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8.3: General procedure for editing

  • Page ID
    51572
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    The way you go about editing technical materials will depend on multiple factors. You will need to consider the artifact you are editing—is it mostly text? does it contain visuals? is it mostly visuals? is it paper-based or in electronic format? does it contain multimedia content? is it static or interactive?—and the type of edits that you are responsible for making. Even so, you can use the same general strategy when approaching most technical editing projects:

    1. Analyze the materials' purpose, audience, format, and uses.
    2. Evaluate the materials to see if they fit. In particular, consider the materials'
      • contents — completeness; appropriateness
      • organization — order of contents; signals about order visual
      • design — text; lists; tables; aesthetic appearance
      • navigability — findable, working hyperlinks; section breaks
      • style — writing style; authorial persona; sentence structures; cultural biases; grammar; mechanics
      • illustrations — type; construction; placement
      • accessibility — ADA compliance
    3. Set up objectives and plan your project's sequence.
    4. Review the plan with the author.
    5. Edit the materials.
    6. Evaluate the outcome.

    Editor-Client Contracts

    Sometimes, you and the technical materials' creator will work inside the same organization. In this case, your job title and job description likely already define your relationship with the creator, and both you and the creator will have set responsibilities and deadlines.

    Other times, you may be editing materials for a client, a person who is not your coworker. In this case, you need to write a contract that defines your professional relationship with your client.

    At the least, a contract should specify

    • the type of materials you will edit
    • the number of items the length (or size) of the materials
    • the format of the materials
    • the level of edit
    • the deliverable (what you will return to your client)
    • a schedule for completion
    • your compensation

    A clearly written contract benefits both yourself and your client. You will not be overworked or underpaid, and both you and your client will know what to expect and when to expect it.

    As a general rule of thumb, if you are an inexperienced editor, double your estimate of how long it will take you to edit a project, and charge a per-hour or per-page rate. Once you are more experienced and know how quickly you can actually edit, you can charge a per-project flat fee.


    This page titled 8.3: General procedure for editing is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Tiffani Reardon, Tammy Powell, Jonathan Arnett, Monique Logan, & Cassie Race.

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