On the surface, the idea of editing on your screen can seem like the more efficient choice because you can just get in and change things without the cumbersome process of making changes on paper and then transferring them onto your digital copy. However there are many reasons why editing by hand is actually more effective and is worth considering as part of your writing routine.
Firstly, editing on paper allows you to engage with your writing in a more tactile and focused way. Reading your work on paper physically feels different than reading it on a screen. This change in medium helps you see your writing from a fresh perspective, making it easier to spot errors that you might have overlooked on a screen. The physical act of marking up a manuscript with a pen also forces you to slow down and consider each change more carefully. There is also evidence to suggest that when reading on a screen we tend to skim over text whereas reading on paper engages a more thorough absorption of the words in front of us.
Firstly, editing on paper allows you to engage with your writing in a more tactile and focused way. Reading your work on paper physically feels different than reading it on a screen. This change in medium helps you see your writing from a fresh perspective, making it easier to spot errors that you might have overlooked on a screen. The physical act of marking up a manuscript with a pen also forces you to slow down and consider each change more carefully. There is also evidence to suggest that when reading on a screen we tend to skim over text whereas reading on paper engages a more thorough absorption of the words in front of us.