If writing papers is something you struggle with, then it can be tempting to just throw down your thoughts as best as you can, and not look back before you turn it in. However, revising is vital to the process of writing a good paper, and it can even improve your grade if you do a thorough job.

Here are a few pointers on how to revise your paper effectively. 

Print your paper out. 

This step may seem unnecessary, but there is a difference in mentality when you are looking at your paper in a word processor on the computer and when you are looking at your paper on physical paper. When you are working in Word or Google docs, it’s much easier to erase and replace, and then try and reword what you replaced it with, and then get caught up on that one word you want to use — in essence, the text in your electronic document is too malleable. In order to get through your paper quickly and efficiently, it’s best to have your words in an unchangeable form. This allows you to isolate the problem areas without the ease of slipping into composing mode. Of course, if you don’t have access to a printer, this step isn’t necessary for the process — it just helps. 

Read your paper aloud. 

You may have heard this before, and rolled your eyes and said, “Yeah, okay professor,” but it really works when you’re self-editing. When reading silently in your head, there there are a lot of things you can easily skip over (if you don’t believe me, go back and read that sentence again — out loud if necessary). There is something about reading out loud that makes our brain pay more attention to the things we’re reading, to make sure we’re saying it correctly, and so it’s a lot harder to skip over silly small mistakes, like accidentally omitting a word, or spelling something wrong. 

Not only does it help with catching careless errors, though. It can also help you figure out how your ideas sound out loud; and how your ideas sound out loud to you is a good way to gauge how your ideas will sound to someone else, whether they are reading in their head or not. And if a sentence doesn’t make sense to you out loud, it most likely won’t make sense to the person who is trying to read your paper. This is a great way of catching problem areas in your essay before you give it to your professor to read.

If this feels too silly for you, then try reading it out loud to someone you trust. 

Utilize the prompt. 

If you’ve finished your paper, that likely means that you think you’ve answered all the prompt has asked of you. But some students miss some points because they haven’t returned to the prompt and double-checked that they have everything they need in their paper. Don’t be this person! Return to the prompt and identify the specific things that were asked. Then go back into your paper, and underline or highlight each of these elements where you find them in your paper. If there is something that you don’t find, make sure you add it before you turn it in. 

Show someone else. 

This is one of the best ways to get feedback, and its how the pros perfect their work all the time. Take your paper to your mom, or your best friend, or your younger sibling. Have them read it and tell you what they think. And if you can’t find anyone willing or able to read your paper and offer helpful feedback, bring it in to us! We are always happy to help. 

Happy writing! 

Have a question? Submit it to us, or come see us in the Writing Center for some more great advice!

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