[ATTW-L] [EXT] technical editing class -- hard-copy markup?

Mon Jan 9 16:25:21 UTC 2023

Jonathan (and all),

I also think you are wise to keep incorporating at least one unit in your course on hard-copy editing. You know, I believe this (perhaps minor) controversy about the right mode of editing is not unlike the debate about the pros and cons of a paperless society -- or the relative value for readers of eBooks versus traditional books. I think there is an inherent value, at least for some purposes and some genres (or subject matter), in print-based communications that will never erased by electronic media. I may have to eat my words before my time on this planet is done, but I do think this is true. That being said, I obviously see great value -- again, in certain work contexts -- for print-based or hard-copy editing.

Another analogy that I think supports my viewpoint is the tried-and-true principle that all writers -- despite the fact that we all believe we see can see perfectly well what's on the printed page or the screen -- should read out loud what we've written, at some point in our revising and editing process.

Furthermore, from my own workplace experience as a technical writer and editor, I firmly believe that printing out a document and working with the hard-copy while revising, at least initially, is almost indispensable to the work of heavy or substantive editing (when whole paragraphs or sections need to be moved around or rearranged, among other things). I know your question was about editing practices, but I bring up this point because there is sometimes a fine line between revising and editing, as we all know.

All the best,
Steve

Steven W. Lemanski, MTC-English

Adjunct Writing & Communication Instructor

[cid:4d9ae730-ec68-47b0-ad82-09c371608fa1]

________________________________
From: ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org> on behalf of Joseph Jeyaraj <JJeyaraj at citytech.cuny.edu>
Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2023 12:33 PM
To: Jonathan Arnett <jonathan.arnett at gmail.com>; attw-l at attw.org <attw-l at attw.org>
Subject: Re: [ATTW-L] [EXT] technical editing class -- hard-copy markup?

I have taught professional editing and revising many times, and, while students in my courses edit text on their computers, I have also taught copyediting using editing symbols on print copy.

I have done that because, among other things, I am not sure if it is easier to catch mistakes on print copy as opposed to text on an electronic backlit screen.

You could also get feedback, Jonathan, from the listserv for editors.

Cheers,

Joe
________________________________
From: ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org> on behalf of Jonathan Arnett <jonathan.arnett at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 6, 2023 1:35 PM
To: attw-l at attw.org
Subject: Re: [ATTW-L] [EXT] technical editing class -- hard-copy markup?

Howdy, Hive Mind.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful and well-considered input about the value of teaching hard-copy markup. It seems that, in the long term, hard-copy markup is akin to buggy-whip braiding, but for now, it still holds some potential value; I'll keep teaching the unit with the attitude of "you might find this useful" and reduce its grade weight.

Thanks again.

Jonathan Arnett
Associate Professor of Technical Communication
Department of Technical Communication & Interactive Design
Kennesaw State University

________________________________
From: ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org><mailto:attw-l-bounces at attw.org> on behalf of Jonathan Arnett <jonathan.arnett at gmail.com><mailto:jonathan.arnett at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2023 3:16 PM
To: attw-l at attw.org<mailto:attw-l at attw.org> <attw-l at attw.org><mailto:attw-l at attw.org>
Subject: [EXT] [ATTW-L] technical editing class -- hard-copy markup?

Hi, colleagues.

I have a question, and I'd like your input.

I'm updating my Technical Editing class, and I'm pondering whether to
keep or cut the unit on hard-copy markup. I taught this unit in years
past to good effect, but now that most editing is done electronically, I
wonder if hard-copy markup is a dead skill.

If you were to (or if you actually do) teach a course on technical
editing, would you teach hard-copy markup?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Jonathan Arnett
Associate Professor of Technical Communication
Department of Technical Communication & Interactive Design
Kennesaw State University

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