Have you ever used a shopping list? Isn’t it helpful to have your thoughts organized? The following checklist should help you each time you edit your writing.
1) Read your final draft aloud to test it for sense and sound. Better still, have someone read it aloud to you. Listen carefully to what is being read. Your writing should sound smooth and natural. If it doesn’t, it means you need more editing.
2) Does each sentence express a complete thought? Does each paragraph have a point or purpose?
3) Have you used different sentence types and lengths? Are any sentences too long and rambling? Did you use too many short sentences?
4) Have you used a variety of sentence beginnings? Watch out for too many sentences that begin with the same pronoun or article (I, My, The, There…).
5) Check each simple sentence for effective use of modifiers, especially prepositional phrases and appositives. Have you punctuated these modifiers correctly?
6) Check your compound sentences. Do they contain two equal ideas, and is the logical relationship between the two ideas expressed by the proper conjunction (and, but, or…).
7) What about your complex sentences? Have you used the most appropriate subordinating conjunction (although, before, because, since…) or relative pronoun (that, who, which…) to connect the two clauses in these sentences?
8) Make sure your writing is concise and to the point. Strive for simplicity and clarity in your writing.
9) Is your writing fresh and original? Have you avoided overused words and phrases? If not, substitute nouns, verbs, and adjectives that are specific, vivid, and colourful.
10) Replace any words or phrases that may be awkward, confusing, or misleading.
