Why edit?

Examples of the difference that good editing can make

The CIEP is compiling a collection of positive examples of editing – ones that demonstrate what a difference good editing can make to a text in terms of clarity and readability.

These examples go a step further than the usual exposing of gobbledegook, poor English and greengrocers' apostrophes. Instead, we aim to highlight the value of what we do by giving 'before' and 'after' examples and including an explanation of each problem and its solution.

Why edit? examples

Editing for length

• Shortening to aid flow

Grammar and syntax

• Clarifying the meaning

Editing non-native authors and translations

• Simplifying a congested paragraph into clearer and better-flowing English
• Helping to produce smoothly flowing, idiomatic English
• Introducing a more natural style

Editing for plain English

• Completely rewriting
• Transforming legalese
• Making clearer
• Longer but easier to understand
• Weeding out the verbiage

Spoken into written language

• Turning the relative into the absolute

Structure

• Introducing ideas in sequence
• Resequencing can do a lot to improve understanding

Style, flow, rhythm

• Being persuasive