Content Editing Tips

Most of these tips are equally relevant when editing someone else’s work.
Here are some useful tips to assist you in content editing.
  1. According to subject you should stick to your central theme or idea. Avoid insert fragments or portions of information about other things. You should bound to find ideas, words, phrases and sentences.

  2. One of the important tips is that edit in small doses and take frequent breaks. Divide big projects into sections you can edit the document without tiring. You should never edit for more than one hour at a time without taking a break.

  3. At the first time you should try to read for content only once; skim when looking for other problems on other passes.

  4. You should make several passes if you make the successful document. You should avoid finding everything at once.

  5. For the successful editing you should use a style sheet and a checklist.

  6. Pay special attention to the chapter or section titles, the document title and document number.

  7. You should add the checklist to avoid any common errors in the document. It needs to be checked or verified the document.

  8. Check the breaks (page or section) and make it sure that is it right or wrong. The document would be problematic for header and footer and page numbers. You should also check the line spacing, word spacing, general format, and type quality.

  9. Editor has authority to cut or add the relevant matter/ content in the document. You should rearrange words, phrases and sentences as per requirement. Editor should keep in mine logical order. Flow in logical order is one of the important features to make successful document.

  10. Search the document for the following usage infractions:
    • Contractions (search for n't and 've); replace with full words
    • Future tense should be replaced with present tense
    • Conditional tense (search for would) should be replaced with the present tense
    • And/or should be replaced with ". . . or . . ., or both"
    • Replace passive voice with active voice

By Sharad Bachhav
Published: 2/11/2008
 
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