NM Marketing Report:
E-Newsletters Can Enhance Your Internal and External Image

Technical Editing

Although technical editing incorporates the same functions of the proofreader and copy/content editor, its primarily focus is with a document’s technical content and how well it is presented to the intended audience. It involves reading content critically and objectively from the audience’s point of view. The technical editor evaluates a manuscript on the basis of representative readers and determines whether it tells them what they need to know – completely, concisely, clearly, and accurately..

Technical Editing:  Many Aspects to Consider

Our talented technical editors can:

• Provide document assessment and recommendations for improvement of your organization’s customer-facing text, such as:

  •	User Assistance Materials (e.g., user guides, quick reference cards, product overviews, technical manuals, procedures, informational/instructional e-mails, etc.)
  •	Newsletters
  •	Brochures
  •	Web content
  •	Annual reports and special supplements
  •	Association and company publications
  •	Other marketing collateral

• Evaluate how ideas are expressed by looking at the language used:

  •	Sentence complexity
  •	Use of active or passive verbs
  •	Use of jargon or technical terms appropriate for the intended audience

• Rewrite, reorganize, or suggest other ways to arrange material to facilitate clarity of presentation.
• Ensure internal consistency of your documentation. For example:

  •	Are references to figures, tables, sections, part/product numbers, and other documents correct and do the referenced items exist?
  •	Are page numbers and numeric/lettered sequences in order?
  •	Are all graphics, listings, and other non-text items accurate?
  •	Are headers/footers, page layouts, and other types of formatting consistent?

• Check the verifiable details.
• Test documentation content against the use of your product for technical accuracy and validity.
• Work with your subject matter experts to resolve document inconsistencies and correct errors.
• Ensure that the content is well organized and concisely fits together into a coherent whole:

  •	Is there a clear, logical development of ideas?
  •	Is the order of presentation logical?
  •	Is all necessary information included and are redundancies removed?

Let our technical editors assist you with quality control of everything you put to words. For more information, call us at 847.657.6011 or send us an e-mail.

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