Avon Murphy has been a college professor, a technical communications program director, a government technical writer, a freelancer, a contract editor at Microsoft and other firms, and owner of Murphy Editing and Writing Services. An STC (Society for Technical Communication) Fellow, he was for 17 years book review editor for "Technical…

This article examines the historical professional project that created the Institute of Radio Engineers' Professional Group on Engineering Writing an Speech (IRE PGEWS)--now called the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' Professional Communication Society (IEEE PCS)--and recounts the group's early history in detail. It also traces…

The facts bear out that the odds are against most scientific researchers and scholars--especially those just starting out--in their attempts to win funding for their research projects through their grant proposals. In this article, the author takes a close look at some of the proposal-related problems and pitfalls that have historically challenged…

Those who submit manuscripts to academic journals may benefit from a better understanding of how editors weigh ethics in their interactions with authors. In an attempt to ascertain and to understand editors' ethics, we interviewed 3 current academic journal editors of technical and/or business communication journals. We asked them about the…

Argues that technical communication editing is most effective if it deals with structure first, and that structure deficiencies can be detected by applying a range of logical analysis criteria to each text part. Concludes that lists, headings, classifications, and organograms must comply with the laws of categorization and relevant logical…

Reviews discussions of online editing in technical communication literature. Discusses calls for emulating handwritten mark-up and author queries electronically. Discusses studies of online reading and composition whose results suggest that the materiality of hard-copy editing may contribute to inherent advantages over online emulations. Urges an…

Offers personal reflections of a professor's long career in technical writing. Looks primarily at technical writing in the university, where most technical writers are now trained and where most theory originates. Recognizes that many improvements in the field have happened because the use of computers makes revision and production of copy easier.…

Describes three writing assignments (on a scientist, a topic in science, and a topic in technical communication) that help technical writing students develop their technical backgrounds, familiarity with reference materials, peer editing skills, and writing skills. (RS)

Examines the controversy surrounding a 1983 government research report that found that male commanding officers in the United States Navy customarily wrote differently in fitness reports about women than in fitness reports about men. Critiques the writing of several groups, including male and female commanding officers, male newspaper editors, and…

Explores implications of increased publication options and examines conceptual distinctions among Fixed-Format, Electronic, and Meta-media Editors. Proposes a keyboard editing/commenting technique that will work across platforms and software programs and in every mode of electronic communication including simple e-mail. Suggests an increased…

Surveys and critiques what has been written about style checkers and text-editing capabilities of the computer to assist in revising technical writing. Finds the literature inconclusive largely because it is anecdotal and methodologically flawed. Suggests a new research agenda and focus. (KEH)