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Subject:RE: Different editing techniques in documentation From:Mike West <Mike -dot- West -at- oz -dot- quest -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 1 Dec 2002 14:15:48 +1100
> Greetings. I am working on an assignement which requires
> proof reading and
> editing. Are there any standards followed for editing
> documents and what are
> the different techniques in editing a document?
Editing and proofreading are by no means the
same. Proofreading focuses on inspecting the final
printer's proofs (or the digital equivalent thereof)
to make sure that no mechanical errors have
been introduced in setting up the material
for printing. It's the last thing you do before
commencing the print run.
Editing is a much more complex process, and
there are different stages and levels of editing,
depending on all sorts of considerations.
For example, there is content editing, which
includes fact-checking, assessing the
manuscript's fitness for purpose, and working
with the author to shape or develop the material
as needed.
There is line-editing, which focuses on language
use, visual presentation, and a hundred other
small details.
There are various ways of breaking down these
editing tasks. The safest thing to do is to know
exactly what you looking for at each pass, rather
than trying to catch everything at once.
A couple of books that might help:
_Guide to Technical Editing_ by Anne Eisenberg (Oxford Univ Press)
_The Elements of Editing_ by Arthur Plotnik (Collier/MacMillan)
Good luck,
Mike W
Melbourne, Australia
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