redact

Other forms: redacted; redacting; redacts

To redact is to arrange or edit text in a written document. Don't get too attached to every word in your rough draft; your teacher will expect you to redact it before handing in your final paper.

Redact refers to any kind revising or editing that makes a document better, usually for publication. When you see the prefix re-, you know the word is going to refer to something either being done again or retracted. You can think of redact as redoing writing or taking back some of what was originally said. You'll often see the word redact being used with the prepositions in or into. You might take several documents and redact them into a single one.

Definitions of redact

1. verb

   formulate in a particular style or language
   synonyms: cast, couch, frame, put

   type of:

   articulate, formulate, give voice, phrase, word

   put into words or an expression
2. verb

   prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting
   synonyms: edit

   types:

   alter, falsify, interpolate

   insert words into text, often falsifying it thereby

   cut up, hack

   significantly cut up a manuscript

   black out

   suppress by censorship as for political reasons

   blank out

   cut out, as for political reasons

   copyedit, copyread, subedit

   edit and correct (written or printed material)

   bracket, bracket out

   place into brackets

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
3. noun

   someone who puts text into appropriate form for publication
   synonyms: redactor, reviser, rewrite man, rewriter

   types:

   abbreviator, abridger

   one who shortens or abridges or condenses a written work

   type of:

   editor, editor in chief

   a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)