How do you review your paper on your own?

[blubb]

Hi,

 

I am stuck on writing my journal paper now for a while. I dont really have someone to proofread it right now, so I need to edit it on my own.

 

How do you usually review your own writing/paper?

 

Is there any guideline on how to "view the writing from different perspectives" for example?

 

Thanks for any advice.  

[Guest |||]

Set it aside for a week or two and come with fresh eyes

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I would say try to get anybody, even someone who isn't in your field or even in college, to take a look at it. It helps if you get someone who can actually give meaningful insight, but even a different pair of eyes can help with minor corrections. There were times I've reread over something 500 times and it seemed perfect to me, then I'd give it to a friend (one time it was a friend of mine who wasn't even in college) and he'd catch a typo within the first paragraph. Anyone who can read can probably catch something that you looked over 500 times. Now, if you want meaningful feedback, try to get someone in your field to take a look. 

[surefire]

The advice you have gotten so far is great.

 

I would really try to get someone else to read it. Try to find a peer who is also trying to get something written and offer to swap. If asking around is really unappealing, use your department's LISTSERV to put a call out. I know that this sounds awkward, but I've seen a lot of great collaboration/reading/writing/studying partnerships and groups get started this way!

[ybsnroHMark]

I agree with everything said so far, especially the advice to put it away for a week and then go back to it.

 

I'll add that I've personally found it effective to re-read a few of the key papers I've cited: either those that provided some basis for the study, or those that have served to support the findings. Helps me get a better handle on everything, and more often than not leads to some sweet, sweet, satisfying edits.

[danieleWrites]

If I absolutely must do it on my own?

 

Nic's advice is the first, best tactic. Put it away for a week. Three if you can. Anything less than 72 hours usually isn't enough distance for your brain to let go of the material to see it in a new way.

 

Other things:

If you read it on a computer, print it out.

Read it in a different room or in a different building, or outside.

Change font. I habitually use 12 pt. TImes New Roman. When I need a change, I'll put it in a near-script handwriting font, 14 point on screen, 8 point printed.

Put it into columns.

Hand write a copy.

 

The main problem, for me at least, is that the logic makes perfect sense to me. The things that I assume other people already know or understand doesn't change no matter what tricks I use (even waiting a year). It takes another person's brain to point out where my logic and my assumptions are weak. The only way I can get an idea of how a reader will respond to what I've written is to have a reader respond to what I've written.

[fuzzylogician]

Also -- in addition to the good suggestions above -- use the text-to-speech function of your pdf reader or text editor. You can identify all kinds of odd things in the text when a machine voice reads it back to you. It's also faster than reading, in most cases. 

[DissertationCoach]

Many good suggestions have been posted but you must realize that there is a difference between proofing, editing and reviewing. You have used all of these terms interchangeably. To the list, one could add revising and rewriting, which follows realization - in the review process - of deficiencies.

 

Proofing (in essence, catching typos) is the easiest of all of these, as it is purely mechanical. Each time you come back to your paper after having set it aside for a while, if you are conscientious, you will catch some typos or basic errors.

 

You will have a very hard time, however, being your own reviewer or editor - in the sense of duplicating the contribution that a skilled outside party could make. That's why even the best writers, often through their publishers, engage professional editors.

[jamesshaffer85]

I agree with all the tips that have been given above. Just in case you have no time to leave it for a week or two - ypu can get a fresh eye much quicker. All you need to do is to change your activity for something absolutely different than writing - watch a hilarious video, talk to a friend, take a long walk with your dog (or alone if you haven't got one). It might help you to refresh much quicker.

Another way to get a new perspective is to print it out or read it aloud backwards. Good luck. Don't give typos a single chance.

[NatureGurl]

I really agree with the advice to put it away for a few days. I like to print mine out and use a purple or pink pen to mark it up, just as if I were reviewing someone else's paper. I think seeing it on paper instead of the computer screen helps you think of it differently. Sometimes, I'll read stuff that I wrote last semester or a year ago and think, wow, did I really write that? Time does wonders with our memories!