REVISION: The Element in the Writing Process that Gets Little Consideration

To communicate your message clearly for the easy reader comprehension you want, copy content has to be logically organized in standard grammar.

Revision is sometimes lightly considered in the copywriting process (Planning and researching, Organizing and drafting, Revision/editing, Formatting, and Proofreading) while it is undoubtedly essential.

In the revision stage, you need to focus on the overall organization of your copy for a logical presentation of your message, followed by a review of the overall clarity of your copy. If you have created and followed a logical outline of your ideas, the organization should require little revision, perhaps a rearrangement in the order of some minor points. Use short paragraphs to present your points, then carefully review them for clear, concise topic sentences followed by supporting details.

Then, the process turns to reviewing each sentence in the copy. If a sentence is unclear in communicating your ideas, it needs to be rewritten to do so. Generally, as you read a sentence, you know when it just doesn’t sound right. If the problem cannot be identified, you need to rewrite the sentence until it is grammatically sound (pardon the pun). Words need to be carefully chosen to convey the desired and specific meanings you want. Transition words (next, after, finally, etc.) are needed to aid reader comprehension from one idea to another.

Careful revision takes time. If you think your copy still needs polishing for that professional presentation, consider using online proofreading tools or enlisting a website copy editor to assure your copy’s accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness.