Quick Online Editing Tips for the Fast-Paced Digital Environment

In the digital space, the need for speed is evident in the sheer volume of content we, as editors, are expected to churn out. But with digital content comes digital editing tools. Online editing—the art of polishing and perfecting texts digitally—is exactly what we need to keep pace with these growing demands. “How?” you may ask. It’s as simple as following our 10+ online editing tips.

Get ready to put down the red pen and physical paper stacks and pick up the pace with editing software, browser-based tools, and the power of the web. Editing behind a screen while rocking mismatched pyjamas just got a whole lot more glamorous.

Table of Contents

    Digital Editing: The Double-Edged Sword

    The digital revolution has transformed the way we revise and refine content. Now, we have online tools to turbocharge our edits, analyse our language, offer fancier synonyms, and automatically zap typos.

    The digital landscape also makes real-time remote collaboration possible. However, the online shift is a double-edged sword for editors.

    In our daily work, we face an onslaught of distractions, like email and messaging app notifications, social media updates, or that new cat video. Keeping laser focus requires a new level of willpower.

    And, as great as virtual collaboration is, it can get messy. Miscommunication creeps into shared documents where version control goes haywire. Suddenly, you’re not sure if you’re editing the latest draft or a relic from three edits ago.

    Let’s not forget the biggest boss battle: time. The hunger for fresh content is insatiable, and finding the perfect balance between speedy edits and meticulous polishing is no easy feat.

    Quick Online Editing Hacks

    Now that we’ve covered the doom and gloom, it’s time to explore the sunny side of online editing. Use these practical digital editing tips to speed things up and conquer your mountain of content.

    Tip 1: Pre-Read and Strategise

    Do a quick once-over of the document. While reading, use digital highlighters or comment features to flag potential trouble spots.

    Understand the topic, identify the key points, and get a feel for the tone, flow, and writer’s voice. This will help you develop a rough editing game plan to follow later.

    Tip 2: Standardise with Style Guides

    Standardising spelling, formatting, punctuation, and all the other small details may seem like a schlep. However, consistency ensures your content is polished, cohesive, and professional. Successful standardisation involves these three components:

      • Style guide: This is hands-down one of the most vital tools for any editor. If you don’t have one, take the extra time to source or create one.
      • Templates: Draw up a few of these for your most common projects to streamline structuring and formatting.
      • Glossary: Create a quick glossary of project-specific terms to prevent back-and-forth confusion and potential rework down the line.

    Tip 3: Explore Built-In Features

    The humble word processor, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, is packed with editing goodies, such as track changes, advanced find-and-replace functions, and integrations with tools like Grammarly.

    Don’t be afraid to click around and investigate those menus and toolbars. You can also use the platform’s help centre or support forums to discover hidden editing gems right under your nose.

    Tip 4: Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

    Mastering a few simple keyboard shortcuts tops our quick text formatting tips list. The few seconds each one saves you quickly add up, freeing up time better spent debating the use of semicolons and the Oxford comma.

    While it may seem intimidating initially, slowly start introducing one or two into your daily work every few days. The more you use them, the sooner they’ll become part of your muscle memory.

    To get started, keep this table of shortcuts handy:

    Table of Windows and Mac keyboard shortcuts to make online editing faster
    Download This Table

    Tip 5: Capitalise on Collaborative Editing Tools

    Forget archaic email chains with Word doc attachments and embrace online collaboration tools like Google Docs, Dropbox Paper, or Notion. These virtual playgrounds allow you and your editing entourage to team up—and possibly butt heads—in real-time.

    Use the comments functionality to express your opinion, weigh ideas, and brainstorm alternatives. Leverage track changes to see everyone’s edits in technicolour.

    Best of all, use the version history feature as a safety net, letting you rewind the clock if those late-night edits somehow made things worse.

    Tip 6: Use Online Proofing Tools

    Online editing tools are useful for the entire editing process, including your final quality check. While Grammarly reigns supreme for effective online grammar checks (and justifiably so), other great tools are readily available.

    For example, ProWritingAid offers valuable reports and visualisations, and Hemingway Editor can improve readability, style, and engagement. 

    Sadly, though, even the most advanced tools won’t turn you into Hemingway. This requires your expert editing skills, experienced eye, and human discernment.

    Tip 7: Get Systematic

    Avoid feeling overwhelmed and paralysed when faced with a mammoth new editing project. There’s no need to fix everything in one go. Replace a haphazard approach with one that’s well thought out and methodical.

    For example, focus on improving the clarity of the entire piece. Next, work on getting the tone and style just right.

    Take it a step further by creating a bespoke editing process checklist to ensure you leave no stone—or concord error—unturned.

    Tip 8: Prioritise Edits That Pack the Most Punch

    Evaluate and prioritise what’s most important and which edits will have the most significant impact. While these may differ slightly from project to project, it’s generally best to first focus on edits that affect meaning, flow, and brand voice. Nitpicking about whether a compound noun is hyphenated or not can come later.

    Tip 9: Become a Clock-Watcher

    With your step-by-step editing process in place, it’s time to get time-bound. Effective time management means setting realistic time limits for each editing task—and sticking to them!

    While you don’t have to split hairs over a few minutes (‘clock-watcher’ might be too strong a term), working within specified timeframes is still helpful because, at some point, you have to finish editing. 

    This strategy will prevent you from getting bogged down on a single task while adding a small, healthy dose of pressure to keep you on track.

    Tip 10: Batch Edit

    If you have (digital) piles of documents, emails, blogs, or social media posts that need work, batch editing is one of the best time-saving online revision methods. This technique involves tackling similar editing tasks in one go.

    For example, you can spend a portion of the afternoon improving all your blogs’ titles and headings before moving on to the next task. This minimises the mental strain of constantly switching gears.

    Bonus Tips

    We’re playing devil’s advocate for this bonus round of tips. In pursuing lightning-fast digital editing perfection, sometimes the best approach is to slow down, go offline, and avoid perfectionistic content editing. Let us explain:

    Bonus tip 1: Slow the pace (temporarily)

    Counterintuitive, right? When the clock's ticking, stepping away feels impossible. You’re likely telling yourself, “It’s fine. I’m fine.” But it’s really not fine. Short, strategic breaks refresh your eyes and mind. You’ll likely have renewed energy and better focus, saving you time in the long run.

    Bonus tip 2: Don’t go digital (all the time)

    We know it sounds old-school, but printing hard copies and wielding a physical red pen can fire up new ideas and help you catch mistakes you might otherwise miss. Flow and layout issues, in particular, can benefit from this approach.

    Bonus tip 3: Perfect isn’t the prize (in every situation)

    Perfectionism doesn’t usually bode well for productivity. Recognise when ‘good enough’ truly is enough, especially in the fast-paced online world. Strive for excellence, absolutely, but don't let the pursuit of unattainable perfection prevent you from getting your work out there.

    Quick Editing vs Quality Control: Is There a Middle Ground?

    Maintaining accuracy and quality might seem like a luxury when keeping pace with the urgency of digital demands.

    However, factually correct and well-composed content should be non-negotiable for any editor—every typo, unverified fact, and inconsistency chips away at your readers’ trust.

    Here are some indispensable online editing tips for accuracy and maintaining quality under time constraints:

    Fact-Checking Fundamentals

    Always verify this key information:

      • Statistics and figures
      • Names, titles, and proper nouns
      • Dates
      • Technical terminology
      • Quotes

    Fact-checking best practices involve cross-referencing multiple reliable sources (a BuzzFeed article won’t cut it) and being mindful of potential biases.

    Sacrificing quality for speed is an editing pitfall you need to avoid. Unfortunately, a reputation for inaccuracy is hard to shake, making Google your best friend.

    Quick Proofreading Pointers

    Proofreading is crucial for maintaining the quality of your content, so consider implementing these proofreading tips and shortcuts:

      • Read it aloud: Your brain processes language differently when you hear it. Clunky sentences and typos become glaringly obvious. If reading out loud gives you flashbacks to English class, use a text-to-speech app.
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      • Read it backwards: Start from the last sentence and work your way up. This method disrupts the flow, making individual errors easier to catch.
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      • Change things up: Zoom out to give yourself an overview of the document’s structure and flow. Then, zoom in for those microscopic proofreading moments. You can also temporarily change the font to break up visual familiarity. Comic Sans? Only if you’re feeling brave.

    Quicken the Pace with Practice and Perseverance

    Commitment to continuous learning and professional development is essential in our quest for quick editing. After all, even Usain Bolt needs to train before the big race. Here are some best practices to set your fastest editing times:

    The Buddy System

    Reach out to your content-creating colleagues, mentors, and online communities and ask for their objective editing feedback. They can help you see errors or areas for improvement that may have eluded you. Just be willing to return the favour when an editing pal needs a helping hand.

    Errors Aren’t the Enemy

    Take some time to reflect on your weaker areas and editing faux pas. Becoming aware of your shortcomings and making a conscious effort to work on them can be a game-changer that revolutionises how you edit to elevate the quality of your work. 

    Look for reoccurrences and patterns of mistakes. Perhaps you’re prone to crutch words like ‘game-changer’, ‘revolutionise’, or ‘elevate’ (yes, they make us cringe too).

    Trends Are Your Friends

    As we know, digital content and online editing are progressing at a dizzying rate. You must stay up to date on new tools, emerging editing practices, and changing trends in content creation. 

    Follow industry blogs, publications, and thought leaders for fresh news and the latest lowdown. Invest in your professional development by participating in online forums, watching webinars, or attending workshops and conferences.

    Take First Prize in the Digital Editing Rat Race

    The digital environment might be moving at breakneck speed, but tread carefully between fast and frantic editing. Editing quicker isn’t about cutting corners or compromising quality.

    Thriving in this industry means adapting your approach and working more efficiently and effectively. This entails embracing the tools at your disposal, setting up a systematic editing process, and staying committed to continuous improvement.

    Then, combine our time-savvy online editing tips with a dash of humour, your caffeinated drink of choice, and your love for the written word. You’ll have a dangerously unfair advantage in this digital editing race. Who knows, you may even have time to watch an extra cat video or two.

    Blue Leaf Team

    The Blue Leaf Editing team has over 10 years of combined editing, publishing, and book industry experience. We’re passionate about content and storytelling, and sharing our knowledge with others.