I've done a lot of editing in my life, and it's just ruined me. Once you've held that red pen in your fingers, you just can't enjoy reading in the same way!

Here's a quick example of my daily torture. Many mornings I will read a book on the subway, and as I do I will usually stop when I encounter a confusing sentence. Then I will carefully edit the sentence in my head to be less confusing. I rewrite the sentence over and over in my mind, until I satisfied that the new sentence is sufficiently clear.

WHY DO I DO THIS?? Nobody benefits from this effort, including me. I don't know why I can't stop doing it, but I just can't.

When you come across a confusing sentence in a book or paper, do you ever stop reading and rewrite it in your head to be less confusing?