edit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "edit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to describe the process of revising a document or a piece of writing. For example, "I'm going to edit the essay before submitting it to the professor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Technology

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wikipedia relies on about 70,000 people each month who edit the articles for a worldwide readership.

The Guardian

Those attending from the press side included John Witherow, the Sunday Times editor tipped to edit the Times, Paul Vickers, the group legal director of Trinity Mirror, Chris Blackhurst, the editor of the Independent – and Wright and Lord Hunt.

The Guardian

After Hughes's death his widow, Carol, asked Reid to edit the letters.

The Guardian

That's because their pin-up political editor Tom Bradbury has lent it to close pal Prince William so he can edit together all his gap-year videos and DVDs into one very posh home movie.

The Guardian

Another edit made a few minutes later drew attention to an interview given by the then attorney general, Dominic Grieve, to his local newspaper in his Buckinghamshire constituency noting that he "was one of four members of the cabinet who abstained in the May 2013 same-sex marriage vote.

The Guardian

What struck me, on listening to the edit (much more was said in the studio than was broadcast), was the impossibility of relaying the complexity of the Sun's story in 40 minutes.

The Guardian

The director, on buoyant form in his press conference at the Cannes film festival, said he has 90 minutes of unused footage from the film, which he plans to edit into a mini-series of four one-hour chapters.

The Guardian - Film

To achieve his latest Brentford TV role, he bought a camcorder and taught himself how to edit footage, proof that old journalists can learn new digital tricks.

The Guardian

Grabyo's technology allows broadcasters and rights holders of video content to capture and edit clips in real-time to then swiftly put them on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

The Guardian

"It is a gamble for politicians but it's live so we can't edit it," he says.

The Guardian

Whitehead became the producer of Panorama before he moved on to Thames Television to edit This Week (1967-70) and win the Guild of TV Producers award for best factual programme.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always proofread after you "edit" a document to catch any new errors introduced during the editing process.

Common error

Avoid over-editing a text, as too many changes can sometimes make it less natural and more convoluted. Strive for a balance between improvement and preservation of the original voice.

Linguistic Context

The word "edit" primarily functions as a verb, indicating the action of revising, modifying, or correcting something, often text or media. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, exemplified in various contexts from correcting articles to refining film footage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Film

15%

Technology

10%

Less common in

Politics

8%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "edit" is a versatile verb with a primary function of modifying or correcting content, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to film and technology, with a neutral register that makes it appropriate for both formal and informal communication. While the term itself is straightforward, the act of editing can be complex, requiring careful consideration of clarity, accuracy, and style. Remember to be specific when describing the type of "edit" you are performing and avoid over-editing to maintain the natural voice of the content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

revise

Suggests a more thorough and thoughtful process of improving a text or document.

modify

Implies making changes to something, often to improve it or adapt it for a specific purpose.

amend

Indicates making formal corrections or improvements to a document or proposal.

correct

Focuses on removing errors or inaccuracies.

adjust

Suggests making small changes to achieve a desired result.

alter

Indicates making a change to the characteristics of something.

rewrite

Implies creating a new version of a text, often with significant changes.

polish

Focuses on refining and improving the style and presentation of something.

refine

Suggests making subtle improvements to something that is already good.

adapt

Indicates modifying something to suit a new purpose or condition.

FAQs

How to use "edit" in a sentence?

You can use "edit" as a verb to describe the process of revising and improving text. For example, "I need to "edit" this document before submitting it".

What can I say instead of "edit"?

You can use alternatives like "revise", "modify", or "correct" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "edit" or "edited"?

"Edit" is the base form of the verb. "Edited" is the past tense and past participle. Use "edited" when referring to something that has already been edited.

What's the difference between "edit" and "proofread"?

"Edit" involves making substantial changes to content and structure, while proofreading focuses on correcting minor errors in grammar and spelling.