A study explored collaborative writing practices in six major professional associations: (1) The American Institute of Chemists, (2) the American Consulting Engineers Council, (3) the International City Management Association, (4) the American Psychological Association, (5) the Professional Services Management Association, and (6) the Society for Technical Communication. Two hundred randomly selected members of those associations completed a survey, the results of which indicated that collaborative writing occurs frequently among members of those associations. A second survey was subsequently administered and on-site interviews were conducted. Analysis of those data indicates that there is a general shift toward recognizing the importance of both context and interaction in constructing realities and texts. In addition, even texts produced by one writer are built up or invented collaboratively, and most on-the-job writing is collaborative from beginning to end. The results suggest that perhaps collaborative writing should be encouraged in classrooms, although the tension between those who view collaboration as an enriching, socially constructive act and those who regard it as an abandonment of personal responsibility must first be defused. (DF)