When editing your draft, keep these important strategies in mind:
Focus on your own specific needs. Use your time wisely by getting to know your own trouble spots in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. By keeping a log of your most common errors and knowing how to fix them, you will become an efficient editor.
Improve sentences. Build your writing skills by practicing with exercise programs. In addition, treat your own writing as a practice drill, editing each sentence individually for maximum effectiveness in finding errors.
Edit for better style. Respect your readers by making sure your writing has an appropriate tone and an engaging, concise style. Get to know style improvement techniques such as coordination and subordination to inject some variety into your writing.
Edit for proper use of sources. To avoid plagiarism, make sure that any outside sources are appropriately documented and effectively integrated into your writing.