Revision Tip: Read Aloud to Easily Catch Awkward Phrasing

Sometimes when we read our own words on the page or the screen, we miss awkward phrasing that we could correct (for example, I'm sure there's plenty of awkwardness in this here blog). I think it's because reading to ourselves, especially reading things with which we're already familiar, encourages skimming. To catch awkward phrasing, I advise students to read their work out loud, slowly. This forces you to really hear how your sentences sound so that you can spot any areas that need smoothing. Try it the next time you revise any piece of writing, even an email. I bet you'll find at least one or two places you can improve.