Peer Review versus Self-Editing: The Best Way to Edit your Paper
Proofreading & editing are the final steps to writing a great article or essay. Find out why peer review is so powerful and how it can improve your manuscript.
One of the greatest challenges facing all writers, students, and researchers is the task of being self-critical. Being able to look back objectively at your writing is a skill that requires years of experience, not to mention an open mind as well as a healthy dose of self-awareness.
Indeed, Carnegie Mellon University has cited that many students lack sufficient self-critical skills, resulting in poor writing quality:
When students lack skills in these areas, their writing may be unsatisfactory in multiple ways — from poor grammar and syntax to unclear organization to weak reasoning and arguments. Complicating matters is that students often lack the meta-cognitive skills to recognize the areas in which their prior knowledge and skills are insufficient — and thus which skills they need to work to improve.
That is why proofreading & editing are so important. They are the “makeover” that can turn a regular, boring piece of writing into a memorable, compelling gem. Whether it’s a college admissions essay, college essay or assignment, or academic research paper, the benefits of proofreading & editing are clear.
Difference between proofreading & editing
Editing and proofreading both attempt to improve what is already on paper, but they are not the same and focus on different aspects of writing.
Proofreading consists of fixing objective errors in language that mostly exist on the word (spelling, capitalization, punctuation) or sentence (wrong syntax, incorrect placement of modifiers, and most grammar errors) level. Proofreading is almost always the final step in the revision process. Think of it as a final quality check. In sum, proofreading is the process of correcting errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, punctuation, and formatting.
Editing takes what is on the page, including tone, content, and ideas, and extends it to be more complete and understandable. An editor who is deeply familiar with the conventions and rules of written English revises the text and suggests ways to improve the quality of the writing in terms of style, voice, and natural expression or “flow.” Editors also try to decrease wordiness and sharpen the impact of each word, substituting vocabulary terms and refining phrases and sentences.
After editing (also called “language editing,” “copy-editing,” or “line editing”), your writing will be sharper and more readable, your expressions and terminology more precise, your language less repetitive and awkward, and the overall quality of your writing simply better and more professional.
How to get started on self-editing or proofreading
Now that we’ve established the benefits of proofreading and editing and clarified the difference between the two, here are a few tips for you to get started:
Identify and fix all errors
Any obvious mistake in your manuscript can cause your reader to mentally tune out or immediately classify your writing as subpar. In short, mistakes are indicative of low-quality, laziness, and questionable content.
Set your manuscript aside for a day
Stepping away from your writing will let you return to the work with “fresh eyes” and see errors you might have missed.
Print out your text or alter the formatting of the document (font size, font, layout)
Printing out the work onto paper or enlarging the text font is one simple way to give yourself a fresh perspective on the writing and catch any errors you might otherwise miss.
Use a sheet of paper to cover up lines of text and focus on proofreading one sentence at a time
It might be an old trick learned in grade school, but reducing the amount of text your eyes have to take in will let you see even minor spelling and punctuation errors more readily. Use whatever object you can to cover the majority of the text so that you can focus on one specific line of text.
The limitations of self-editing or proofreading (and how peer review can help)
Now, you may be motivated to do some self-editing and call it a day. First of all, definitely do self-editing and follow the tips above. But that is just one step in the revision process. The truth is that self-proofreading can be very limited for the following reasons:
Our psychology fails to view self-criticism as essential
It’s probably fair to say that you want to spend more time writing your college application essay or manuscript than editing it. This is fair but doesn’t change how important editing is. Many students and young writers will therefore spend minimal effort self-editing. This mental barrier will definitely show up in the final product.
Peer review by friends, colleagues, or professional editors solves this problem because it is performed by someone else who is specifically tasked (or paid) to care.
We feel attached to our writing
In the college admissions process, application essays and personal statements are, by nature, deeply personal. Young high school students applying to college can be hypersensitive to the fact that their futures are being judged. As a result, it can be difficult for writers to detach themselves emotionally from their personal histories. Errors, overemphasis, wordiness, and irrelevance can derail the entire manuscript. Often, errors will be missed and opportunities for improvement overlooked.
It’s tempting to write and self-edit at the same time
Who better knows your writing intent and style than yourself? While this may be a good thing in some respects, it’s the worst possible thing for editing. Writers often fall into the trap of self-editing while still in the creative process and then calling the editing process finished when in fact it never even occurred!
The key here is to put enough time and space between the creative process and the editing/proofreading process so that both are as effective as possible. Unless you’re a robot, you probably can’t do this with absolute certainty. An outside perspective provided by peer review can place down this necessary wall between your biases and readers’ understanding.
We simply don’t see our own mistakes
Ever looked at yourself in the mirror and missed something? Or listened to a recording of your voice and realized you were stuttering?
That’s because our brains naturally fill in both visual and thought gaps, especially when it comes to ourselves or familiar situations such as our own writing. When it comes to our writing, we naturally overlook both mundane proofreading issues such as missing punctuation or inconsistent formatting as well as complex editing concepts such as readability, flow, syntax, and content.
Fortunately, our brains are also excellent at pattern recognition and comparison with others. That is why peer review and outside perspectives are so powerful. They address a key disadvantage of self-editing by leveraging the ability and intentions of trained individuals.
Peer Review and Professional Editing/Proofreading
Peer review’s main purpose is to ensure that both the written content and how it’s expressed are done in the best way possible. Peer review can seem like an intimidating thing related to professors and their research articles. However, the concept of peer review has a variety of forms and is more accessible than you think. A writer of any level can take the initiative to gain its benefits.
High school student
Ask your parent, a classmate, or a trusted mentor/teacher. Everyone knows that high school students are in the “business” of working towards their futures, and many counselors and consultants are paid to help you. Virtually anyone older than you has been through the process of applying to college and can offer you some ideas. Classmates are also a good place to start.
Conquering the college application essay is no cakewalk. In the age of COVID-19, standardized tests are being waived in favor of greater emphasis on personal statements and letters of recommendation. Many college applicants are turning to college admissions editing services as a way to stand apart.
College student
Send a polite email to a professor you had a connection with or whose class you enjoyed. Professors are busy but are directed to assist students in writing application essays or letters of recommendation for graduate school. There also exist university writing centers on most major college campuses.
Sometimes students are pressed for time or need extra feedback not provided by their professors — especially in the case of large lecture hall classes where personal interaction with the instructor is limited. In this case, college essay or assignment editing services fill the gap for things like lab reports, term papers, and research essays.
Graduate student/Post-doc/Researcher
Here is where your circle of trust sharply narrows and where the career stakes greatly increase. If you’re embarking on a research degree, you are now in the professional world of academia. This is a high-stakes setting ruled by the moniker of “publish or die”, where every sentence and idea are scrutinized.
Reaching out to research colleagues and grad students in your field is more than optional; it is necessary to establish your network and verify your ideas as relevant to your area of study. Importantly, you should consider a premium academic editing service to put you on the same level as other professional researchers. In fact, the vast majority of research journals specifically recommend that authors retain professional editing services.
Conclusion
Even after finishing your application essay, personal statement, or manuscript, there is one huge step left: editing and proofreading. In the high stakes world of publishing and university admissions, the most successful people are those who are willing to take what’s on the page initially and improve it as much as possible.
While self-editing is a good first step, it can only take you so far. Peer review, just like a coach or trainer, can push your writing beyond what you thought possible.
If you’re interested in more of my resources or articles, take a look here or check out the rest of The Wordvice Workshop.
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