Five ways your professional credibility is diminished by bad writing

As a technical writer, your credibility is paramount. You know you should do whatever it takes to protect it. Hence the importance of ensuring that your writing is appropriate for your readers, accurate, clear and as easy as possible for your readers to follow your argument and reach the same conclusion.

Technical writing covers a wide range of activities: this article will especially help report writers. Keep in mind that this article is about writing traps, not content.

Not surprisingly, the number one trap to avoid is plagiarism.

1. Plagiarism , & # 39; the appropriation or imitation of the ideas of others and the way of expressing them, so that they impersonate themselves, is never acceptable. It simply is not worth doing and has consequences.
2. copyright infringement It will tarnish your credibility and professional authority. The copyright, & # 39; the exclusive right, granted by law for a certain period of years, to make and dispose of copies of, and otherwise control, a literary, musical, dramatic or artistic work & # 39;, protects the creators of non-persons Authorized copy of all or a substantial part of your work. Copyright laws differ among nations, so be sure to understand what the law in your country allows you to do. If you need permission from the author, do it, do not expect him to get away with it.
3. Breach recognize the sources The related material that you have used will at least diminish the respect of your colleagues. And remember to verify that your appointments are correct and are spelled correctly, until the use of commas and full points. Always check your style guide if you need to update your memory.
4. Using generalizations It can lead readers to question their authority. Phrases like "everyone knows," "we all know," the research suggests "# 39; it's best to avoid them, as they can make readers wonder if you really know what you're saying.
5. Lack of consideration of ease of reading It can make the task of reading your technical information much more difficult. In general, your readers do not like (among other things) large pieces of text or overcrowding of the page; spelling, grammar or punctuation errors; many words when a graphic, a table or an illustration can tell your story more easily; lack of headings or other techniques (table of contents, bold of keywords, bullet points or numbered lists) to guide them through your document; use of jargon or technical terms that are not adequately explained; lack of coherence in the space between paragraphs, title style, use of abbreviated forms, source selections, etc.

After writing your report, it is time to verify that you have not fallen into any of these traps. Reread and, if necessary, rewrite, add missing quotes, modify the design. Ask a colleague to review it. Ask someone who has not been involved in the project if they have difficulty reading and understanding your report. Check spelling, grammar and punctuation; Check the consistency.

And if you can afford it, hire an editor to give it your final polish.

Then be assured that your professionalism and credibility have not been diminished by your writing.

Definitions of & # 39; plagiarism & # 39; and & # 39; copyright & # 39; from the Concise Macquarie Dictionary , third edition, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, Sydney, 1998.

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