“Practice makes perfect,” it is a quote that has been used for multiple times by people who are eager to learn. It is applicable in different fields of expertise, like in the field of writing. There is no perfect writer, but there are always rooms for improvement.
It is an undeniable fact that writers commit mistakes, like every other people do. Writing is a time-consuming process that needs thorough attention to details. When you opt to write a piece, there can be a handful of errors that can be found in it. That is when the importance of editing comes. You always have to review your work after finishing the first draft or avail an editorial service— like Greg Van Arsdale’s Editorial Services. With that being said, listed below are the common areas where writers commit mistakes.
Spelling
The creation of words with the use of letters based on the accepted usage — this is the common definition of spelling. As a writer, you probably know what spelling means and how it can affect the quality of your work. The minimal interchanging of letters and make a great impact on your work; hence, you must be keen on typing and/or writing the words in each sentence.
Also, there are words that have almost identical spellings. Take, for example, when you accidentally write “desert” in your content instead of “dessert,” then the whole denotation of the word changes. It can affect the entire sentence structure. Moreover, there are words that are really hard to spell and lengthy, which makes you prone to mistake their spelling. There are also terms that differ in pronunciation and spelling, like rendezvous and turquoise, which is why you need to look up the term in the dictionary instead of listening to it. The bottom line is, always be cautious in writing the spelling.
Grammar
Grammar plays a big role in writing. Basically, it refers to the entire structure of a dialect that is comprised of syntax, morphology, semantics, and more. Noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection are the key parts of speech. They are also the aspects that writers unintentionally get wrong. Additionally, grammar is often overlooked when writing a creative piece — especially in poetry.
One cannot truly create a high-quality and enchanting work without using proper grammar. That is why, as a writer, you should always check if your subject agrees with the verb, your adjective accurately describes the noun, your adverb describes the adjective, and a whole lot more. You also have to keep an eye on the voice of your sentences. In writing novels, short stories, and flash fiction, active voice must be used. It is to create a better story and avoid wordiness. It also helps in making the readers feel more enthusiastic because it seems like the selection is actively told.
Punctuation
You probably have used a wide array of punctuation in your writing journey. These are the marks that are utilized to enhance the sentence structure and create a clearer meaning. Among the widely used punctuation are comma, period, exclamation point, question mark, quotation marks, and parenthesis. There should be punctuation in every sentence in order for the readers to know if you are telling information, asking a question, describing a thing, or requesting something.
Little do they seem but you cannot brush of the fact that they function greatly in writing. They are the elements that set the tone of a sentence. You can tell when a character is angry when his dialogue ends with an exclamation point. You can also identify that the narrator is enumerating when he uses colon and semicolon. You can definitely point out that the persona is asking a question with the use of a question mark. Hence, you really have to know your punctuation as a writer and reader.
Statistics
Statistics is the act of gathering and evaluating of numerical information that comes in bulk quantities. The purpose of statistics is to understand and judge the parts of a whole based on the collected and analyzed samples. Perhaps the thought of using a statistics have crossed your mind or maybe you have already used statistics in your writings. But do you know that it is one of the parts where writers commit mistakes from?
Using of statistics in writing is a good move, because it enhances the reliability and integrity of your output. Hence, most content doesn’t formally cite the source of the study. There are those who only mention the results using their own words, while there are those that directly copy the data. Either way is wrong, because not citing the source — especially in this form of reference, can fall into the act of plagiarism and can reduce the reliability of the work. Hence, always indicate the source after you state the fact and do not forget to paraphrase.
To wrap it all up, writers must review their works after the first draft of their work. If editing is out of your comfort zone or it takes too much of your time, then you can always get the help of a professional editor to conduct the developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading of your work. Greg Van Arsdale’s Editorial Services is always available for you when you want to seek a professional’s help! So, avoid the committing the same mistakes again.