How Simple Edits Can Transform Your Writing for Better Clarity and Impact
Ready to put your editing skills to the test? Take a look at the unedited example below and try reworking it into a clearer, stronger final draft. I’ll share my version along with key editing tips and tricks to help refine your writing.
Remember—there’s no single ‘right’ way to edit! While fundamental editing techniques apply, your personal style plays a big role in shaping a polished piece.
Need a refresher? Check out this post on common grammar mistakes for quick editing wins. Plus, tools like Grammarly can help catch sneaky errors and refine your writing even further.
Let’s dive in!
🚫 Before (Poorly Written Version):
Writing is something that a lot of people do every day, whether they are writing emails, essays, or even just simple social media posts. However, there is a lot of mistakes that people make without even realizing it, and this can make writing harder to understand and sometimes even confusing for the reader. In order to make writing better, it is important to check over what is written and try to remove words that are not necessary, fix grammar errors, and make sure that sentences flow well.
One of the things that people do often is they write in a way that is way too wordy. There is a lot of sentences that can be shorter and easier to read, but they end up being long and kind of hard to follow. If a person wants to be a better writer, they should take the time to look over what they wrote and try to make it more clear.
✅ After (Edited & Improved Version):
People write every day—whether it’s emails, essays, or social media posts. Unfortunately, common mistakes can make writing unclear and confusing for readers.
To improve, writers should edit their work by removing unnecessary words, fixing grammar errors, and ensuring smooth sentence flow.
One of the biggest issues is wordiness. Many sentences can be shorter and clearer, but writers often overcomplicate them. To become a stronger writer, review your work and aim for clarity.
Breakdown of the Fixes:
- Fixed subject-verb agreement (“there is a lot of mistakes” → “there are many mistakes”)
- Reading your work aloud helps! If a sentence sounds awkward or you stumble over the words, double-check that the subject and verb agree.
- Eliminated passive voice (“it is important to check over what is written” → “writers should edit their work”)
- A small change that packs a big punch! This won’t work for every writing style, but even Grammarly agrees—active voice makes your writing stronger and more direct.
- Condensed wordy sentences (cut unnecessary phrases like “in order to”)
- When in doubt, cut it out! Okay, I’m kidding—but seriously, if you can shorten a sentence without changing its meaning, go for it! Clearer is always better.
- Replaced vague words (“kind of hard to follow” → “unclear”)
- This is another area where reading aloud is your friend! If you’re struggling to make sense of a sentence—and you already know what you’re trying to say—imagine what your reader is thinking! Be direct—you’ve got this!
- Improved flow and readability
- With every readthrough, I almost always find something new to tweak. Once you’re done editing, take a break and come back to your work in five minutes. Fresh eyes = better edits!
Now it’s Your Turn!
Take a shot at editing the before example and drop your version in the comments—I’d love to see how you refine it! Or, share your thoughts on the editing process—what challenges do you face when polishing your writing? Let’s chat in the comments!
Pen and Polish 