Have you ever written something you thought was particularly strong, but then your friend completely tore it up, saying it needs a complete makeover? Or maybe you’ve turned in something you weren’t sure about, maybe even cringed at, only for a friend to say it’s clear, thought-provoking, and just needs a few tweaks? These are the two sides of peer editing that students encounter.

Ideally, as editors, we want to be the friend classmates trust for writing advice—someone who won’t just say the writing “looks good” or offer vague, unhelpful comments, but who can lift the piece up, sharpen the message, and leave the writer feeling confident that the reader will have a positive impression of the piece.To help with this skill, I curated a list of five tips for giving constructive feedback when peer reviewing:

1. Be Specific and Constructive

Telling a writer “this could be better” will leave them frustrated and unsure of what to fix. Instead, help them understand your thoughts on how their work can be improved. When I edit, I use a mental checklist: sentence structure, punctuation, clarity of ideas, repetition, and hook/reader appeal.

While it is important to be specific, don’t rewrite everything for them; point out issues like “this sentence could use a comma” or “this part feels unclear” so they can fix it themselves. This way, while helping to point out mistakes, you are still letting them feel that they own their work.

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2. Stick On Topic

Sometimes, editors have the urge to completely rework the whole message or shift the focus, but our job is to boost what’s already there, not inject our own voice and new ideas. If it’s schoolwork that you’re checking, ask for the assignment instructions so that you don't delete something that you think isn't important that is actually key to the assignment. You might even spot something they missed, like a rubric requirement, earning them back the few crucial points they would have otherwise lost; I’m sure they will be very grateful, as every point counts!

3. Be Mindful of Your Language

Saying “you’re a bad writer” doesn’t help anyone; if anything, it will only hurt them as it will decrease their confidence in their abilities. Writing’s personal, and there’s not always one “right” way to do it. Frame your suggestions as options, like “I think this tweak could make it stronger,” so they don’t feel forced to agree. Once you’re done editing, don’t stay on the document; let them process your feedback without feeling watched or pressured to accept all your suggestions

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4. Focus on the Main Idea

No one likes it when an editor just replaces their wording with synonyms, like “happy” for “joyful,” which doesn't do much to enhance the writing and is only a personal writing choice; it can be annoying and signals to the author that you are missing the point. This leads to the last point: focus on the main message instead. If you get what they’re trying to say, it reassures them their writing’s clear, which is way more valuable than nitpicking synonyms.

5. Summarize Your Editing

Spend a minute or two synthesizing what they wrote and the emotions that you got from their piece; it shows whether their point came across or if something’s still unclear. Focusing on clarity is key; if a sentence took you a while to understand, suggest a fix. This is especially important for school assignments, as teachers will usually be kinder if you make the reading easier for them. These steps guide how I edit, and I hope they work for you too!

Next time you’re wondering if you’re a “good peer editor,” skim this list, trust your gut and read the sentence aloud if you aren’t sure if it’s correct, and edit like you’d want someone to edit your work: kindly, thoughtfully, and with your success in mind!These tips have helped me give feedback that lifts up my classmates’ writing while keeping it kind and clear. I hope they spark confidence in your editing, too; just trust your instincts and edit like you’re cheering on a friend!