Critical proofreading

# Critical Revision

The Revision Process

Writing is rewriting. Critical revision is the process of evaluating and improving a text at multiple levels: content, structure, style, and mechanics.

The Four Levels of Revision

1. Content — O conteúdo

• Are the ideas clear and well-supported?
• Is the argument logical?
• O argumento é lógico e bem fundamentado?

2. Structure — A estrutura

• Does the text flow naturally between paragraphs?
• Is the organization effective?
• O encadeamento das ideias é claro?

3. Style — O estilo

• Is the language appropriate for the audience?
• Are sentences varied in length and structure?
• O registo está adequado ao destinatário?

4. Mechanics — A mecânica

• Are there spelling errors or typos (gralhas)?
• Is punctuation correct?
• A pontuação e a ortografia estão corretas?

Revision Checklist

• Question → Portuguese
• Is this word necessary? → Esta palavra é necessária?
• Can this sentence be shorter? → Esta frase pode ser mais curta?
• Is the transition smooth? → A transição é suave?
• Does the paragraph have a clear topic? → O parágrafo tem um tema claro?

Common Revision Markers

When marking texts for revision:

• [sic] — indicates the error was in the original
• [N.E.] — Nota do Editor (Editor's Note)
• [?] — passage unclear, needs clarification
• ✓ — approved as written

Self-Revision Techniques

1. Read aloud (ler em voz alta) — catches awkward phrasing 2. Wait 24 hours — fresh eyes see more errors 3. Read backwards — focuses on individual words/spelling 4. Print it out — different medium reveals different issues

Tip: In Portuguese, pay special attention to: agreement errors (concordância), preposition usage (regência), and accent marks (acentuação).