The Built-In Limit to Rounding Off Numbers

Is there a limit to rounding off numbers? Yes there is. The digits after the decimal point reflects the degree of uncertainty we have inherent in the measurement (and thus in the number) itself. For example, 10.7 is less exact, less accurate, than 10.743. Thus we can say that we are “more sure” about 10.743;…

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Technical Book Review – "Enabling Globalization" by Nabil Freij

© 2010 Ugur Akinci “Enabling Globalization: A Guide to Using Localization to Penetrate International Markets” by Nabil Freij, the President of the localization company GlobalVision International Inc. is a must reference for everyone thinking to market products and services globally. It’s kind of ironic but true – globalization requires localization, and this book has plenty…

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"Convenience" is the Main Reason Why We Round Off Numbers

© 2010 Ugur Akinci We technical communicators deal with numbers all day long. We write them, calculate them, interpret them. We also round them off. “What’s the best way to round off numbers?” a reader asked. And I did some thinking about it because I realized I haven’t given it enough thought in the past.…

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Technical Writing – Clean Your Sentences Down to the Bone

Have you ever watched a fisherman filet a fish down to the bone at the fisher’s market? They do it quickly, separating fish from bone in a flash, without wasting anything. You should do the same to your sentences to write the kind of smooth and “delicious” technical documents that your intended audience can enjoy…

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Technical Writing – Use “Must” Sparingly

© 2010 Ugur Akinci When a word is used frequently it starts losing its power. That’s why you should choose your words carefully and use them only when you really mean it. “Must” is a word sometimes used too frequently in technical writing. Try eliminating must from your writing to communicate better with you readers.…

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A Career in Technical Writing?

(Excerpts) Ever thought about what goes into creating the user manuals or instruction brochures of your music system, mobile phones or even the car maintenance guides? Most of us just manage to glance through the item, leave alone going into the technical details. Since such information is meant for the layman, simplifying the jargons associated…

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How to Write Technical Documents for the Intended Audience

There is no such thing as a single “user guide” or “product manual” in technical documentation. It all depends on the audience you are writing for and their specific interests. For example, imagine you are writing a “software manual” for software that audits medical insurance claims. Here are the interests of different groups of readers…

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