#21712
Technical Writing: On the "Write" Note
A technical communicator can enhance the value of a product by bridging the gap between it and the user. But there are numerous issues technical writers face. Akhtar Pasha and Neema George analyse this field and discover that with the right incentives, technical writing could create immense job opportunities.
Pasha, Akhtar and Neema George. Express Computer (2003). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing
#22350
Technical Writing's Big Secret
Technical writing tells the reader how to use a product. If the product can be used successfully by a technically unsophisticated reader, the manual can be written by an unsophisticated writer. It helps if the writer has enough background to understand the product designers' technical jargon, but this isn't absolutely necessary.
Plamondon, Robert. High-Tech Technical Writing. Articles>Writing>Technical Writing
#31939
Technical Writing's Big Secret
The big secret in technical writing is that most of the harder documents aren't written by the technical writers at all. In fact, many "technical writers" never do any writing at all. Instead, the drafts are written by engineers or marketers. The technical writers perform editorial functions and provide publications services -- copy-editing, layout, review management, and so on.
Plamondon, Robert. High-Tech Technical Writing (2008). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Technical Editing
#21543
Technisch Schrijvers Schuwen Onderzoek: Toch Kunnen Onderzoeksresultaten Praktisch Toepasbaar Zijn 
This article, which appeared in the Dutch journal Tekst[blad], describes four recent studies that are relevant to help developers, and suggests how help developers can use the knowledge gained from those studies to improve the performance support systems they build.
Hayhoe, George F. Tekst[blad] (2000). (Dutch) Articles>Documentation>Usability>Technical Writing
#26967
Der Technische Redakteur erstellt und aktualisiert aussagefähige, umsetzbare, verständliche technische Dokumentationen aller Art.
#19805
Technology Transfer and the Intercultural Communicator
For effective intercultural communication, technical writers and editors need to analyze documents for tone. Tone often reflects an ethnocentric attitude which can undermine intercultural communication. Through a reconceptualization of technology transfer, applied anthropology provides a means for eliminating an ethnocentric attitude. Technology transfer, viewed as an interactive negotiable process, suggests questions which may serve as a heuristic for evaluating tone in intercultural communication.
Perkins, Jane. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Writing>International>Technical Writing
#10304
TECHWR-L: A History and Case Study of a Profession-Specific Listserv List 
Until Spring 1993, technical communicators had few Internet resources of their own. They could find common ground in forums oriented toward specific word processing programs and other tools of the trade, but they had no place to discuss profession-specific, rather than tool-specific, issues. TECHWR-L was founded that spring, and the growth, development, and response to the list has been remarkable. Most significant, however, is the effect that TECHWR-L has had on individual technical communicators worldwide. It demonstrates that the Internet can and should be used to provide more focused and comprehensive resources to technical communicators in the future. This case study outlines the growth and development of TECHWR-L, discusses some of the more controversial aspects of the list, and outlines how TECHWR-L or some other focused forum could prove an even more valuable resource for the profession.
Ray, Eric J. Technical Communication Online (1996). Articles>Collaboration>Mailing Lists>Technical Writing
#22688
Ten More Errors in Technical Writing
So, well, here are 10 more errors. This time we will focus on grammar and punctuation. Most of these are simplistic and obvious. But then they are too common. As usual, I have slipped in some content for the advanced writers too. (This article is a follow-up to 'One Hundred Simple Tech Writing Errors .)
Kamath, Gurudutt R. IT People (2003). Articles>Editing>Grammar>Technical Writing
#22281
Testing the Role of Technical Information in Public Risk Perception
Through experiments with simulated news stories about hazardous materials release, this study finds that providing technical detail about health effects may be less useful than keeping citizens current on the agency's strategies for dealing with problems and other behaviors by officials.
Johnson, Branden B., Peter M. Sandman and Paul Miller. Franklin Pierce Law Center (1992). Articles>Risk Communication>Technical Writing
#26351
The Evolution of Search Engine Copywriting
How copywriting for websites has evolved and now has become more complex while pleasing the visitor and the search engines.
Thackston, Karon. Search and Go (2005). Articles>Internet>Technical Writing
#29396
Review: The Nurnberg Funnel by John M. Carroll 
In the Nurnberg Funnel: Designing Minimalist Instruction, John Carroll presents some helpful ideas based on some useful research on how the initial self-instruction (often called 'tutorials') should be developed and written.
Horn, Robert E. DITA Users (1999). Articles>Reviews>Technical Writing>Minimalism
#30176
A hypothetical 'technical writing machine' was created as an aid in teaching writers how to develop troubleshooting procedures. Students use a schematic diagram of the 'machine' to determine possible faults and their causes. They learn to consider factors such as reliability and support equipment requirements as they determine a fault isolation strategy and presentation format. The 'machine' eliminates the need for students to have specific system technical knowledge and allows them to concentrate on the techniques of writing troubleshooting procedures.
Moran, Thomas E. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
#31284
They'll Thank You for Sharing: Make Those Reports, Memos and White Papers Clear and Readable
Words, words, words. It seems as if we're being asked to write something every minute for every need and occasion. Your boss wants a report; your colleagues need a memo explaining a procedure; your clients send e-mails that need to be considered and answered; your company's products or services should be described in a descriptive white paper, and on and on. How can you deal with all that? Are there any general writing rules that apply to business writing of all sorts?
Canavor, Natalie and Claire Meirowitz. Communication World Bulletin (2007). Articles>Business Communication>Rhetoric>Technical Writing
#31751
Thinking Outside the (Tech Docs) Box: Structured Authoring as Competitive Advantage
There was a time when technical writing was seen as a cost center—a necessary function, but hardly a key lever for competitive advantage. This is quickly changing as globalization and hyper-competition put customers in control and organizations scramble for new and different ways to strengthen relationships.
Sorofman, Jake. Content Wrangler, The (2008). Articles>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#26019
Thirteen Tips on How to Tech-Talk to Non-Techies
Here are some tips to keep in mind while constructing articles for the beginner to intermediate user of computing technology.
Chander, Hasmita. Writing World (2002). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing
#25780
Tips for Business and Technical Writing
Here are ten writing tips that you can use in both business and technical writing, which these days all but amount to the same thing.
#30128
Tips for Writers Who Have to Teach a Writing Class
Even the most confident writers may panic when they are asked to teach a writing class for their company. Ensure success with this basic tenet of adult education: Teach what the learners want to know. The second tenet follows: Don't teach any more than the learners need to know. Focus on three to five writing problems you see within your company. Use a 'teach and do' method: Teach a topic, such as passive voice, then do an exercise to practice what you have just taught. Adults like hands-on writing experience, and they like to work as teams to analyze problematic writing. Provide handouts that participants can use later, and include resources for future reference. Get evaluations from the participants so that you can improve with each subsequent workshop. And don't forget to order the donuts!
Moore, Susan B. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
#29370
Tips for Writing Effective Training Material for Beginners
You may think that because you're an expert, it will be easy for you to write training materials for your low-level user base. But it can be tough to think like a beginner. Use these tips to create appropriate instructions for newbies.
Dray, Jeff. TechRepublic (2003). Articles>Writing>Instructional Design>Technical Writing
#22605
There is such a desperate need for technical writers that anyone and everyone is welcome. My only fond hope is that we deliver quality. The minimum requirements for technical writing are good English-language skills, and proper use of grammar and punctuation. Typically, in most of the user manuals that I have picked up in India, I have always found errors after browsing through a few pages. Some of these errors are gross and some of them are subtle.
Kamath, Gurudutt R. IT People (2002). Articles>Documentation>Technical Writing>India
#20728
Too Little, Too Much - A Reviewer's Dilemma
Even the best planned software projects go through a last minute rush. This late dash imparts risks on the software quality, and on items such as Online Help and User or Technical Guides. Since writing consumes around 80% of the pubs project effort, the remaining time needs to be apportioned for reviewing.
Unni, Tharun Kumar. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
#31940
Technical writers create documents in various formats like electronic publishing, print, online help, etc. The various tools used to produce technical documents are described below.
Smita, Richa. Blogspot (2008). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Software
#22607
Tools of the Technical Writing Trade
In technical writing, the most important tool of the trade is of course your brain. Next come your communication skills and those are followed by language skills. Finally, you will use these tools to create and shape your writing. A word processor is the most important tool of them all.
Kamath, Gurudutt R. IT People (2003). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Word Processing
#27976
Top Ten Lessons I Learned as a Technical Communicator
What significant contribution have I made to the community? Even if I did make one, should I go about writing it?
Prabhakar, Rahul. Blogspot (2006). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing
#25882
Toward a Post-Techne-Or, Inventing Pedagogies for Professional Writing
This article examines the concept of techne in relation to situatedness. Techne is conceived as techniques for situating bodies in contexts. Although many theorists and practitioners in technical communication are working from ecological and posthuman perspectives with regard to interface designs, this article argues for extending those perspectives to workplace and classroom situations. Starting from a Heideggerian reading of techne, the article moves toward the concept of post-techne, which remakes pedagogical techniques for writing and inventing in institutional contexts.
Hawk, Byron. Technical Communication Quarterly (2004). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
#22609
Training for Wannabe Technical Writers
'More technical writers. Better technical writers.' This is the mantra I have in mind while I write this column.
Kamath, Gurudutt R. IT People (2003). Articles>Education>Technical Writing>India
