edit
ED-it
/ˈɛdɪt/
To prepare written material for publication by correcting, condensing, or modifying it.
Focuses primarily on surface-level polish—correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting—to make the text clean and readable.
The story behind the word. The word 'edit' is actually a back-formation from 'editor'. In Latin, 'editor' meant 'one who puts forth or publishes', from 'edere' (to produce or give out). In the 18th century, English speakers chopped off the ending to create the verb 'edit' to describe the work an editor does.
Word relationships
- proofread: Proofreading is the very final check for typos, while editing can still involve minor rewriting and sentence tightening.
- revise: Revising is changing the big-picture structure and arguments, while editing is polishing the sentences.
- write: Writing is the act of generating new content, while editing is the act of refining existing content.
Commonly confused with
- redact: To redact is to censor or black out sensitive information, while to edit is to improve the text's quality.
Word family
- editor (noun): A person who edits written material.
- editorial (noun): An article giving an opinion, or relating to editing.
Collocations
- edit a manuscript
- copy-edit
- carefully edit
- editor-in-chief
Example sentences
- "Write drunk, edit sober." A humorous piece of writing advice often attributed to classic authors.
- "I need to edit my essay tonight to make sure there are no spelling mistakes." A student describing their final steps before submission.
Memory hook
Think of 'ED-it'—making sure every 'ED' (education) and 'it' (information) is perfectly polished. Polish it for publication.
When not to use
Do not use when you are making massive structural changes to the core argument of a paper (use 'revise' instead).
Fun facts
- Because 'edit' is a back-formation, the noun 'editor' actually existed in English for over a century before the verb 'edit' was ever used.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.