Reading aloud
A revision technique that makes rhythm, ambiguity and awkward phrasing audible.
Reading a draft aloud changes how a writer encounters it. Breath, nearby repetitions and awkward transitions become easier to notice than during a familiar silent reading.
The technique is useful for dialogue and dense passages. It complements other revision passes: a sentence that sounds smooth can still contain a factual mistake or leave a reader confused.
Example
The reader stumbles twice over the same clause and divides it into two sentences.
In the workshop
Mark where you stumble before stopping to revise.
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