Aug. 6, 2025
Revising Your Paper with the Help of AI
Check First
If you plan to use Gen AI for your assignment, make sure you have explicit permission from your instructor to do so. Check your course outline or assignment instructions to understand your instructor’s expectations. If their expectations are unclear, ask them directly before assuming AI is permitted.
Editing and Proofreading
If you are allowed to use AI tools, Gen AI can help you polish grammar. It can even help you adjust your tone by suggesting more formal synonyms. However, like when using thesauruses and search engines, it’s important to double check for accuracy.
Revise, Revise, Revise
Perfection may be impossible, but revisions are supposed to get us closer. Correcting typos and grammar mistakes are easy enough, but Gen AI’s advantage over modern spellcheck lies in AI’s capacity to provide feedback or suggest considerations.
When using Gen AI to review your work, try prompting it to focus on providing constructive feedback. Here are a few sample prompts:
- “Read this paragraph and suggest ways to improve clarity and flow.”
- “Is my thesis statement convincing but still debatable? Is there a way to improve it?”
- “I feel like the transition between these two ideas is weak. Can you suggest a solution?”
It’s a good idea to break down complex tasks into step-by-step instructions. It can also be beneficial to ask for the AI tool’s thought process.
Sample prompt: “Identify the main points of this argument and tell me whether my conclusion effectively summarizes those key points. Explain your thought process.”
Frequent feedback can help you better engage with your own work. Don’t be afraid to go back and forth with the AI tool to help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your work.
Stay Critical
Be aware of AI’s limitations. It can misinterpret your meaning, suggest cliché wording and phrases, or miss more complex nuances.
While AI is a powerful tool, remember not to rely on Gen AI to do the work for you. Use AI to help you catch weaknesses in your writing. Never use AI to replace your own thinking or write your paper for you. Your own judgment and critical evaluation are key in developing good work.
Other Helpful Resources
For more help with polishing your writing, check out these resources:
You can also register for Writer’s Space or book an appointment with a writing tutor at the Student Success Centre.