What does redrafting mean?
Redrafting is the activity of revising and writing again a document, text, contract, proposal, or legislative bill. The term is especially common in legal, political, and editorial settings, where it describes replacing existing wording with a new version that may be clearer, more concise, better organized, or otherwise improved. Redrafting does not necessarily involve changing the document's underlying purpose: a contract can be redrafted to make its language more precise without altering the agreement's commercial terms. Likewise, a legislator may redraft a bill to improve its wording while preserving the policy it embodies. In general prose, the word can sound formal, but it is also used naturally when referring to repeated revision of a written work. As the present participle of the verb “redraft,” it is particularly useful for describing an ongoing task, as in “The committee is redrafting the legislation,” while the finite forms “redraft” and “redrafted” express the same action in other grammatical contexts.
verb (present participle)To revise and rewrite a document, text, proposal, or legislative bill, often to improve its wording, structure, or clarity.
- The act of revising and rewriting a document, proposal, bill, or other text.
"The committee spent the afternoon redrafting the bill before presenting it to Parliament."
"Lawyers are redrafting the contract to clarify the termination provisions."
"She spent the evening redrafting the introduction of her thesis."
A document can be redrafted into entirely new language without its underlying policy or purpose changing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does redrafting come from?
“Redrafting” is formed from the prefix “re-,” meaning again, and the English word “draft.” “Draft” has Old English roots associated with drawing or pulling and survives in related forms such as “draught” and “overdraft.” The prefixed verb “redraft” developed later, and its present-participle form “redrafting” became especially associated with the systematic revision of bills, contracts, and other formal texts.
Related word forms
How redrafting is actually used
Common in legal, political, editorial, and formal writing. It often implies more substantial changes than a light edit, but it does not necessarily mean that the document's meaning or policy has changed.
Easily confused with redrafting
“Redrafting” is the present-participle form of “redraft,” whereas “redraft” is the infinitive and simple past form.
“Redrafting” and “re-drafting” have the same meaning, though “redrafting” is the more usual spelling.