Peer Editing: How to Edit Essays By Other Writers

Introduction

Before it is finished, a piece of writing frequently needs editing. Although while it might be helpful to edit your own work, it's often good to have someone person edit your writing. Peers can point out errors and make suggestions for writing or essay improvements by using peer editing.

In this tutorial, we will explain peer editing, outline six phases for peer editing, and provide advice on how to properly peer edit manuscripts.

What is Peer Editing?

Peer editing involves having a peer read and edit a piece of work, pointing out flaws or suggestions for improvement. These problems might be typographical, grammatical, or clarity-related. Peers may modify a document using a word processing programme or on a physical copy.

Peers might be your co-workers, friends, or classmates. For example, a teacher may design a peer editing assignment in a classroom context where two students exchange essays, edit each other's work, and then discuss their revisions. They can individually write better thanks to this.

Six Stages To Peer Editing

The following six stages can help you peer edit another person's writing −

Get ready to edit

Make a decision in advance on what to edit for and how to provide the writer with your thoughts and edits. Try creating a list of things you wish to check, such as your writing's grammar, substance, and clarity. During revising, you might also think about the tone you want to adopt. For example, you may opt to write your criticism in a way that is both considerate and helpful.

Read the article in its entirety

Read the entire piece of writing thoroughly before making any modifications. By doing this, you may make sure that you are comfortable with the material before making any adjustments or comments. Examine the beginning and conclusion of the document, as well as the piece's introduction and arrangement.

Review and edit for other minor mistakes

After reading the text, start looking for mistakes in the proofreading. Little mistakes including erroneous grammar, formatting problems, and punctuation faults are found during proofreading. If you're revising a physical paper, you may underline or highlight errors, or you can jot remarks in the margins. To find errors when editing digitally, you might be able to utilise a word processing program's highlighting tools and commenting functions.

Check for content mistakes

After you've proofread, you can change the substance of the paper to fix bigger, more significant errors.

You could ask yourself the following questions when editing content −

• Do the author's assertions bolster their argument?

• Is each paragraph pertinent to the topic of the paper?

• Are the references and citations, correct?

• Is the analysis strong and clear?

• Does the writing make sense?

You can also offer specific advice to the author to help them address particular problems. To make sure you have made beneficial modifications, think about reading the essay numerous times for content mistakes.

Provide the author comments

When you've completed editing, provide some comments to give the author. This might be highlighting the paper's strong points, explaining why you made certain revisions, offering recommendations for how to make a particular section better, or offering general subject ideas for the essay.

Both the editor and the writer may benefit from making notes regarding the paper. It can provide the writer with notes to refer to while rewriting, and it can assist the editor in reviewing their suggestions when they discuss the paper with the writer.

Hold a dialogue with the author

The discussion of the paper or essay by the editor and writer usually follows the peer editing procedure. The writer may evaluate your modifications, get your input, and ask questions if they want more information on any of your points. It is crucial to professionally communicate your revisions and ideas to the author.

Moreover, if there was anything in the work that was unclear, you might clarify it so the author would know what needs to be fixed.

Key for Peer Editors

Making an editor's key with your other writers is a smart idea. In this manner, you might recommend adjustments rather than correcting errors. There are symbols on an editor's key that everyone can read. Whenever you hand-mark a friend's paper, use a pen with a different colour ink than the writing. Choose a different colour font if you're going to mark it on a computer.

C = Case

F = Form

P = Punctuation

SP = Spelling

T = Tense

WC = Word Choice

/ = Not Required

^ = Add a Word

? = Unclear

*= Other Issue

Explanations of abbreviations and symbols.

C − Use this to indicate whether a letter should be written in lowercase (abc) or uppercase (ABC).

F − When the incorrect word form (noun, verb, or adjective) is used, use this letter. For example, a writer can use the adverb "aboard" for the word "board" (verb).

P − Mark any punctuation that is incorrect with a P. Perhaps a period should end the sentence. There might be a comma used improperly.

T − Apply when a verb is in the incorrect tense. the T should be placed above the wrong verb. Let the author change the tense.

WC − When a word or phrase doesn't make sense, use this. Maybe the author doesn't know what the term means. Perhaps there is a stronger phrase.

/ − Put this oblique after a word that is not necessary. If only the basic verb is required, for example, you may put it before the verb through the term to.

? − If you don't comprehend a statement or phrase, use this. Put a question mark over the portion you don't understand by circling it.

^ − Use this sign to let the writer know that they need to add a word or phrase. Maybe the author didn't put "to" before a basic verb.

* − You may indicate other mistakes by placing a star next to the error. Add a message with a star to the page or writing's conclusion. For a second note, you can use two stars**.