1. What is a Technical Writing Portfolio?
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... technical editing, the whole of it), is an applied discipline. In other words, technical writers don't just sit around and theorize about ideas, they make things. As such, technical writing is more like ...

2. Writing Blog Content as Technical Writing
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... of what the content consists, this type of writing is creative non-fiction. Writing content articles for most blogs is about using buzzwords and keywords so they can easily be found by search mechanisms ...

3. Web Design: Font and Page Size
(Web Design/Web Design Tips and Articles)

... on. We tend to skip to topics sentences throughout a page. Thus, perhaps words in san-serifs stand out more. And because we aren't reading an immense amount of text, we don't need the same strategies we ...

4. How to Use Metaphors in Web Site Design
(Web Design/Web Design Tips and Articles)

... to Mark Twain's life. As you flip the pages in the scrapbook (figure 2), you view images from Twain's life, hear recordings, read letters and quotes, and look at postcards. In other words, the site is ...

5. Universal Usability and Culture
(Usability/Usability Tips, Lessons and Articles)

... others--suggests that the way information is structured and delivered is culturally based. In other words, the way we write is drawn from what our culture has taught us. According to this research we should ...

6. Persuasive Writing Example
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... to understand what will help me get that. What I want is for the corporate board members to be able to visit us once a year for a few days and not have to take personal time to do it. In other words, I ...

7. When To Use Graphics
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... explain the process of tying your shoelaces with visuals when compared to text? If constructed correctly, you can successfully show someone the complete process without the use of any words at all. Visual ...

8. Resume Guide Part 9
(Resume Writing/Resume Writing Lessons)

... opportunities, let them ask you at the interview.   Following the dates of employment, we now need to mine the job ad to search for words we can use to describe what we did at this job. A lot of my students ...

9. Resume Guide Part 6
(Resume Writing/Resume Writing Lessons)

... of places: remember that it isn’t simply a similar job like this one, but the individual tasks that are important. In other words, let’s imagine that the ad calls for two different responsibilities, and ...

10. Resume Guide Part 5
(Resume Writing/Resume Writing Lessons)

... the previous discussion on keywords and how your resume and cover letter will be read. If you understand that someone is simply going to be scanning it for certain words that match keywords in their job ...

11. Resume Guide Part 3
(Resume Writing/Resume Writing Lessons)

... key words, but we also want to communicate that we can and will be able to do the work involved in this position. You may be asking why the difference. To put it frankly, the HR person has no idea what ...

12. Resume Guide Part 2
(Resume Writing/Resume Writing Lessons)

Using the Active Voice I want you to notice something about the responsibilities bulleted under each past job in the resume example. Notice the words that begin each sentence: Assist, mediate, counsel, ...

13. Minimum Functionality for Increased Usability
(Usability/Usability Tips, Lessons and Articles)

... and my portable video player. It also acts as a clock radio and music collection for my personal home stereo. In other words, the iPod is the heart of a number of other devices, all suited to particular users ...

14. Resume Guide Part 1
(Resume Writing/Resume Writing Lessons)

... measure you against the job. Or should I say, what you’ve said about yourself against what they’ve specified for the job.   Keywords and the Job Ad And this perhaps is the biggest secret to resumes and ...

15. Technical Communication and Programming: Using Writing Rules
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... meaning aspects of code like efficiency, clarity, and conciseness. In other words, making a program that solves the problem is often placed before making clear, efficient, well-commented code. Programmers ...

16. Usability Testing: Task-based Testing
(Usability/Usability Tips, Lessons and Articles)

... words, the participant has to actually do something with the product. This is essential. You would gain nothing by simply handing the item to the participant and then expect them to deliver data about ...

17. Iterative Usability Testing
(Usability/Usability Tips, Lessons and Articles)

Usability testing is not a singular phenomenon. In other words, you don't test your product (or item or document, or whatever) and then improve it according to the test results, and then quit. True usability ...

18. How to Use Whitespace
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... so the font runs right up against the font on this page. It's difficult for the eye to break up the information. Sure you can do it, but one of the goals is to help readers do it quickly. In other words, ...

19. How to Use Font Types: The Sequel
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... IS the message. In other words, it's not only what is said, but what is used to transmit what is said. Stating something to someone is different than sending them an email. Sending an official letter is ...

20. What Font Size to Use
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... be read on printed, paper documents, the smallest size you want to use for large amounts of text is 12 point. Studies have shown that this size allows the eye to quickly distinguish different words while ...

21. The Context of Communication
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... you begin creating it. While we're on the subject, let me say a few words about context and the tips and "guidelines" on this web site. What I write here are not steadfast rules, but is instead meant to ...

22. Your Audience
(Technical Communication/Technical Communication Lessons)

... talk to my students. I use different words, different concepts, different tones. My students email their friends and use different terms, spelling, and grammar than when they email me. They are more careful ...