Revisions
Revision answers the questions: “Does this writing say what I want it to say?” and “Have I followed the conventions enough to make this writing understandable to others?”
Revisions include working on word choice, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Focus areas may be different depending on the context:
- Published writing: If writing will be shared or published, focus more on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Personal writing: If writing is private or only shared with a tutor, focus more on word choice than anything else.
- Beginning writer: Focus on word choice and expression.
- More experienced writer: Focus more on conventions like grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Here are a few resources about revision overall.
Giving Writers the Reins to Edit and Revise
Join Kate Nonesuch to learn more about a quick proofread and missing words.
Responding and Revising: Responding to Writing
The 24-minute video below shows a tutor/learner session to help with revising writing. It shows a good process for helping learners with revisions.
Watch here
Writing for Results – NWT Literacy
A comprehensive resource that includes sections on punctuation, capital letters, spelling, and revising a document:
- Punctuation basics (pages 117–120)
- Capital letters (page 121)
- Basic spelling rules (pages 125–128)
- Revise the document (page 152)
The rest of the content below is about the individual strategies within revision.
Revision Strategies
Word Choice
Choosing words that clearly communicate meaning and connect with the audience.
Grammar
Using grammar conventions to make writing clear and appropriate for the purpose.
Spelling
Checking spelling to help readers understand writing, especially in formal contexts.
Punctuation
Using punctuation marks to guide the reader and clarify meaning.