Revision and Editing Skills
Introducing Editing Skills
When Should Editing Begin?
Students should begin learning the foundational concepts of editing as soon as they begin writing sentences, typically in Primary Grades (Kindergarten to Grade 3). They should be checking that their sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a period.
Initially, editing focuses on mechanics (the small, easily identifiable corrections). As they progress, the focus shifts from fixing mechanical errors to revision (improving content, structure, and clarity). Effective editing is taught within the context of the writing process, not through isolated grammar drills.
Tutor Masters Editing Program Expectations by Grade Level
In all grades, the goal is for students to transition from relying on the teacher to becoming independent editors of their own work, ultimately taking ownership of the final quality of their writing.
The scope of an editing program expands significantly from elementary to high school:
Grade Level | Core Focus & Tools | Editing Program Expectations |
Primary (K-3) | Mechanics (using the CUPS acronym: Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling) | Students check for finger spacing, capital letters at the start of sentences and for proper nouns, and an ending punctuation mark (period, question mark, or exclamation mark). They begin to fix high-frequency misspelled words. |
Junior (Grades 4-6) | Sentence Structure & Content Clarity | Students move toward independent self-editing. They check for complete sentences (no fragments or run-ons) and ensure their paragraph has a topic sentence and relevant supporting details. They check for correct usage of more complex punctuation like commas in a series. |
Intermediate (Grades 7-9) | Organization & Style (using the ARMS acronym: Add, Remove, Move, Substitute) | The focus shifts to revision before editing. Students evaluate content for clear thesis statements, logical flow between paragraphs (transitions), and using more precise vocabulary. They fix advanced grammar issues like subject-verb agreement and pronoun agreement. |
Senior (Grades 10-12) | Academic Conventions & Synthesis | Students master editing for tone, style, and voice appropriate for the academic discipline (e.g., formal language, avoiding slang). They ensure correct citation formatting (MLA/APA), integrate and attribute evidence effectively, and refine sentence variety for sophisticated impact. |
Is there a difference between editing and revising?
Revising vs. Editing: The Core Difference
In the writing process, revising and editing are sequential, separate activities that focus on different aspects of the written work. Think of it this way: Revising fixes the meaning (the “what”), and Editing fixes the mechanics (the “how”).
Feature | Revising (Re-seeing) | Editing (Line Work/Copy editing) |
Focus | Global/Big Picture: Ideas, argument, structure, and organization. | Local/Small Picture: Sentence structure, word choice, clarity, flow. |
Goal | Does the piece say what I need it to say? Is the content clear and logical for the audience? | Is the language clear and correct? Are there any errors that distract the reader? |
Action | Adding, removing, moving, or substituting large chunks of text, paragraphs, or arguments. | Correcting grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and minor spelling errors. |
Timing | Happens first, after the first draft is complete. | Happens last, once the content and structure are finalized. |
💡 Example:
- Revising: Recognizing that the third body paragraph goes off-topic and needs to be deleted, or realizing the thesis statement is too vague and needs to be rewritten entirely.
- Editing: Fixing a comma splice, changing a passive sentence into active voice, or correcting the inconsistent capitalization of a title.
Students are taught to revise first to ensure the core ideas are sound, and then edit and proofread last to ensure the final presentation is flawless.
This distinction is vital for effective writing programs, as it prevents students from wasting time fixing small errors in paragraphs that might later be deleted during revision.
For a helpful video explaining this process, watch The difference between Revising vs Editing. This YouTube video provides a visual and verbal guide to separating the acts of revising and editing.
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If you have determined that a comprehensive study skills program would benefit your child and would like to explore how we can help them develop effective study habits, contact us today at (780) 960-1663 or click the button below. Our Director of Education will be happy to call you and discuss our program with you.