Technical documents provide information that readers need to make decisions or complete tasks. Technical editing ensures that this information is presented in a way that facilitates the reader's understanding. Technical editors offer suggestions for improvement in design of both content and layout and therefore work with the document in both early and late stages.
#20308
Developmental Edits: A Quick Reference 
Performing a developmental edit early in the writing process ensures that the larger issues of organization and usability will be addressed while there is still time to make changes. The writing manager, lead writer, or technical editor should do the developmental edit. This edit consists of reviewing an early (in many cases partial) draft of the document and (1) making sure it adheres to the document plan, (2) studying the table of contents to verify that the organization is effective, and (3) doing a copy edit spot check. Although many of the issues turned up in a developmental edit are similar to those found during a copy edit, finding them early on saves the writer time and effort as the rest of the book is written.
Arakelian, Caroline. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Editing
#20026
The year 2000 is a big duh for computers. But 2020 is when today's kids will rule the universe, as they already seem to rule the language. We'll have a State of the Union address consisting of 'duh!' with a rebuttal of 'DUH-uh' followed by the analysis, 'Excuse me?' I'm not sure whether this is a bad thing, given the present state of adult rhetoric and the occasional charms of juve-talk, or kid-lish. Concise and animated, the sardonic/ moronic idiom of school kids can slice through our stale officialese. Some of it -- the more cuddly terms, not the hard-edged hip-hop -- tickles that laugh-spot recently located in the brain. Yet, when millions of grown-ups, even those who communicate for a living, start aping little people in baggies, one has to fear for the range of human expression.
Plotnik, Arthur. Editorial Eye, The (2003). Articles>Language>Editing
#22706
This tutorial offers base-level information on the use of digital imaging to convert and make accessible cultural heritage materials. It also introduces some concepts advocated by Cornell University Library, in particular the value of benchmarking requirements before undertaking a digital initiative. You will find here up-to-date technical information, formulas, and reality checks, designed to test your level of understanding.
Cornell University (2003). (Spanish) Design>Graphic Design>Image Editing
#29790
When I peer-review a four-page document and insert the word the seventeen times, I wonder: Is this what my company is paying me to do? Am I truly adding value for my customers?
Wenger, Andrea. Carolina Communique (2006). Articles>Editing>Grammar
#23647
E-Editing for Global Audiences
The role of the technical communicator, including that of the technical editor, has evolved to encompass a broad range of responsibilities and skills. The familiar editing processes can be streamlined into four levels of editing, thus providing a basis for a business model for highperformance, global teams. By combining the familiar levels of editing with the latest innovations of one-page business plans, a streamlined e-editing model can be used by high-performance teams to produce high-quality information in a timely and an efficient manner for global audiences.
Adler, Linda J. and Helen Lenane. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Editing>Online
#22055
If you’ve done any writing at all, you’ve experienced the dilemma of selecting the right “level” for the project. In academic and technical writing there tends to be less concern about this, though there should be. In my opinion, given two cents, the more natural my writing seems, meaning more as it would be spoken, the more comfortable it will be to the reader. It’s unclear to me whether it takes more time and effort to write at this level, but it serves readers well and that’s the key. Edit and revision is the key to excellence.
#20345
Edit Your Index: A Checklist for Efficient Editing
This session presents a checklist for editing an index. Discussion will focus on the most efficient means of repairing straightforward index problems as identified in the checklist, such repairs being made either by the compiler of the index or by a project editor. In cases where an index cannot be fixed (so that the editor must make the decision to start over), the checklist is an objective reference for making that difficult decision.
Cohen, Barbara E. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Indexing>Editing
#22899
One of the difficulties many editors face in their work is isolation from other editors. In the past, there seem to have been more opportunities for sustained learning from experienced editors because there were more editorial departments in organisations. Now, editing tends to be outsourced to individuals on a project basis, and the profession has fragmented in terms of means for mutual support and sustained relationships. However, how we are perceived by clients is a function of our collective professionalism and competence. For our own credibility and sustainability as a profession, we need to support one another to be the best we can be. Electronic communication technology offers a fantastic opportunity to regenerate a sense of community for editors, and Editalk has the potential to become a lively forum for advice, for debate, for the exchange of information — an extended dialogue and collective mentor.
#30485
Editing a Malcolm Baldridge Application - A Novice Baldridge Editor Speaks
This paper discusses how the audiences and the experience of the application writers affect the editing time for a Malcolm Baldrige application. The mystery for this novice Baldrige editor -- Why did IBM want one full time editor for seven months to edit 75 pages? What was the catch? Was this job a boondoggle? As it turned out, the criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige application are rigorous and examiners forbid exceptions. The criteria led to a challenging editing job when combined with the diverse background of the audience and the practice of using subject matter experts as writers rather than people who are trained as writers.
Ryan, Suzanne V. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Editing>Case Studies
#24047
I'd like to assume that most of us find ourselves having to edit a moving target only occasionally, but from the horror stories I've been hearing, it seems that more and more people are being expected to edit well in a ridiculously short time.
Stoughton, Mary. Editorial Eye, The (1997). Articles>Editing>Collaboration
#24046
Editing All the Legalese the Law Allows 
Strictly speaking, legalese isn't intended for use outside a judicial context, but quasi-legalistic writing, with its officious tone, wordiness, and complex terms, percolates into business, government, and public interest documents. It's a parroting of the real thing -- which is already hard to swallow -- and there's a lot of it around. That kind of legalese demands to be edited, because people will do almost anything to avoid reading it.
Mayhew, Paul and Elizabeth McBurney. Editorial Eye, The (1997). Articles>Editing>Legal>Writing
#15122
Collins and Hamilton's thorough guide to editing indexes offers tips on the most difficult and time-consuming of indexers' tasks.
Collins, William L. and Karen J. Hamilton. Intercom (2001). Articles>Indexing>Editing
#21995
Editing doesn't necessarily happen after the first text has been written, but it deserves to be thought of as an independent discipline. Most of what people do on the World∆Wide Web is really editing, not writing.
Technischen Universitat Berlin (1998). Design>Web Design>Editing
#20188
Editing and Revising With Flair
Samuel Johnson wrote 'What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.' The wisdom contained in this pithy directive should serve as an excellent guide for writers who edit and revise documents to imbue them with a sense ofpanache. While proper syntax, diction, and usage are three primary elements in the editing and revising process, other important considerations include: (a) eliminating redundancies; (b) avoiding jargon; (c) cleaning bureaucratic expressions; (d) using active andpassive voice appropriately; (e) avoiding wordiness; and Gf) editing for slips in grammar, punctuation and mechanics.
Wadia, Mickey. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Editing>Writing
#13961
Editing Computer Hardware Procedures for Multimedia Presentation 
Traditionally, technical editors have ensured consistency in the voice, grammar, and terminology of print documentation. As publications departments have moved to delivering online documentation, the role of the editor has varied and expanded. Editing multimedia documentation requires an even wider scope of skills than editing online documentation.
Jackson, Sue. ACM SIGDOC (2001). Presentations>Documentation>Editing>Multimedia
#15123
Demonstrates how well-written lists can bring order and coherence to any piece of writing.
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2001). Articles>Editing
#13680
Technical editors may wish to use their current skills in new ways by editing novels or short stories. This paper explores how, by editing such manuscripts, they create personal links to the complex and demanding world of fiction. A thorough understanding of the similarities and differences between technical editing and fiction editing is crucial, as is knowledge of the characteristics of publishable fiction.
Jennings, Ann S. STC Proceedings (1999). Presentations>Editing
#22133
Editing for an International Audience
Here are some things to consider when editing for an international audience.
Hollis Weber, Jean. Technical Editors Eyrie (2002). Articles>Editing>International>Rhetoric
#30553
Editing for International Audiences
To remain competitive, companies must increase content reuse and multilingual usability while reducing volume and eliminating culturally sensitive language. Rushanan shows how editors can increase their value to their employers by functioning as leaders in the translation and localization process.
Rushanan, Valerie. Intercom (2007). Articles>Editing>Localization>International
#10808
Traps for the unwary are common in technical writing. In my 20 years of editing, I've seen a lot of things that have slipped by writers and reviewers.
Weber, Jean Hollis. Journal of the Australian STC (1996). Articles>Editing
#14833
To encourage the development of young editors, we have produced this booklet to serve as a guide to the expectations of news publications around the country. These guidelines are based on materials culled from newspaper tests and the stated expectations of those newspapers. We hope students, professors and others interested in the training of copy editors will use this booklet to learn what newspapers seek when hiring copy editors.
ACES (2000). Resources>Editing>Journalism
#30814
Editing Guidelines for Software Documentation
Software documentation can be difficult to review, so it helps to have some editing guidelines to keep you focused. Let's face it; software documentation isn't exactly exciting reading material. But you should be able to complete the job in a productive manner if you keep your coffee cup full and follow the editing guidelines below.
HelpScribe (2008). Articles>Documentation>Editing>Software
#13124
Editing in a Single-Source Environment
The trend in the technical documentation community is toward single-sourcing: reusing common bits of information. This paper examines the role of the editor in this process, and the effect it has on traditional editorial practices.
Gelb, Janice. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Editing>Single Sourcing
#10810
Like any well-written document, an index needs to be edited. Editing ensures consistency, clarity, completeness and accuracy. And an effective index contributes substantially to the usability of a document.
Brown, Fred. Allegro Time! (1999). Articles>Indexing>Editing
#13149
Editing is magic. A good editor can take a sentence like “References should be included in the paper sufficient to enable the reader to acquire additional information should she desire it,” and condense it to “Please include references.” Editing saves time, cost, and confusion. It’s magic.
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2001). Articles>Editing
