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The importance of editing for any writer, irrespective of the discipline to which they write, can never be under-estimated nor under-stated.

In the first instance, we should consider the fact that when we are writing - particularly if the words happen to be flowing particularly well - it is inevitable that we are going to make a spelling error here and there or the odd grammatical error or two. If we do not thereafter take the time to carefully read over what we have written, those small, simple and frustrating errors alone could spoil what is otherwise an excellent piece of work. We must never allow ourselves to become dependant on such as spell-checkers; these devices are a convenience to assist us, never a substitute for a keen editor's eye. This is the most basic reason why we should always edit our work.

It is likely - and advisable - that before we begin any piece of writing, we know within ourselves precisely what it is we wish to say in the piece and the overall message we wish to get across to our readers. We may be writing an instructional article, a review, or any one of a hundred and more other types of script but the bottom line is the same: if we do not take the time to go back and edit our work, we have no way of ensuring that our overall production gets our message across in quite the fashion which we intended. If we have failed in this respect, however well the piece may read, it is not that which we intended to produce and is unlikely to have the effect we desired.

Writers have periods in which the words seem to appear in their heads and it is almost impossible to get them down on paper or on to the word processor fast enough. This is of course desirable but it carries its own inherent dangers at the same time. It is possible when the words are flowing so well that we lose sight of the precise direction which we wished to go with our piece and we can become side-tracked, or even worse, veer off subject altogether. Editing is the only process whereby we are likely to identify such a deviation from our script and permit ourselves to make the necessary course changes. If we do not take the time to edit in this instance, we could end up submitting an extremely disjointed piece of writing.

The importance of editing can therefore be seen to have many guises and relate to our writing in many different respects. If, as writers, we care about the overall quality of that which we produce, we should recognise editing therefore as an essential part of the writing process and one which we must afford all due attention at all times.

Learn more about this author, Gordon Hamilton.
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