Each Sentence is a Gem
I admit to self-editing every one of my documents to an absurd level. I do this because I am a perfectionist, fear criticism, and have a strong desire to put out my best. This effort has evolved into a comprehensive editing and writing philosophy encompassing numerous procedures, rules, and mindsets.
While I could break down every part of my bonkers editing process, I wanted to discuss a core aspect. I view each sentence as a flawlessly polished gem. Take, for example, this last sentence. It actually began with the title of this article. From there, the reader (you) read up to that sentence. Only then would you be prepared to read it and understand it. If successful, you would continue onto the following sentence, having gained knowledge from all prior sentences.
A successful understanding of this document is hindered if a sentence contains a flaw, such as a misspelled word. Such flaws trip up the reader, preventing them from understanding the knowledge that the sentence was intended to convey.
When I created that sentence, I had an exact idea of what I wanted to say. And when I hit the period key, I evaluated if my sentence accomplished that task. By the time I publish this article, I will have made at least five self-edits, two computer tool edits (Grammarly/ProWritingAid), and two additional rounds of self-editing. Only then would I allow somebody to read my ramblings.
During that time, I studied that sentence harshly from every aspect. This includes how it connected with others, the words used, and areas for improvement. I even thought about deleting the sentence. Why, yes, many sentences have gone into the digital dustbin in my lifetime.
Did you notice that the sentence differed from the title despite having the same subject matter? That was a deliberate choice, which means that I fretted over exactly what I intended to convey and precisely what words to use.
Let’s look at the word “flawlessly.” I could have used admirably, distinctively, exquisitely, marvelously, meticulously, perfectly, precisely, skillfully, or wonderfully. Those are all valid choices, but I settled on “flawlessly.” I did so because this word was the best choice. This was an intentional decision, meaning that at least once, I gave significant thought to that specific word choice.
My philosophy is that each sentence should stand on its own as a beacon of perfect English. This is why I used “gem,” which implies a mathematically shaped object. Specifically, a valuable object that is often set in jewelry. To me, each sentence is something to be cherished, admired, and has tremendous value.
There is more to my philosophy. I believe that a sentence must stand on its own as much as it interconnects with the rest of the document. Like a precious gem, I study it and appreciate its beauty, all while seeing the whole piece of jewelry.
While editing, I constantly think of every possible way to improve that sentence. Does it make sense? Do I need to add more information? Should I combine it with the last sentence? Would moving it to a prior paragraph read better? Is it truly convening what it is supposed to? My small, medium, and extensive evaluations have the lofty goal of perfection.
Of course, I am not perfect, like a gemstone on an expensive piece of jewelry. When I look back at older work, it is clear I have come a long way. And I have made so many glaring mistakes. Still, reviewing my past has only reinforced my desire to work harder.
There is a downside to my technique involving flow. This is when the reader gets tripped up from one “correct” sentence to the next. The issue is that focusing intently on a single sentence can block out what is around it. To solve this, I make one editing pass with the intent of ensuring the document has good flow. Of course, this effort can take the polish off some sentences, which is a tradeoff.
My goal in writing this article is to provide you with another tool in your writing tool belt. The steps I use are…
Allow me to pivot for a moment to a professional auto mechanic changing a tire. It seems simple enough. Jack up the car, remove the lug nuts, exchange the tires, secure the lug nuts, and lower the car. Yeah, no. There is much more to it.
For example, where exactly to place the jack. Years ago, a coworker needed to change his tire on the side of the road. He accidentally put the jack on the fuel lines, crushing them, and the gas formed a puddle that was set on fire by the highway flare. The car was a total loss. So, changing a tire is not a straightforward task. In fact, each vehicle and situation is unique. Therefore, providing a 1, 2, 3-step set of instructions would not be appropriate for all vehicles.
My point is that professional mechanics have developed many procedures through their observations and automotive knowledge. I have no idea how they organize this knowledge into an efficient tire-changing process, but I do know that all have done so. As a result, while the exact procedure might vary between mechanics, the method will be efficient and superior to that of an amateur mechanic.
My reason for presenting my philosophy is to share my viewpoint, allowing you to examine your own. Meaning that while my philosophy might not work for you, you now know one. Perhaps this article will inspire you to evaluate your own method. Alternatively, if you don’t have one, you may wish to develop one and use my thoughts as a starting point. At the very least, my bonkers method provided some comic relief.
You’re the best -Bill
September 24, 2025
While I could break down every part of my bonkers editing process, I wanted to discuss a core aspect. I view each sentence as a flawlessly polished gem. Take, for example, this last sentence. It actually began with the title of this article. From there, the reader (you) read up to that sentence. Only then would you be prepared to read it and understand it. If successful, you would continue onto the following sentence, having gained knowledge from all prior sentences.
A successful understanding of this document is hindered if a sentence contains a flaw, such as a misspelled word. Such flaws trip up the reader, preventing them from understanding the knowledge that the sentence was intended to convey.
When I created that sentence, I had an exact idea of what I wanted to say. And when I hit the period key, I evaluated if my sentence accomplished that task. By the time I publish this article, I will have made at least five self-edits, two computer tool edits (Grammarly/ProWritingAid), and two additional rounds of self-editing. Only then would I allow somebody to read my ramblings.
During that time, I studied that sentence harshly from every aspect. This includes how it connected with others, the words used, and areas for improvement. I even thought about deleting the sentence. Why, yes, many sentences have gone into the digital dustbin in my lifetime.
Did you notice that the sentence differed from the title despite having the same subject matter? That was a deliberate choice, which means that I fretted over exactly what I intended to convey and precisely what words to use.
Let’s look at the word “flawlessly.” I could have used admirably, distinctively, exquisitely, marvelously, meticulously, perfectly, precisely, skillfully, or wonderfully. Those are all valid choices, but I settled on “flawlessly.” I did so because this word was the best choice. This was an intentional decision, meaning that at least once, I gave significant thought to that specific word choice.
My philosophy is that each sentence should stand on its own as a beacon of perfect English. This is why I used “gem,” which implies a mathematically shaped object. Specifically, a valuable object that is often set in jewelry. To me, each sentence is something to be cherished, admired, and has tremendous value.
There is more to my philosophy. I believe that a sentence must stand on its own as much as it interconnects with the rest of the document. Like a precious gem, I study it and appreciate its beauty, all while seeing the whole piece of jewelry.
While editing, I constantly think of every possible way to improve that sentence. Does it make sense? Do I need to add more information? Should I combine it with the last sentence? Would moving it to a prior paragraph read better? Is it truly convening what it is supposed to? My small, medium, and extensive evaluations have the lofty goal of perfection.
Of course, I am not perfect, like a gemstone on an expensive piece of jewelry. When I look back at older work, it is clear I have come a long way. And I have made so many glaring mistakes. Still, reviewing my past has only reinforced my desire to work harder.
There is a downside to my technique involving flow. This is when the reader gets tripped up from one “correct” sentence to the next. The issue is that focusing intently on a single sentence can block out what is around it. To solve this, I make one editing pass with the intent of ensuring the document has good flow. Of course, this effort can take the polish off some sentences, which is a tradeoff.
My goal in writing this article is to provide you with another tool in your writing tool belt. The steps I use are…
Allow me to pivot for a moment to a professional auto mechanic changing a tire. It seems simple enough. Jack up the car, remove the lug nuts, exchange the tires, secure the lug nuts, and lower the car. Yeah, no. There is much more to it.
For example, where exactly to place the jack. Years ago, a coworker needed to change his tire on the side of the road. He accidentally put the jack on the fuel lines, crushing them, and the gas formed a puddle that was set on fire by the highway flare. The car was a total loss. So, changing a tire is not a straightforward task. In fact, each vehicle and situation is unique. Therefore, providing a 1, 2, 3-step set of instructions would not be appropriate for all vehicles.
My point is that professional mechanics have developed many procedures through their observations and automotive knowledge. I have no idea how they organize this knowledge into an efficient tire-changing process, but I do know that all have done so. As a result, while the exact procedure might vary between mechanics, the method will be efficient and superior to that of an amateur mechanic.
My reason for presenting my philosophy is to share my viewpoint, allowing you to examine your own. Meaning that while my philosophy might not work for you, you now know one. Perhaps this article will inspire you to evaluate your own method. Alternatively, if you don’t have one, you may wish to develop one and use my thoughts as a starting point. At the very least, my bonkers method provided some comic relief.
You’re the best -Bill
September 24, 2025
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