Summary of Technical Writing One

Technical Writing One covered the following basic lessons of technical writing:

• Use terms consistently.
• Avoid ambiguous pronouns.
• Prefer active voice to passive voice.
• Choose strong verbs.
• Pick specific nouns over vague ones.
• Focus each sentence on a single idea.
• Convert some long sentences to lists.
• Eliminate unneeded words.
• Use a numbered list when ordering is important and a bulleted list when ordering is irrelevant.
• Keep list items parallel.
• Start numbered list items with imperative words.
• Introduce lists and tables appropriately.
• Create great opening sentences that establish a paragraph's central point.
• Focus each paragraph on a single topic.
• Determine what your audience needs to learn.
• Fit documentation to your audience.
• Establish your document's key points at the start of the document.
• Learn strategies for effective self-editing.
• Give and receive peer feedback generously.