Technical writing is the documentation of complex articles in a very simple, crisp, clear and concise way that a layperson can understand. The goal of Technical Writing is to make documents easily understandable to the audience and also to change the way people currently tend to do certain things. Technical writing helps to follow instructions, especially technical procedures, in a more precise way. Technical writers use tools like Robo help, Frame Maker, Dream weaver and also to some extent HTML while creating documentation.
We have been working on some reflections on what, how and why we are writing a document. We have created some rules of thumb that help technical writers deliver a well-written and informative document.
Always Keep Technical Writers in Mind “Write to inform, not to impress!”
The following are some of the golden rules that every technical writer should follow:
Rule 1: Be clear
Be clear on your content and think about the real purpose of your content. Avoid using phrases and clichés that mean nothing. Avoid proprietary words that may confuse the audience and end users.
Rule 2: Keep it short
Try to avoid stuffing content like the welcome message or overly long instructional text for online forms. Cut your text in half and into short paragraphs.
Rule 3: Be creative
Try to be innovative, use a different way of representing the message, in addition to paragraphs or texts. Instead of boring paragraphs of text and headlines, use billboards, charts, and infographics. This could encourage users to continue with your document.
Step 4: Be convincing
Know your audience, be excited, be confident and be bold. Use words that resonate with your audience.
Rule 5: watch your grammar and spelling
Spelling and grammar distract users from the message of the content. Always try to implement one idea per paragraph.
Rule 6: Use Templates
Using templates allows for easier content development, easier content collection, and makes content consistent.
Pay for quality documentation and your users will be happy. Carefully consider the format, spelling, and grammar of the document.
Technical Writing is booming in today’s world. A technical writer has a lot of growth. Technical writers do not need to have good communication, as the technical writer usually interacts with subject matter experts (SMEs) to complete the documents, he also polls the SMEs to get the proper information that is required for the development of the documents. technicians. .
