5 ways to improve the finish of your writing

Updated: Apr 28, 2021

5 ways to improve the finish of your writing

In this blog, I will be looking at what finishing touches you can add to improve your writing. It takes hard work to complete the writing process. When finished it can be such a relief and feel a sense of achievement. But it is important to complete the final checks to ensure the finished product is the best it can be. So here are my top 5 ways to improve the finish.

Step away from the project

After completing the writing take some time away and come back with fresh eyes. You may have a different opinion of what you have written days later.

“The secret to editing your work is simple: you need to become its reader instead of its writer.” ― Zadie Smith

Focus on every word

Reread your writing, but not for content purely checking every word. It sometimes helps to read what you have written backwards then you focus on each individual word rather than read what you know you have written.

Look out for common misspelt words

When looking through your writing, be aware of common misspelt words to ensure you have spelt them correctly. See the list below for my top 10.

Consistency is key

Look through your writing with a critical eye. Think about the consistency of your layout, headings, spellings of the same word and images.

“If you don't know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn.” ― Ayn Rand

Research and learn

If you are unsure about something in your writing, find out more. Learn something new, and this will improve your next piece of writing. Always wondered about the use of hyphens or colons? Do some research and learn about them.

“To write is human, to edit is divine.” ― Stephen King

Take the next steps to improve your writing. All the best for your future projects!

I am a freelance proofreader and a qualified teacher with a love of learning. Thank you for reading '5 ways to improve the finish of your writing'. Want to find more out about how much my proofreading costs?

Check out my blog "Proofreading: how much does proofreading cost?" on my website www.alisonproofreader.com, or say hello on Twitter at @alisonproofread, or Instagram at @alisonproofreader, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.