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.
#10796
This morning I woke up in a cold sweat -- which was odd, because I usually wake up in bed. In my dream, or rather nightmare, I was reviewing a manuscript that was due to be returned to a client that very morning. As I recalled the dream, I realized why I was sweating -- the manuscript had been edited by someone who combined the worst characteristics of every copy editor I'd ever known.
Mickle, Lee. Editorial Eye, The (1997). Humor>Writing>Editing
#20022
Test your knowledge of a range of writing, editing, and publishing topics.
Sutcliffe, Andrea J. Editorial Eye, The (2003). Articles>Editing
#22898
Editorial Freelancers Association
The Editorial Freelancers Association is a national, nonprofit, professional organization of self-employed workers in the publishing and communications industries. Members are editors, writers, indexers, proofreaders, researchers, desktop publishers, translators, and others who offer a broad range of skills and specialties.
#20312
Editors can play many roles, which, as the need arises, might overlap with those of the production editor, the writer, and even the writing manager. Within the category of editing itself, the editor can perform different levels of edit: formatting, language, substantive. Every pubs group needs an editor, even if only on a parttime basis. The qualities a manager should look for in an editor are somewhat different from those required in a writer. Editors are less likely to have a technical background. They must not shrink from the possibility of confrontation, and yet must be able to give constructive criticism in a manner that the writer will accept and welcome.
Arakelian, Caroline, Lisa Braz, Diane Kirsten-Martin, Bob Nowacki and Carol A. Ranalli. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Editing>Writing
#22630
Editors' Association of Canada
The Editors' Association of Canada promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communications. Its 1,600-plus members, salaried and freelance, work with individuals and in the corporate, technical, government, non-profit, and publishing sectors.
#24159
Electronic Editing in Technical Communication: A Model of User-centered Technology Adoption 
This article connects the research into electronic editing reported by the author in two previous articles to a well-established theory of innovation adoption and diffusion. Everett M. Rogers's theory is first summarized, with emphasis on the perceived characteristics of innovations central to the innovation-decision process. The three most important of these categories for organizing personal judgments about an innovation are used to develop a model of the innovation-decision process with regard to electronic editing in technical communication. The central role of reinvention in the gradual, erratic diffusion of diverse e-editing practices in technical communication is discussed. The author explains and advocates a user-centered ethic of technology adoption, a perspective that values the agency of workplace communities in selectively adopting and reinventing innovations to support the work they do while preserving or enhancing their quality of life on the job.
Dayton, David. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Editing>Online
#19510
Electronic Editing in Technical Communication: A Survey of Practices and Attitudes
Presents results of a sample survey on why, how, and to what extent technical communicators use computers to edit. Suggests that electronic editing is becoming a common editing mode.
Dayton, David. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Editing>TC
#19982
Electronic Editing in Technical Communication: Different Strokes for Different Folks 
The author conducted a multi-modal study of electronic editing practices, impacts, and attitudes among technical communicators. Data were gathered from focus groups and face-to-face and telephone interviews, as well as from email discussions and responses to open-ended questions on a Web-based survey. Observations based on a preliminary analysis of this data will be presented and discussed.
Dayton, David. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Editing>Online
#22172
Electronic Editing in Technical Communication: The Compelling Logics of Local Contexts
Reports a qualitative study of e-editing practices and attitudes in specific workplace contexts. Sheds light on how specific workplace contexts influence perceptions and interpretations of e-editing's benefits and drawbacks.
Dayton, David. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Editing>Online
#19983
Electronic Editing: Results of a Dual-Mode Survey
The preliminary results from an STC-sponsored survey of electronic editing practices, impacts, and attitudes will be presented. In addition to a full-scale survey of a random sample of STC members, the research included a pilot survey administered on the World-Wide Web and a pretest using email software that automates the survey administration process. The potential advantages and problems associated with these innovative survey methods will be discussed.
Dayton, David. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Editing>Online
#30489
Electronic Image Manipulation - Technological Advances and Ethical Considerations
Electronic imaging has enabled the desktop publisher to capture and manipulate images to produce documents that are both attractive and cost-effective. In addition to making basic corrections such as balancing colors and improving highlight and shadow detail, the desktop publisher can retouch photographs and other artwork to repair damaged areas, eliminate distracting elements, or alter composition. However, the ease of manipulation has, in some cases, overshadowed the many ethical issues that desktop publishers need to consider. Integrity of the image, ownership of artwork, and copyright laws are some of the issues that desktop publishers must confront.
Adams, Rae and Stephanie S. Babbitt. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Graphic Design>Image Editing>Ethics
#18175
Electronic Outlining as a Tool for Making Writing Visible
The electronic outlining software found in many commercial programs, when projected on the classroom wall, helps us train students in the main activities involved in creating an outline. Freed from paper, the electronic outline allows continuous revision, encourages multiple iterations of the many interdependent activities involved in research, planning, writing, and revision, and serves as a focal point for discussion of the ways in which the group is developing an ongoing consensus, as part of a larger conversation.
Price, Jonathan R. Communication Circle, The (1997). Articles>Education>Editing>Writing
#27092
Electronic Reporting of ANSYS Results 
This documents several ways to get ANSYS plots into your reports without getting out of your chair.
Bright Path Solutions (2005). Design>Graphic Design>Technical Editing
#22136
Electronically Indicating Approvals or Rejections of Editorial Changes
This technique (involving two macros) works in Word97, but not in Word6 or 7/95. The requirement is to indicate (for audit purposes) whether an editorial change was accepted or rejected by the author or other authority.
Hollis Weber, Jean. Technical Editors Eyrie (2002). Articles>Editing>Software>Microsoft Word
#19180
Too many editors focus on the details and don't pay enough attention to the bigger picture. Editors can--and should--add even more value through substantive, technical, and usability editing. Copyediting is important, but the details are only part of what an editor can and should be reviewing. After all, a document can be correctly spelled and punctuated, grammatically correct, use only approved terminology, and follow the style guide perfectly--and still not serve the audience's needs. This article covers some reasons why editors focus on details and not the bigger picture; describes how much attention technical communicators should pay to formal rules of grammar, punctuation, and usage; and describes how we can distinguish between essential and nonessential rules of grammar, punctuation, and usage.
Weber, Jean Hollis. TECHWR-L (2002). Articles>Editing>Grammar
#18645
Estimating Editorial Tasks: A Five-Step Method
Accurate time estimates are essential to projecting the costs of doing work, whether it's for external clients or other departments within an organization. In the olden days, it didn't seem to matter how many hours were spent editing, as long as all the errors were caught. Now, managers everywhere are looking for ways to cut costs; they want to know in advance how long things will take so they can monitor their increasingly strained budgets. Publications are often a prime target for cost cuts.
Cormier, Robin A. STC Northeast Ohio (2001). Careers>Editing>Pricing>Estimating
#10813
Estimating Editorial Tasks: A Five-Step Method
Everyone would agree that publications work is subject to many unknowns, but it's still possible to pin down key aspects of a project, apply educated guesswork, and calculate a relatively accurate time estimate. Here's a five-step method for arriving at that elusive number.
Cormier, Robin A. Editorial Eye, The (1997). Articles>Editing
#24974
The Ethics of Electronic Image Manipulation
Desktop-publishing software and hardware have become affordable, powerful, and relatively user-friendly. Consequently, with reasonable investments in time and money, communications professionals can now manipulate photographs and create visual images relatively easily in their publications. However such images may be used in ways that are, aside from legal concerns, not ethical. Technical-communications professionals need to be able to recognize manipulated images and to explore the ethical implications of creating or being asked to use such images.
Adams, Rae and Stephanie S. Babbitt. STC Proceedings (1994). Design>Graphic Design>Image Editing>Ethics
#22122
An Example of Substantive Editing
Some years ago I edited a quarterly magazine for the users of a large Australian computing network. This example (from 1985) is fairly typical of the technical articles I received from department managers. I include here the unedited text and my revised version.
Hollis Weber, Jean. Technical Editors Eyrie (2001). Articles>Editing>Case Studies
#29647
Experiencing Technical Writing as Textual Coordination
This paper describes a recent study of how of four technical writers managed the many artifacts (existing texts and information technologies for producing and manipulating text) that mediated their writing process. The author describes the study and characterizes several recurrent patterns of mediation, including textual reuse, remediation of information, and the staging of texts and software programs. The author describes the value of a repertoire of information technologies to technical writing and argues that technological skill should be considered a core competency of the field.
Slattery, Shaun. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Writing>Technical Editing>Technical Writing
#24500
Factors in Reader Responses to Negative Letters: Experimental Evidence for Changing What We Teach
This article summarizes the scholarly discussion about negative messages and reports the results of two pretests and two experiments using negative letters. The results show that buffers did not significantly affect college students' responses to simulated letters refusing credit and denying admission to graduate school, and strong resale was counterproductive. Students responded least favorably to rejection when they were surprised by it and when their other options were limited. On the basis of these experiments and the published literature, the author recommends that negative letters normally begin with the reason for the refusal, using a buffer only if one of several exceptions apply. If the reason makes the company look good, it should be spelled out in as much detail as possible. If an alternative or compromise exists, the writer should suggest it. Although a positive ending is not necessary, if one is used, a bland positive is better than a strong one, especially in letters to clients or customers.
Locker, Kitty O. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (1999). Articles>Editing>Collaboration
#24197
I labeled wordiness the most obvious fault in technical writing. In retrospect, I think I was wrong. I believe the greatest fault our writing can have is vacuity, or lack of substance. We too often write words that say nothing.
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2004). Articles>Editing>Technical Editing>Technical Writing
#14892
Fèdèration des Enseignants Documentalistes de l'Education Nationale
FADBEN est une association de spÈcialistes des enseignants documentalistes (loi 1901) des lycÈes et collËges.
#18358
The Field of Technical Editing
Technical editing is more than checking spelling and grammar of a document; it is a professional career. Both employer and employee can benefit from the skills involved. This report is designed to inform those associated with technical communication – including current students, potential students, their parents, professionals/practitioners, other schools, and employers – about the purpose and function of technical editors. The information in this report came from many sources. Mostly, I used websites from professional societies such as the Technical Editing Special Interest Group (TE SIG). I also interviewed two expert technical editors: Diane Feldman – the manager of the TE SIG – and Julia Neunreiter – the newsletter editor for the TE SIG. In this report, I will discuss the role of the editor, the types of editors, advice for starting in the field of editing, advice for dissipating negative opinions about editors, information about trends in the technical editing field, and the benefits to companies and editors.
Wofford, Tracey Norden. Mercer University (2002). Careers>Editing
#15132
File-Exchange and Workflow Issues
Suggests ways that editors can organize multiple versions of articles and avoid the pitfalls of transferring electronic files over the Internet.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2000). Articles>Editing>Online
