Creating written content well as a team requires multiple reviews by various team members or by external copy editors. More than one set of expert eyes on a document always enhances the final product. When possible, assign the work to a fresh set of eyes.

Our team strongly suggests and hopes that you build multiple reviews into your process, whether for grant writing or other content creation. 

To copy editors and other reviewers who want to be outstanding and in demand, we offer five important guidelines emerging from our experience.

• Another professional spent time and thought on the original content. We are now editing and commenting on their draft. When suggesting, we couch ideas with “pls” or “I suggest”—or something similar. We ask them to consider our recommendations. 
• We strongly suggest using serial commas for optimal clarity. We have never seen a convincing argument against them. 
• Consistency is key. To that end, the phrasing in grouped items (such as headings and bulleted lists) should demonstrate parallel construction (e.g., the headings match in that they are all noun phrases, all questions, or all directives, etc.), all acronyms must match in each mention, verb tense should be consistent, and more. 
• In a thoughtful society, we need to be careful about pronoun usage and about avoiding other biased descriptors. Our editing literally can prevent content from being psychologically harmful. Sometimes our responsibility goes beyond grammar. 
• Finally, AI grammar checkers are not always right. We have seen repeatedly that they do not understand subtleties or the content’s overall purpose. They cannot interpret when the moment is right to use creative license or certain phrasing for utmost clarity, readability, and impact. Believe in yourself about optimizing each situation. 

(Yes, another DH Leonard Consulting teammate has reviewed this blog before posting it! Every piece of content must be reviewed, even when a copy editor created it.)