Editorial Services Guide
By The Bay Area Editors' Forum
| Acquisitions editing | Indexing | Production editing |
| Copyediting | Information design | Project editing |
| Developmental editing | Page design | Proofreading |
| Fact checking | Permissions editing | Technical editing |
Definition: Technical editing
Technical documents provide information that
readers need to make
decisions or complete tasks. Technical editors ensure 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. Their duties often overlap those
of
other types of editors and can include:
- All information design
tasks (as defined elsewhere in this guide).
- All copyediting tasks (as defined elsewhere
in this guide).
- Suggesting formats to communicate the message
(for both text and
exhibits).
- Rewriting and restructuring the text to fit
the format.
- Moving entire paragraphs and sentences to
improve flow.
- Ensuring consistent structure by adding or
deleting headings.
- Identifying gaps in content, and supplying
or describing the needed
copy.
- Deleting content that is outdated or that
does not achieve the
desired focus or tone.
- Reviewing all aspects of the editorial and
production process and
enforcing consistent standards throughout.
- Ensuring communication among all members of
the editorial team,
including the designer and those who create the illustrations and
diagrams.
- Incorporating the author's replies to queries
(cleanup editing).
- Checking the math in all text and tables (and
crosschecking text to
tables).