Editing Mathematics  

Editing mathematics is like editing a foreign language, with its own conventions, symbols, and rules of grammar. Various typographic rules must be followed exactly since deviations from them change the meaning of the material. Like poetry, placement of the information on the page is important for the meaning. The editor often must be a cryptographer, decoding esoteric handwritten material.

Burgan, Murrie W. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Scientific Communication>Technical Editing>Mathematics

Editing Modular Documentation: Some Best Practices

Much has been said about the creation of modular documentation - from content management systems, to information architecture, to delivery forms, to the usability of modular content (content being easier to use, easier to understand, and easier to find), and so on. However, not much has been said about the editing of that content, and what the editor's role is in such an environment.

Corbin, Michelle and Yoel Strimling. WritersUA (2008). Articles>Documentation>Technical Writing>Technical Editing

Editing Multimedia  

Multimedia involves “many” “means of communication” – many ways of getting a message across. Whether you edit the work of others or submit your own work to the Red Pen, a closer look at what is involved in editing multimedia – tasks, process, and skills required – can help you create multimedia solutions that deliver your message with flying colors!

Prince, Deborah Smith and Cynthia C. Currie. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Multimedia>Editing

Editing on a Global Scale  

An interview with Seth Beckerman, a freelance editor with many international clients, reveals the challenges and rewards of working with writers around the globe.

Ketelaar, Carolee C. Intercom (2001). Articles>Editing>International

Editing Online Materials

Editing anything that is intended to be read on a computer rather than (or in addition to) being read on a paper copy.

Weber, Jean Hollis. ASTC (1996). Articles>Editing>Online

Editing Reports and Proposals

Businesses, non-profit organizations, government departments, and other groups produce a lot of proposals and reports. This article summarizes some features of reports and proposals that are not the same as books, news items, manuals, magazine articles, memos and many other documents.

Hollis Weber, Jean. Technical Editors Eyrie (2001). Articles>Editing>Proposals>Reports

Editing Single-Sourced Projects

This article does not address the (important) questions of when a single-sourcing methodology is a good solution to an information delivery problem ('good' here meaning saving time and money while maintaining or improving the quality of the resulting deliverables). Instead, I'm looking only at the editor's involvement in the project.

Hollis Weber, Jean. Technical Editors Eyrie (2002). Articles>Editing>Single Sourcing

Editing Sure Has Changed. Or Has It?

It has always been part of the editor's traditional task to search for the mot juste. This was especially true in technical fields: words could not be expected to guide readers if they were not accurate, and the mechanics of production made it costly to change words once they were published. Today, however, particularly in fields where much of what is published can become obsolete within months or weeks, fewer and fewer research organizations employ a full-time copy editor to refine the wording of their texts. Instead, to keep pace with the need for current information, our offices are being equipped with the latest tools for electronic text production.

Bodzin, Gene. Writer's Block (1995). Articles>Editing>History

Editing Tables of Data

Tables should allow readers to easily and accurately: see what subject matter and variables are being described; find out absolute values; observe relationships between variables. When you edit a table, it is useful to assess just how well it achieves these ends. Readers will feel confident with your table if they can quickly navigate around and absorb the data.

Hollis Weber, Jean. Technical Editors Eyrie (1999). Articles>Editing>Technical Editing

Editing Tests for Writers  

Times are hard, and many former writers are pounding the dirt looking for work. Some who have extensive experience with peer review or revising documents are expanding their job searches to include careers as editors. However, new editors often face a barrier to entering the profession: the editing test. Rather than taking a chance on unproven candidates, publishers and other clients typically ask would-be editors to review short documents that test three main aspects of an editor’s skills.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2003). Articles>Editing>Writing

Editing That Works

Collection of principles that can also form a process for editing web content to make it usable.

Jarrett, Caroline. Editing That Works (2005). Resources>Editing>Technical Editing>Usability

Editing to Teach  

Authors often are unreceptive to editing because they see editorial comments and changes as arbitrary. Editing that offers “rules,” asks questions, gives choices to authors, and provides examples of better ways to express ideas takes very little additional editorial time and enables authors to see editing as a significant contribution to document quality. Writing problems that cannot be addressed during editing can be addressed in brief training sessions that encourage authors to incorporate what they learn into their writing.

Sartoris, Brenda E. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Education>Editing

Editing Web Pages  

Investigates some of the specific issues involved in editing Web sites, an increasingly common task for us wage slaves and an enormous opportunity for freelancers.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2003). Design>Web Design>Editing

Editing Web Pages: A Second Look  

How to edit Web pages--with revision tracking--using Microsoft Word.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2004). Articles>Editing>Web Design>Writing

Editing Your Own Documentation  

Technical writers sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that the user is stupid. I have often heard technical writers say things like 'well, if the user can't figure that out, maybe he’s in the wrong job!'

Docsymmetry (2003). Articles>Documentation>Editing>Technical Writing

Editing Your Own Work

One of the most difficult things a writer can do is to edit his or her own work. It's great to have someone else, preferably a trained editor, review what you've written. But you may not always have that luxury, and even if you do, you should never be satisfied with a first draft.

Canavor, Natalie and Claire Meirowitz. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Editing

Editing Your Own Work, Part II

Someone once asked Lillian Hellman what was hardest about writing. "Killing your little darlings," she said. For a playwright, "the little darling" can be a favorite character or a hard-fought scene or a bit of sparkling dialogue—anything that, while dear to one's heart, doesn't contribute to the dominant theme. A similar challenge faces every writer, whether we work in the realm of reportage, marketing or employee communication.

Canavor, Natalie and Claire Meirowitz. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Editing

Editing Yourself

Here are some tips that helped me edit my own writing.

Leigh, Heather. Crazy for Words (2007). Articles>Editing>Writing>Technical Writing

Editing—We Meet Again  

Three papers on editing presented at the 1967 STC Conference are revisited to emphasize the belief that editing in 1996, despite changes introduced by modern technology, is still much the same as it was 30 years ago. Editors still make changes (in language, structure, and mechanics). Editors still can work more effectively when they have a basic knowledge of production processes (composition, illustration, photography, printing). Editors still need 'uncommon skills' in managing work people, and time.

Cox, Alberta L., Donald W. Bush, Elizabeth Babcock, David Dobson and Lola Zook. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Editing

Editing: An Arcane Strategy for New Millennium Technology?  

This paper discusses the relevance of editing to documentation produced in the new millennium. It also points out the importance of editing, for clarity of communication as well as for intent. Editing is approached first from the historical perspective provided by the history of written communication. This is followed by a brief discussion of the types of editing functions most often used prior to publication.

Block, Anne L. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Editing>History

Editor as Teacher, Writer as Student: Building a Relationship for Corporate Writing Improvement  

Corporate writing skills deficits may be minimized by effective technical writer training programs. One way to effect long-term writing improvement is to cast a skilled technical editor in the role of resident writing teacher. The successful editor-as-writing-teacher must confront personal writing processes and attitudes, develop a positive and trusting relationship with clients, develop writing assessment skills, analyze and understand the corporate culture and language, and keep abreast of new techniques and tools in writing education. Acquistion of these attributes and skills is a realistic goal for a seasoned technical communicator.

Abbott, F. Thomas. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Education>Editing>Business Communication

The Editor as Translator (or: How Do You Say That in Calculus?)

Sometimes English just isn't the most elegant way to say something. It might be so much easier if we write for a math journal, because the correct language for the explanation can be, in fact, mathematics.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (1999). Articles>Editing>Scientific Communication>Mathematics

An Editor Can Help Your Business

Your business must get its message out to succeed. An editor can help make your message clear, correct, attractive, and appropriate to your market.

EAC. Articles>Editing