In our fast-paced world, the apparent ability to multitask is a point of pride. Looking exhausted and frazzled are badges of honor. I say “apparent ability” because we are not really completing more tasks. The only things we are...
Imagine you’re at a conference, when your dream client joins you in the elevator. She asks what you do, and you dash off a one-sentence explanation. She lights up and says, “That’s exactly the help I’m looking for! I...
company summary, creating the perfect pitch, elevator pitch, polish your pitch, sales, summary, writing
An entertaining meme floating around the Internet says, “Sometimes, I use big words I don’t fully understand, in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.” Most of us try to use vocabulary in the right context, yet everyday words can...
commonly misued words, editing, Grammar, I am silently correcting your grammar, misued words, misused words in English, vocabulary, writing
If a word is misspelled or misused in a text, it distracts the reader from your content. The same is true for the way you use numbers in your documents. Are there 6 spark plugs in a set or...
by the numbers, documentation, numbering in documentation, numbers in text, technical writing, technical writing best practices, writing
The assessment portion of the learning and development cycle is a vital part of the learning process. Assessments are vital for discovering what information learners retain from your instructional design course. The Latin root of assessment is “assidere,” meaning...
Everyone writes to some degrees in their jobs. You don’t have to be a technical writer or instructional designer to write in your job. Sales people write statements of work or contracts. Mangers write project plans. Executives write business...
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have an editor to check what we write before it goes to the client or is put in front of the audience. Editing your own writing is difficult because our brains know what...
A few months ago I wrote an introduction to Standard Technical English (STE). Check it out if you want to get a better idea of the history, uses, and benefits of STE. The following article is a visual representation...
As writers we wear many hats. Some of these hats fit better than others and no two writers are the same. I personally struggle with the illustrator hat. Like most writers, I can use SnagIt to capture screenshots and...
Are you struggling with creating a knowledge transfer strategy? Or is the current strategy unsuccessful and you don’t know why? The folks at Ed Threads created a playbook for creating a successful eLearning strategy, but it can also be...