Articles

Welcome—glad you stopped by. The Articles page is where I share practical advice, real-world stories, and insights on technical writing, documentation, and information design. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, there’s something there for you.

Final Check: Testing Documentation for Clarity and Success

You’ve written the document. It’s structured, formatted, and reviewed. But is it actually clear? The final step in any writing process is testing. What makes sense to you might not make sense to the reader. A well-written document isn’t just technically correct; it...

When Writing Fails: Common Pitfalls That Hurt Usability

Technical writing isn’t about sounding smart—it’s about making things work. When users struggle, it’s rarely because they lack intelligence. It’s because the writing failed them. Here’s where things go wrong and what to do instead. 1. The Instructions Don’t Match...

The Flow of Documentation: Organizing for the User’s Mind

Have you ever opened a document and immediately felt lost? The information is all there, but something about the way it’s arranged makes it hard to follow. That’s a structuring problem, not a content problem. Good documentation doesn’t just give information—it guides...

The Silent Teacher: How Documentation Acts as a Mentor

When was the last time you opened a manual? Did it feel like you had a...

Writing That Guides, Not Confuses: How to Lead the User

Bad Writing Wastes Time. Good Writing Gets Out of the Way. Technical...

The User Should Never Be Confused: 3 Writing Fixes

Imagine opening an instruction manual. You expect quick guidance. Instead,...

Formatting as a Guide: How Layout Shapes Understanding

You’ve seen it before—long walls of text, no headings, no spacing, and no...

Stop Over-Explaining: When Less Writing Says More

Ever opened a manual and thought, Why is this so long? You just wanted to perform a simple task. Instead, you got a wall of text. It explained every little detail—some of which you already knew. That’s a sign of over-explaining, and it’s one of the fastest ways to...

How to Write So Clearly That No One Notices

Have you ever read a manual that just worked? No rereading, no head-scratching—just clear steps that made sense right away. That’s the goal of technical writing. When writing is clear, it disappears. The user doesn’t think about the words; they just complete the task....

The Best Technical Writing Disappears: Here’s Why That Matters

Imagine you’re assembling a new desk. You open the instruction manual, and within seconds, you know exactly what to do. The diagrams are clear, the steps make sense, and you never have to re-read a sentence. Before you know it, the desk is built. Now, picture the...

If Your Documentation Team Doesn’t Know the Business, Your Docs Won’t Help the Business

Technical documentation isn’t just about writing—it’s about understanding. Clarity and structure are essential. However, these elements mean little if the documentation fails to support business needs. It must align with company objectives and serve its intended users...

Stop Making Technical Writing Suck

Technical writing often carries the perception of being dull, tedious, or merely a procedural requirement. Many organizations treat documentation as an afterthought—something to be completed, archived, and largely ignored until a problem arises. This approach not only...

From Science to Solutions: Helping Non-Experts Choose Solar Panels

Buying solar panels shouldn’t feel like a science experiment. For most people, the idea of switching to solar is exciting—until they encounter wattage, efficiency ratings, and inverter types. Suddenly, the process can feel overwhelming. Clear, customer-focused...

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