Learn to Love Accuracy in Writing

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

Ah, those dreaded edits. We who edit love it when we receive those pieces that require little editing—although we do love to play with words and sentence structure. After all, why else would we edit, other than to help writers improve their crafts—and make a few dollars along the way? 

Many of us who edit also write, and I dare say we don’t enjoy the editing part of our writing process. Deep inside, we know our babies have imperfections, but the editing process delivers pain—as does the admission that our work needs help. 

As a writing teacher, I witness this resistance often. Most students love to write creatively but also relish turning in the paper as soon as they place the final punctuation mark. Big mistake—as I tell them repeatedly. They want to consider their first copy as their final copy. No editing. No erasing. No restructuring sentences for variety. No thinking about a better way to say something. 

And what teacher has the time to grade Every Single Assignment their one hundred middle school students complete? Impossible. We grade many things on completion, not accuracy. However, our lack of time doesn’t remove the critical nature of the accuracy concept. Eventually, whether students know what they should know shows up on tests and quizzes. 

Editing—self and professional—lets us writers know whether we know what we should know and also demonstrates our willingness to improve our craft. After all, accuracy is critical in almost all areas of life. 

If my heart doctor is performing a critical heart procedure, I want accuracy—not just to know he attended medical school. Nor do I want a fish sandwich if I order a cheeseburger from my favorite fast-food joint. And when the plumber replaces my water faucets, I want cold water to flow from the cold water side—and to flow, period. 

Most importantly, if my eternity is at stake, I want to ensure the way I anticipate getting to heaven will actually take me there. Apollos preached what he knew about Jesus, but he needed a little editing. Priscilla and Aquilla provided this so he could preach the gospel more accurately. 

“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately” (Acts 18:26 NLT). 

Let’s admit it—our writing will never be perfect. We, or someone else, can always do more editing or show us a different way to say the same thing. Like a mom who cuts the apron strings, at some point, we must say, “I’m finished,” and send it off or post it. But the accuracy is on us and also an editing benefit. Blue eyes in chapter one and green eyes in chapter four won’t do. Nor can characters use items or words not invented in their historical period. 

Most students groan and complain when I point out their grammatical inaccuracies, but a few embrace my corrections and suggestions. They want their work to be the best it humanly can be. And we should want no less as writers. 

Accuracy matters—in life and our writing. Strive for it. Embrace it—even if the editor, family member, or friend are the ones who point it out. After all, who wants items stolen from their house because the carpenter didn’t shave and measure the outside door where it would close and lock? He was merely satisfied that he had installed it. 

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Learn to Love Accuracy in #Writing from Martin Wiles (@LinesFromGod) on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at mandmwiles@gmail.com.