1.+Overview

= **1.**   **Overview**=

**1.1 Editor’s Roles and Responsibilities**
Editors are often thought of as people who “clean up” documents, correcting grammatical errors and typos where needed. This is, however, only a fraction of what most editors do. Editors also help writers and project team members //manage// content and see it through to publication. Editors mark-up manuscripts, revise content, provide subject matter expertise, manage the publishing process, and more.

Although it may be difficult to comprehensively define the role of an editor in a universal way, this guide will concentrate on what Carolyn Rude describes as the two primary technical editing functions: //text editing// and //preparing documents for publication//. The following sections describe these functions.

**1.2 Text Editing**
Text editing is more complex than it may seem at first glance. Text editing includes two major components: comprehensive editing and copyediting.
 * Comprehensive editing** is also referred to as //developmental editing, macro editing, analysis-based editing,// and //substantive editing.// This type of editing requires an understanding of the subject matter, the audience, and purpose of the documentation. An editor reviews and edits the content itself to ensure it can be understood by its readers.
 * Copyediting** is also referred to as //manuscript editing// or //line editing.// This type of editing involves an acute attention to detail. Copyeditors review and correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage, style, accuracy, and completeness.

**1.3 Preparing Documents for Publication**
An editor works with the entire project team to see a documentation project through to publication. An editor may work with the writer in a comprehensive and copyediting capacity, as well as manage contracts with printers, web hosts, graphic designers, financial stakeholders, and other interested parties. In this capacity, the editor must work to establish and maintain important relationships among team members and stakeholders for a beneficial outcome on a project. For an expanded description of the types of editing, see Rude, pp. 3-17 and Chicago, 2.48.

1. Overview 2. Technical Editing 3. Working with Writers 4. Types of Editing 5. Editing Technologies and Proofreaders' Marks 6. Editing for International Audiences
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