Liam Thomas McManaman | Staff Illustrator

I am an editor. Though I probably get paid less than a dime per hour, it’s my job, and I love it. Still, it is a weird time to work for a newspaper. While I have spent the last few years developing my editing skills, I’ve watched others grow increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence as a replacement for human editing. Unsurprisingly, this concerns me. It should probably concern you, too. 

I won’t explain to you why you shouldn’t use AI to write your essays; there are thousands of other articles that do that. Plus, if AI does write your papers, it’s probably too late. 

There is another crowd of people, however, whom I am interested in speaking to. They often do their own writing, yet the editing is relegated to ChatGPT. It’s quicker that way — but I don’t think that’s the main reason they do it. 

I suspect the proliferation of AI editing has something to do with vulnerability. After all, writing is quite vulnerable: it reflects one’s own unique ideas and language, one’s personhood. When we share our writing with others, we want it to look perfect because we want to look perfect. Of course, we are nowhere near perfect beings. Still, the desire for perceived excellence motivates many to AI-edit their writing long before another pair of human eyes lays rest to their work. Even simple edits like adding punctuation or fixing grammar can manipulate a writer’s voice and, consequently, their meaning.    

I am not mad at these writers. As AI has become more accessible, many have realized the power of an outside editor. The issue is, they misunderstand the importance of human editing, not just for their writing, but for themselves and their community. 

As a Forum editor, I am awarded the rare privilege to see unfinished writing from hundreds of different people. I am forever grateful for each writer’s willingness to share their imperfect work with me and the Forum staff. In exchange, we invest our time and energy into the words of those who write for our paper, whether we agree with them or not. What is important is that we are willing to engage with other people’s imperfect work and still envision their potential as writers. To edit their work, then, is an investment into the WashU community (or at least those who read Student Life). It brings us together as writers and editors towards a greater cause: civil discussion. 

While Forum is a particular example, all editing builds community. Whether it’s your friend or your grandma, letting others edit your writing offers the opportunity for them to engage with more than just your work, but also your life. Think of the reasons why we write today: an essay, a job application, a best man’s toast, or a eulogy. No matter the occasion, when we edit each other’s writing, we invest in the work and livelihood of each other. We edit because we love. We edit because we are human. So, go out and share your work with someone you trust, whether that be a friend, a parent, a teacher, or a mentor. Be vulnerable. Be edited.