Writing the words for a paper is one of the easiest parts of the process. The part after -- the editing -- is one of the most difficult. Here are some easy tips to follow to help make sure your ideas are presented in a complete, polished paper.
1. Read Your Paper Out Loud: By far one of the simplest ways to catch errors in editing is by reading your paper out loud. This way, your mouth catches what your brain would be tempted to skip over --things like those pesky misspelled articles. That makes it easier to catch and find those mistakes before the report is due to someone else. This is also a great way to see if there are any confusing or hard to read sentences. Finding them now cuts out questions later, and brings better results for your paper.
2. Keep a Reference Guide Handy: Grammar is one of the biggest traps against a cohesive paper. If there are any doubts about what to follow in regards to grammar in your paper, refer to a grammar or editing guide. A good resource book is The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. that is compact, and inexpensive. This way, any questions related to grammar have an easy answer at your fingertips, rather than leaving them to a guessing game and risking something incorrect.
3. Cut And Rearrange: If you fix your grammar and read out loud, and things still lack clarity in organization, then try this method. Print out your entire paper in double space and grab a pair of sissors and some tape. Read the paper aloud, and if things seem out of place where they were, cut them out. If their proper place in the paper shows up later on, cut the paper and tape it in there. If a place for it doesn't show up explicitly, try rewording some things where it looks like that part of the paper should fit. Reread the paper out loud once finished, and it should be easy to read afterwards. Once it makes sense, cut and paste the computer version, and your paper will be good to go.
4. Consult a Writing Center: If the paper still confuses you, or has something missing, most libraries at universities have a free reading and writing center that is happy to help. Simply find out what their hours are, and if an appointment is required, and check them out. It may be just what was needed to get the paper perfect.
In conclusion, to get your paper polished and complete, be sure to read it out loud, consult a grammar book, cut and arrange, and, if necessary, consult an outside writing center. Follow these tips, and your papers are sure to improve in quality.
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