Editing your academic paper is rather different from editing a blog or novel. Academic papers must be written in a formal style, so they must be painstakingly edited. This blog discusses the important professional tips for editing an academic paper.
If you have a paper that needs academic editing, you can hire a company to do a great job for you. But you can speed up the process and lower the cost by giving them the best academic paper possible. Here are a few tips to try on your work:
#1: Keep Style Consistent
There are plenty of formats you can use to write your paper. Select a style that suits your work and be sure to use it throughout the paper. One of the most popular writing formats is APA, which is used in many scientific endeavors as well as in psychology. Whatever style you are using, make sure you follow the format precisely throughout your paper.
Some general tips for style consistency include:
- Same font size should be used for text, headlines, and subheads.
- Text should always be aligned on the margin on the left.
- Always use the active voice as much as you can.
- Keep all margins consistent.
- Have a page number at the top of each page.
Read our blog on THE IN-DEPTH DETAILS OF FORMATTING TOOLS ON MS-WORD, if you want to get knowledge about the technical aspects.
#2: Look for Supporting Parallels
It is easy to write down ideas for your paper without considering how they relate to the topic. But when you edit, you should be sure all the ideas connect and are parallel to one another. For example, does the thesis parallel the final paragraph? The conclusion should support the position that you posit at the beginning of the paper.
Also, each topic sentence should reflect the points of the thesis. If the thesis says that A, B, and C are factors in D, then you have to have enough space in the paper to provide support for A, B, and C.
#3: Use Formal Language
This is an academic paper and will be read by professionals and peers. Use technical terms and industry words to make the paper appropriate to the audience.
Avoid typical errors that make you look less professional – a spellchecker will not catch homonyms and what the meaning of the words you choose are. Be sure to take a lot of time for edits. Some common errors are:
- Not using plurals and possessives properly.
- Confusing affect and effect.
- Not knowing exactly what the words you use mean.
- Use jargon or slang.
- The use of contractions
- Using abbreviations. They should be avoided and spell out every word.
- Failing to use the right technical words.
#4: Avoid Wordiness
An academic paper is formal, but it should not be boring and filled with unnecessary words. You should stick to a single idea for each paragraph, and edit any sentences that are too long and could confuse the reader. Use nouns and verbs that are expressive and do not try to spice up your writing with fancy adverbs and adjectives.
If you use the above guidelines when you write your academic paper, it will be more ready for editing by professionals.
