Archive for January 2010
Documentation as a Backup for UI Deficiencies?
Here is a view that has some weight to it, on the basis of my personal experience as a Fortune 500 technical communicator: “[Software] Documentation is rapidly becoming a backup for deficiencies in the user interface and user training rather than a complete solution in itself.” And here is an intelligent blog post that discusses…
Read MoreThe Importance of Writing Perfect Checklists
Ask yourself: would you be willing to fly in an airplane flown by a pilot who relies on his or her “memory and track record” rather than a detailed and time-tested checklist? I wouldn’t. The deeper question is: if checklists are perfect and indispensable for flying airplanes safely and reliably, then why don’t we use…
Read MoreHow to Become a Technical Writer
(A personal account published at Tom Johnson’s excellent blog) by Sarah Pruitt Deciding to become a technical writer was easy. But finding the experience and the time has proven unforgiving. My job is not based on writing; in fact, writing is rarely needed. Between working full-time at a bank doing account maintenance (which is equivalent…
Read More"Me" or "I"? A Simple Method to Use the Correct Pronoun
© 2010 Ugur Akinci Sometimes people are confused whether to use “me” or “I” in a sentence. For example, which is correct: “Me and Jimmy watched a movie”… or “I and Jimmy watched a movie”? First off, it always sounds better if you cite the other person FIRST, as in “Jimmy and me…” or “Jimmy…
Read MoreHow to Access Google Documents on Your Smart Phone
(Excerpts) This week, with a little extra time on my hands, I decided to try to look for a phone that I can use to access the full internet. I have a Boost phone I pay for by the month. In truth, I don’t use my phone much on a daily basis, but use it…
Read MoreScheduling and Keeping Up with Your Goals & Clients
You’ve made a New Year’s resolution… You want to write that book… Get that diploma or certificate… Exercise 3 times a week… or whatever it may be. But there’s a slight “problem”… How are you going to keep track of all those promises? Why, with scheduling software of course! Here are some suggestions: Google Calendar.…
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