Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations.

+ References+ Details

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated obligations associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid in the next twelve months or in the normal operating cycle if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Amount of cash paid in the period to fully or partially settle a specified, previously accrued type of restructuring cost.

+ References+ Details

Restructuring (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 Positions	Sep. 30, 2012
Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge			$ 50
Workforce reduction, positions			500
Restructuring charges paid	4
Restructuring reserve, current	46		46
Restructuring Plan, 2011 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge		66
Workforce reduction, positions		800
Restructuring charges paid	6		36
Restructuring reserve, current	31		31
Growth And Value Plan [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge	5
Restructuring Plan, 2006 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Restructuring reserve, current	3		3
Shared Services: Finance & Accounting, Human Resource, Information Technology, and Other Support Services [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated, Period Percent	40.00%
Mcgraw-Hill Financial [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated, Period Percent of Remaining Headcount Reductions	60.00%
MHE [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated, Period Percent of Remaining Headcount Reductions	40.00%
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge			11
S&P Ratings [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge			7
S&P Capital IQ / Indices [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge			15
C&C [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge			6
Corporate Segment [Member] \| Restructuring Plan, 2012 [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax restructuring charge			$ 11