your story to each group member that they can use to provide feedback.

LISTENING FOR LANGUAGE Comments/Questions

LISTENING FOR ORGANIZATION Comments/Questions:

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Yearbook Suite | Make Copy Shine By Editing