--- title: Quick tips on editing your own work description: When the editing work begins, you are no longer the author. An editor is not emotionally attached to the words. He/she will mercilessly cut out the most poetic of phrases and well thought out sentence --- [Skip to content](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/quick-tips-editing-work#main-content) [![Target_Logo_ORIGINAL.png](https://hs.targettraining.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/Target_Logo_ORIGINAL.png?width=150&height=46&name=Target_Logo_ORIGINAL.png)](https://www.targettraining.eu/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://hs.targettraining.eu/en-gb/contact) [Contact us](https://hs.targettraining.eu/en-gb/contact) [All posts](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/all) January 21, 2020 # Quick tips on editing your own work By  [Martin Wheeler](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/author/martin-wheeler)  ·  2 minute read **In an ideal situation, one of your colleagues, an internal editor, or proofreader** [(or InCorporate Trainer)](https://hs.targettraining.eu/?page_id=3385) **will help you perfect your written masterpiece before you unleash it onto the world. But let's say you're left to edit your own work and said work is a lengthy document, or one with sensitive information in places. For one reason or another, your document needs to a final check. I don't mean a spellcheck. But definitely do one of those as well.** [![Writing emails that people read: Free eBook download](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/455190/f25b6e29-70a1-4c73-bf91-8fba347b1522.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/455190/f25b6e29-70a1-4c73-bf91-8fba347b1522) hbspt.cta.load(455190, 'f25b6e29-70a1-4c73-bf91-8fba347b1522', {}); ## Edit your work *after* you’ve finished writing Writing and editing belong to two separate phases of the writing process. When the editing work begins, you are no longer the author. An editor is not emotionally attached to the words. He/she will mercilessly cut out the most poetic of phrases and well thought out sentences if they interfere with the readability (for example). - Cut long sentences in two - Replace negatives with positives - Use simple language - Reduce prepositions - Don't use words you don't need [More editing tips behind this link.](https://thewritelife.com/edit-your-copy/)Or if you're editing an English document, here's a good post with [examples of wimpy words and feeble phrases](https://smartblogger.com/editing-tips/), and much more. ## Take a break first If you begin the editing process immediately after you finish writing, it can be difficult to catch errors, especially the very small ones. Have a coffee, take a walk around the block or, better yet, leave your writing for a day or two and then come back to it with a fresh perspective. ## Edit your work in a different format You might be surprised how helpful it can be to transfer your work to another format for proofreading. Some possible ideas: print your work on paper, view it on your tablet, project it on the wall or temporarily change the font of your entire document. ## Start big Rather than worrying about spelling, commas and full stops at the beginning of editing, start with a broad overview. Do you need to add or cut a section? Did you forget to include important information? After reading your work, did you realize that you need to re-write something? If yes, do it at this first stage of your edit. Otherwise, you might end up proofreading material that you cut later. Does your document still need: - Paragraph headers - A summary or a conclusion - Links to sources/resources - Graphics ## Slice and dice When you’re satisfied with the format and overall structure of your document, it still needs further fine-tuning. This is the time to reduce the number of words in your document and search for shorter, more concise ways to communicate what your audience needs to know. Look out for: - [Double negatives](https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/double-negatives) - [Appropriate punctuation (run-on sentences)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-on_sentence) - [Comma splices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_splice) - [Sentence fragments](http://examples.yourdictionary.com/fragment-sentence-examples.html) ## Read your document aloud You could say "the fact of the matter is that editing is essential", or you could say "editing is essential". Readers have little patience for verbose writing. In addition to helping you spot errors with spelling and pronunciation, reading aloud will help you get a feel for the rhythm and tone of your document. Do you get tongue-tied trying to read one sentence? Re-write it so it flows more smoothly. Look out for: - [Active language](http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/quickreference/dash/dashactive.cfm) - Too much jargon ## Tell yourself, “It’s finished.” Leonardo Da Vinci said that a work of art is never finished, merely abandoned. Even if you don’t consider your document a work of art, you will probably never be 100% satisfied. However, after you’ve edited your document as much as possible, call it a day and congratulate yourself on a job well done. \[av\_hr class='default' height='50' shadow='no-shadow' position='center' custom\_border='av-border-thin' custom\_width='50px' custom\_border\_color='' custom\_margin\_top='30px' custom\_margin\_bottom='30px' icon\_select='yes' custom\_icon\_color='' icon='ue808' font='entypo-fontello' av\_uid='av-1c0wzrb'\] ## FOR MORE INFORMATION We offer a variety of writing skills seminars: - [Writing reader-oriented reports](https://hs.targettraining.eu/?page_id=5409) - [Writing winning offers and proposals](https://hs.targettraining.eu/?page_id=5412) - [Technical writing in English](https://hs.targettraining.eu/?page_id=2932) - [Reader-oriented writing in English](https://hs.targettraining.eu/?page_id=2543) \[av\_hr class='default' height='50' shadow='no-shadow' position='center' custom\_border='av-border-thin' custom\_width='50px' custom\_border\_color='' custom\_margin\_top='30px' custom\_margin\_bottom='30px' icon\_select='yes' custom\_icon\_color='' icon='ue808' font='entypo-fontello' av\_uid='av-kd186f'\] Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/quick-tips-editing-work) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/quick-tips-editing-work) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/quick-tips-editing-work) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/quick-tips-editing-work) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/quick-tips-editing-work) ## Related posts [![6 ways to improve your Business English by yourself](https://hs.targettraining.eu/hubfs/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/Drive_Web_Studio/Accelerator/images/img-blog-card-default.png)](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/6-ways-improve-business-english) [Business English](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/tag/business-english) ### [6 ways to improve your Business English by yourself](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/6-ways-improve-business-english) [![The elements of effective teams](https://hs.targettraining.eu/hubfs/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/Drive_Web_Studio/Accelerator/images/img-blog-card-default.png)](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/the-elements-of-effective-teams) [Hybrid solutions](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/tag/hybrid-solutions) ### [The elements of effective teams](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/the-elements-of-effective-teams) [![5 typische Fehler beheben, die deutschsprachige Personen auf Englisch machen.](https://hs.targettraining.eu/hubfs/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/Drive_Web_Studio/Accelerator/images/img-blog-card-default.png)](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/de/5-deutschsprachige-fehler-beheben) [business english vocabulary](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/tag/business-english-vocabulary-de) ### [5 typische Fehler beheben, die deutschsprachige Personen auf Englisch machen.](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/de/5-deutschsprachige-fehler-beheben) Copyright © 2026, Target Training GmbH ### Training you to succeed globally ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : [ "Martin Wheeler" ], "url" : "https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/author/martin-wheeler" }, "datePublished" : "2017-02-17T11:17:45+0000", "description" : "When the editing work begins, you are no longer the author. 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