Back to Writing and Editing: Revising
University of Michigan

Writing and Editing: Revising

This fourth and final course in the “Good with Words: Writing and Editing” series will help you master perhaps the most important step in the writing process: revising. You’ll learn about the difference between editing and proofreading. You’ll practice “un-numbing the numbers” so that data and statistics you use are clear and compelling. And you’ll be introduced to a framework for giving and receiving feedback that helpfully systematizes what should be cut and what should be kept from each draft. As with the other three courses in this series, you will also get access to a wide range of books and other resources you can use even after you finish the course. These include: (1) the readings and exercises provided to the students who have taken the in-person version of this course at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago; (2) two digital libraries of excellent writing from a diverse collection of journalists, scientists, novelists, poets, historians, and entrepreneurs; and (3) a monthly “Good Sentences” email.

Status: Time Management
Status: Creativity
BeginnerCourse14 hours

Featured reviews

DB

5.0Reviewed May 14, 2021

Simply spectacular. All the tools and techniques certainly make a difference when it comes to write.

DJ

5.0Reviewed Aug 3, 2020

The course is a very good course to enhance your skills and helps you become an architect of words

ML

5.0Reviewed Mar 29, 2021

Excellent course. Professor Barry brings English to life through engaging lectures and video presentations, to recommended readings, the course flows.

CS

5.0Reviewed Apr 20, 2022

G​reat course, Prof. Barry is a fantastic teacher. I learned some genuinely useful techniques to help in my writing and editing tasks.

AR

5.0Reviewed Aug 10, 2022

I did forget to leave this feedback on a previous review I gave, but I wish I had known this course was 4 of 4 prior to joining this class. I would have enjoyed taking the series in order.

GC

5.0Reviewed Aug 27, 2022

In this course, I reinforced my editing skills and learned many others. It is a dynamic course with practice exercises that will challenge your editing knowledge. I truly recommend it!

GE

5.0Reviewed Jul 16, 2020

Mr. Barry is a great teacher. He explained the whole "menu of concepts" clearly, warmly and well. I'm very satisfied with this course.

PV

5.0Reviewed Apr 9, 2025

Another well-curated course by Professor Barry that I'm super grateful for. I am very excited to apply all the learnings in my future writing projects!

WP

5.0Reviewed Feb 25, 2021

This is one of the best courses I have taken through Coursera. Very well thought out and informative.

MS

5.0Reviewed Jun 25, 2020

The first time I didn't loathe the instructor or what they taught. That speaks way more than just volumes

SO

5.0Reviewed Nov 12, 2020

Never knew learning could be so much fun. This course has really made me review and improve on my drafting and editing skills. Highly recommended

SH

5.0Reviewed Oct 24, 2022

I​ have always had a passion and skill for editing. This course honed my skills and improved my existing knowledge. Teachers are awesome and know their stuff.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 93

Iryna Lobko
5.0
Reviewed Sep 30, 2020
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Reviewed Sep 25, 2020
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Reviewed Sep 11, 2020
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Reviewed Oct 26, 2020
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Reviewed Sep 15, 2020
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Reviewed Jul 10, 2020
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Margarethe Avaldi
5.0
Reviewed Aug 23, 2022
ajenkins67@hotmail.com
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5.0
Reviewed Sep 9, 2022