Technical Editing

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Usually equipped with a STEM, life sciences, physical sciences, computer science or IT-related or consulting background, technical editors specialize in quality control of scientific or clinical documentation revising and editing technical information for completeness and accuracy and value of scientific information, accurate use of grammar and style for clarity, punctuation, grammar, and content, style, and tone. Find Technical Editing WFH freelancers on January 21, 2025 who work remotely. Read less

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How is Technical Editing different to general editing?

Technical editing and general editing share some common goals like clarity, coherence, and correctness, but they diverge significantly in focus, techniques, and requirements due to the nature of the material they handle. Here are the key differences:

1. Content Focus
Technical Editing:
Specialized Content: Focuses on scientific, technical, medical, or industry-specific documents like manuals, guides, technical reports, research papers, or software documentation.
Accuracy and Precision: Emphasizes the correctness of technical details, data, formulas, and terminology. Ensuring that complex concepts are explained accurately without oversimplification is crucial.
General Editing:
Broad Range: Deals with a wide variety of texts including fiction, non-fiction, marketing materials, blogs, etc., which might not require deep technical knowledge.
Narrative and Style: Focuses more on storytelling, style, tone, and readability for a general audience, enhancing the flow and engagement of the text.

2. Editing Goals
Technical Editing:
Usability and Accessibility: Ensures the document is user-friendly, with clear instructions or explanations. This includes checking for logical flow in technical procedures or explanations.
Compliance and Standards: Adheres to industry standards, regulatory requirements, or specific style guides relevant to the field (e.g., IEEE for electrical engineering).
General Editing:
Entertainment or Engagement: Often aims to make the text more engaging, entertaining, or persuasive depending on the genre.
Broad Appeal: Works to make the content appealing to a diverse audience, focusing on universal clarity and appeal.

3. Skills and Knowledge Required
Technical Editing:
Subject Matter Expertise: Requires a good understanding of the technical field or subject matter to accurately edit content, verify facts, and sometimes even contribute to the technical content.
Technical Tools: Familiarity with specific software for document creation (like LaTeX for scientific documents) or diagramming tools might be necessary.
General Editing:
Language Proficiency: A strong command of language, grammar, style, and narrative techniques is essential.
Versatility: Must adapt to various writing styles and purposes, from creative writing to commercial copywriting.

4. Types of Edits
Technical Editing:
Technical Accuracy: Involves checking calculations, data presentation, diagrams, and ensuring the correct use of technical jargon.
Consistency in Terminology: Ensuring uniform use of terms, especially across a series of documents or within a large document.
General Editing:
Stylistic and Structural Editing: Might involve restructuring sentences or chapters for better readability or narrative flow.
Tone and Voice: Adjusting the tone to fit the intended audience or to maintain the author's voice.

5. Tools and Processes
Technical Editing:
Specialized Review: Might involve peer reviews or expert consultations to validate technical content.
Version Control: Often uses systems for tracking changes in complex documents where multiple revisions are common.
General Editing:
Editing Software: Utilizes general editing tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or specialized software like Scrivener for narrative texts.
Feedback Loop: Focuses on author-editor communication for stylistic changes.

6. Audience Consideration
Technical Editing:
Targeted Audience: Content is tailored for professionals, academics, or enthusiasts who might have a pre-existing knowledge base in the subject area.
General Editing:
Broad or Varied Audience: Adjusts the level of detail, complexity, and language to suit a wide or specific but non-technical audience.

In summary, while both types of editing strive to make texts clear and effective, technical editing requires a deep dive into the specifics of the content's technicality, whereas general editing focuses on broader aspects of language, style, and narrative structure.

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