Content editing

Comprehensive Editing is also known as substantive editing, macro editing, and heavy editing. It is a form of technical writing that evaluates the overall formatting, style, and content of a document in order to enhance visual design and comprehension. Organization of a document is important so that the intended uses of that document can be performed by the audience in an easy and clear manner. As explained by Carolyn D. Rude and Angela Eaton in their technical writing book, “Comprehensive editing can be the most satisfying type of editing, because editors can take a confusing, disorganized document and revise it into something clear, helpful, and useful.” ." Comprehensive editors are a type of language professional.

Requirements of Comprehensive Editing

Comprehensive edits require that the writer make changes based on his or her own rhetorical questions. This is because comprehensive editing does not involve using a handbook, guide, or manual like copy editing does, and they are instead based on what the writer thinks will make the document more comprehensible. When editing a document changes are made based on usability and functionality. Editors should “consider a document’s concept, content, organization, design, and style.”

Comprehensive editing will require more effort because it requires edits beyond copy editing. It will require the editor to have more abilities in changing a document and to have more options to choose from. It will require the editor’s judgement because nothing is entirely written in stone when a comprehensive edit is made. It is also very time consuming because it requires the entire document to be edited rather than specific diction or syntax. This could mean reorganizing sections or reorganizing the document as a whole.

This reorganization can make a confusing document more clear and precise, as well as easier on the eyes. Comprehensive edits are not only used for readability but also visual appeal. Not only is content included in comprehensive editing but tables, graphs, and placement of images are all apart of comprehensive editing as well.

Uses of Comprehensive Editing

Comprehensive editing is a part of technical writing which means it is used in not only technical environments such as manual or guide writing, but it is also used heavily in the academic setting as well as professional workplaces. This level of editing is used among students, professors, as well as professionals. Other uses include resume writing, grant writing, research, as well as many other forms of writing.

Complications with Comprehensive Editing

Unlike copyediting where editors can often follow a set of rules, comprehensive editing has no set rules as long as the changes made to a document result in better usability and comprehension. This level of editing anticipates the reader’s needs and requires the editor to anticipate the usability of the document. This can often times make it hard to decide what changes need to be made due to how clear the reader’s needs are. If a reader’s needs are not clear, then comprehensive editing can become a challenge for the editor or writer.