American English · C1 · Unit 23
Editing and rewriting
Editing and rewriting
By the end you can
- Improve someone else's text
- Explain changes to style and structure
- Understand advice on style
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tighten up | make shorter and clearer | Can you tighten up the first paragraph? |
| reads awkwardly | sounds unnatural when you read it | This sentence reads awkwardly. |
| rephrase | say in other words | Maybe rephrase this part. |
| the flow | how smoothly a text moves | The flow is much better now. |
| I'd cut | I'd remove (from a text) | I'd cut the second sentence. |
| redundant | not needed, because it repeats something | 'Past history' is redundant. |
| word choice | the words you choose | Your word choice is very precise. |
| a run-on sentence | two sentences joined without the right punctuation | That's a run-on sentence. |
| the active voice | a style where the subject does the action | Use the active voice here. |
| track changes | an editing mode that shows every change | Turn on track changes so I can see your edits. |
| a second pair of eyes | another person to check your work | Could you be a second pair of eyes on this? |
| polish | improve the small details | It just needs a little polish. |
Then talk it through
Helping a friend edit an important letter. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.