to revise / to overwork
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to revise
To review and specifically improve something existing, such as a text, draft, or plan.
Der Autor muss sein Manuskript vor der Veröffentlichung noch einmal gründlich überarbeiten.
The author still has to thoroughly revise his manuscript once more before publication.
The verb 'überarbeiten' (to revise / to overwork oneself) is inseparable. The prefix 'über-' remains firmly attached to the verb in all tenses and sentence positions and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
Ich überarbeite gerade meinen Lebenslauf.
I'm currently revising my résumé.
You can recognize the meaning from the sentence structure. If an accusative object follows (wen/was überarbeiten? — whom/what to revise?), it means 'to improve'. If the verb is used reflexively with 'sich' (oneself), it means 'to work too much'.
Die Designerin überarbeitet das Logo der Firma.
The designer is revising the company's logo.
In the meaning 'verbessern' (to improve), 'überarbeiten' (to revise) is often combined with things that can be optimized. Typical phrases are: 'einen Text überarbeiten' (to revise a text), 'ein Konzept überarbeiten' (to revise a concept), 'einen Plan überarbeiten' (to revise a plan), or 'einen Entwurf überarbeiten' (to revise a draft).
Wir müssen das Sicherheitskonzept für die Veranstaltung überarbeiten.
We need to revise the safety concept for the event.
In the meaning 'zu viel arbeiten' (to work too much), the verb must always be used reflexively. The reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, etc.) must be adjusted to match the subject.
Du solltest eine Pause machen, damit du dich nicht überarbeitest.
You should take a break so you don't overwork yourself.
to improve
'verbessern' and 'überarbeiten' can both mean making texts, plans, or drafts better. 'verbessern' can be very general and may refer to just a single mistake. 'überarbeiten' usually means that you carefully review something existing and make targeted changes. It sounds like more work than just a small correction. For a spelling mistake, 'verbessern' fits well; for a new, better version of a text, 'überarbeiten' often fits better.
Vor der Abgabe überarbeitet Anna den Bericht noch einmal in Ruhe.
Before handing it in, Anna calmly revises the report one more time.
In der Schule hat Mehmet drei Fehler in seinem Aufsatz verbessert.
At school, Mehmet corrected three mistakes in his essay.