A reviewer evaluates a draft and gives feedback on its technical accuracy, structure, clarity, or content. Effective review starts by defining the purpose, audience, stage, and boundaries of the review. section 6.0 section 6.5.1
Use the right reviewer for the question you need answered:
- Choose a technical reviewer who understands the topic and can identify factual errors, omissions, inadequate detail, or irrelevant technical digressions. section 6.3
- Choose a clarity reviewer who resembles the target reader and can identify missing context, broken flow, confusing sentences, or editing needs. section 6.3
- Tell the reviewer early, explain what kind of review you want, and mark settled decisions as off limits. section 6.1 section 6.5.1
- Treat criticism as useful evidence, respond with curiosity, and discuss comments you disagree with instead of dismissing them. section 6.9
A focused review request
Before sending a draft, tell the reviewer its goal, target audience, current stage, and nonnegotiable decisions. A technical reviewer can then focus on accuracy rather than polishing unfinished prose. section 6.5.1
