of spelling, grammar, and punctuation) Skimming and comparing (seeking internal consistency, including cross-references) Reading (improving writing style, such as wording and usage) Analyzing (identifying and fixing organizational flaws, missing information, redundancy, and technical inconsistency) Testing and using (fixing technical errors and resolving usability problems) To bring a quality assurance perspective to technical editing, Corbin and others mapped types of edit to types of testing, for example, “system testing to comprehensive editing” and “function testing to copyediting” (p. 290). Other variations As web-based on-demand proofreading and editing services have become increasingly available, the number of edit levels and editing schemes has increased in variety. For example, three cumulative levels is a common scheme, typically 1) light, 2) medium, and 3) heavy editing, although another three-level scheme appears frequently across websites: 1) proofreading and 2) light and 3) heavy editing. Four levels usually differs from a three-level scheme only by the inclusion of a mid-range level, such as 1) basic proofreading and 2) light, 3) medium, and 4) heavy editing. No matter the scheme, a level of edit defined as heavy often results in a complete rewrite. And one web-based service offers six levels of edit according to a partially cumulative scheme: Basic proofreading Complete editing without comments Complete editing with comments Manuscript critique Formatting and layout Verification of citation sources. Based on the function of the edit and the working unit to which it applies, eight levels of edit are also presented, as follows. Developmental outline: Technical document Technical: Document Style: Document Literary: Paragraph Copy: Sentence Format: Character Production: Character Review: Document Other references Coggin, W. O. and L. R. Porter. 1992. Editing for the Technical Professions. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Masse, R. E. 2003. “Theory and Practice of Editing Processes in Technical Communication,” (247-255). D. F. Beer (2nd ed.). Writing and Speaking in the Technology Professions: A Practical Guide. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley. Reprinted from IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, (PC-28), no. 1, 34-2, March 1985. Samson, D. C., Jr. 1993. Editing Technical Writing. New York: Oxford University. See also Edits Editing External links GPO website JPL website STC website Endnotes Proofreading Textual scholarship