How many drafts do you need to be grammar free?

[Yil]

Let's suppose 500 words on a random topic. Any language.

 

[BORTZ]

Probably 1 or 2? I am not the best writer, that's why I have someone else read it. Also, being "grammar free" doesn't mean much of anything. I think you mean error free but I might be mistaken.

 

[x65943]

What does this mean? Do you mean how many drafts to be free of grammar errors?

 

[Yil]

What does this mean? Do you mean how many drafts to be free of grammar errors?

Sorry, should have made it clear. But yes, error free and possibly including correct usage of reference.

 

[osaka35]

I aim for a rough draft, a first look over to correct glaring problems, then 1-5 more look overs depending on how good of a grade I want.

A trick is to read your paper backwards after you think you've got a solid draft (2nd or 3rd). sentence by sentence backwards, then word by word. This is for technical writing that I do.

For your purposes, two or three should be enough. Print out each updated draft and take a pen to it. it helps.

 

[FAST6191]

Have I planned this essay to an extent?
How interested am I in the subject?
What time of day or night is it?

On references then it might depend upon the style guide for what I am doing. If it is something pointlessly obtuse then that might take longer. If it is for me using my own style or one I agree with then fairly easy, not to mention Lyx has a nice referencing system.

Otherwise if I have an essay (not that 500 words is much of one) that I have planned, are suitably interested in but not just writing happily and are doing this having eaten and slept well then far fewer than should I be writing something off the cuff which bores me, late at night with low blood sugar and having not slept in a while.

 

[flame1234]

An editor. 1 editor.
Your chances doing it yourself aren't great, but it's possible.

 

[evandixon]

Try changing the font temporarily to a harder-to-read font. Because it's harder to read, it will force you to pay closer attention to the details.
Source:

 

[Deleted User]

two or three drafts and a lot of re-reading.

Try changing the font temporarily to a harder-to-read font. Because it's harder to read, it will force you to pay closer attention to the details.
Source:

I'll remember to use my handwriting font when looking over the stuff I write, then.

Actually, that's not nearly as bad as my actual handwriting

 

[Futurdreamz]

I don't really have any system. I pretty much always stick with the initial version and I mess up it was meant to be.

 

[Hells Malice]

Grammar? Generally the second pass. My usual writing style involves multiple passes. Getting down the base idea first, then fleshing it out over several passes. I think a lot of people find it tedious but it has always worked for me.