Archive for March 2009
Technical & Copy Writing – How to Use Analogies
© Ugur Akinci If you draw out the parallel elements in seemingly different things you can establish analogies and write interesting articles. By drawing an analogy between two objects or processes you throw a fresh light on both. You thus create a new venue of evaluation that did not exist before. GOURMET COFFEE and FREE-LANCE…
Read MoreTechnical & Copy Writing – How to Use Gender-Neutral Language
© Ugur Akinci Whenever possible, avoid using gender-biased words and phrases. For example, instead of “Chairman,” you can try “Chair,” “Moderator,” or “Facilitator.” But if the gender of the “Chair” is obvious from the context, then you can use “Chairman” or “Chairwoman” as appropriate. Here are some other suggestions (inspired by Microsoft Style Guide): OLD…
Read MoreTechnical & Copy Writing – Be Consistent
Good writing is consistent writing, whether you’re writing a software manual or marketing copy. If you end your sentences with the same mood, voice and tense that you start them with, the battle is already won. [Which rule did this sentence violate already? Answer at the end.] VOICE If you start with active voice, end…
Read MoreTechnical & Copy Writing – Remember Your Audience
Write at the level of your audience. If you are writing a manual for electrical engineers, you do not need to explain what Ohm’s Law is. Actually, if you do, you may insult and alienate your highly educated readers. If, however, you are writing a children’s book or a general purpose newspaper article, you have…
Read More7 Rules of Great Copy Writing
by Bob Bly Author of Best Kept Copy Writing Secrets Numbers gain attention, arouse curiosity, and add credibility to product claims. Here are 7 ways to use numbers to increase the power of your next sales promotion: 1 – Make percentages look larger. Taking percentages out to the second decimal place makes them look bigger,…
Read MoreInkscape – How to Place One Image Inside Another (Clipping)
© Ugur Akinci Inkscape is a pretty versatile and FREE vector drawing program that you can download from here. Inkscape is not as versatile and powerful as Adobe Illustrator but it can still do many things that a technical communicator can use. And did I mention that… it’s FREE? Here is how you can place…
Read MoreTechnical & Copy Writing – Be Specific
Generality is the enemy of good writing. Sparkle your copy by getting as specific as you can. EXAMPLE: She bought food items. BETTER: She bought canned sardines, a pound of aged Swiss cheese, three 75-watt bulbs, and the latest issue of Time magazine with Bill Gate’s face on the cover. EXAMPLE: The train stopped in…
Read MoreInkscape – How to Draw an Attractive Wallpaper in a Hurry
© Ugur Akinci There is a very easy way to create wallpaper or any background image by using Inkspace, the FREE vector drawing program that you can download from here. The crucial thing to remember is the difference between the two SELECTION tools: the direct selection tool (F1) and path selection tool (F2). Once you…
Read MoreInkscape – How to Draw a Curving Chain
Inkscape is a wonderful FREE vector drawing program, almost as powerful as Adobe Illustrator. If you are a commercial artist working for a Madison Avenue advertisement agency the chances are you’ll need Illustrator since it became the industry standard. However, if you are a technical writer generating relatively straight forward illustrations, you can create amazing…
Read MoreHow to Repeat Your Main Idea 4 Times in Technical Article Writing
If you’re arguing a point or making a thesis, use the Golden Rule of technical article writing: remind your main thesis or subject matter 4 times. 1) Your main subject matter (“keywords” in SEO parlance) should be a part of your TITLE. 2) The subject matter should be explained right away in the FIRST PARAGRAPH.…
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