It has been said repeatedly, but learning how to write and edit your work is what distinguishes you from everyone else.

Writing is crucial to everything we do in life and you are better off learning to do it well, rather than failing and looking foolish in front of peers or potential employers. Writing is not just for those in “creative” majors like journalism or English. Writing is the key to any degree. Do not expect a response from professionals in your field of study if you cannot distinguish between commonly used words, use proper grammar to get your point across or have the sense to use decent punctuation. However, with writing comes the editing process, which also plays an enormous role.

Editing is important because it makes topics easier for others to read, articulate and explain to the next person. Some might think that there is no way to ever mix up the words “there,” “their” and “they’re” when writing, but it happens quite frequently. People rush to write their assignments and forget to click the one button that makes life a lot easier: spell check. This one feature has made writers appear less incompetent on many occasions, even if they do not admit it. Using spell check cannot be the only thing you do as a writer. You must either read the piece yourself or have a friend take a glance because there is probably something in there that does not make sense or needs to be rearranged.

It is not bad to ask for help either; the greatest writers do. Humans are flawed in their will to ask for assistance on anything, but this is one case where your ego must take a backseat.

There are simple and effective concepts to remember when writing and editing. One is to check for spelling and grammar. Someone’s name may look correct and sound correct but be wrong. There is no bigger problem than mixing up two people’s names, especially if the piece does not paint a person in the best light. This is where fact checking also comes into play. Do not get yourself sued. Make sure to triple check all numbers and references used. This goes for anything from percentages to quotes. Next, always read and reread your work to ensure that it is organized.

Writing and editing matters folks. It is not just about the words we speak, but the ones we write as well. You want to make a good impression? Be a good writer. That means going back and editing your work.