Editing is an integral part of the writing process that improves the quality of drafts by making the content clear, precise, accurate, and impactful. The editors will assess your manuscript and research paper on the basis of language quality, clarity, and information presentation.
The editing process includes correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors along with improving the overall writing style and structure so that the target audience can comprehend the content.
The question is how will you edit your research paper? Here are four strategies to help authors edit their drafts from a technical perspective.
- 1. Purpose of editing
- 2. Maintain logic and coherence
- 3. Edit in phases
- 4. Content analysis
1. Purpose of editing
Identify the purpose of editing and revising the document. Is to organize the sections? Do you want to make the content more engaging and convincing? Or is it to fix English language errors? Identifying the areas that need improvement will help adopt a more precise approach.
Editing tips for beginners:
- 1. Identify the major areas of concern in the draft and work on it first
- 2. Create an editing checklist to ensure you have followed the journal guidelines
- 3. Have a second look at the sentence while adding or deleting any word
2. Maintain logic and coherence
There is a  possibility that your ideas may no longer be clear and well-defined as you continue to write. It is important that all the ideas are interlinked with each other and make sense. There should be a continuity and smooth flow of ideas within the paragraphs.
Tips for maintaining logic and coherence:
- 1. Read the paragraphs aloud, which will help you identify the problem areas
- 2. Use transition words and phrases carefully to establish a link between sentences and paragraphs
- 3. Focus on explaining one idea at a time
3. Edit in phases
Work on one section at a time instead of editing the entire paper in one go. Create a schedule and edit the sections based on their length and word count. This will help you focus on the core elements and content of your manuscript.
Tips for editing in phases:
- 1. Pick one section at a time while editing the document and look for common language errors
- 2. Ensure each section conveys the original meaning intended
- 3. Remove unnecessary information and redundant words
4. Content analysis
Once you are done with the final draft, analyze the content and ensure that it matches with the formatting and styling guidelines of the journal. Review the content for redundancy, wordiness, and accuracy.
Tips for analyzing content:
- 1. Re-write sentences with modifiers
- 2. Use active voice to describe the methodology and adopt a step-by-step process
- 3. Keep the sentences short and to the point
Checklist to help you edit your next research paper:
- 1. Correct the run-on sentences
- 2. Check sentences for subject–verb agreement
- 3. Use a spell check for identifying spelling mistakes
- 4. Check abbreviations and punctuation marks
- 5. Avail professional editing and proofreading services
Source: https://www.authorassists.com/blog/editing-tips-for-revising-and-polishing-your-research-paper/