Author Archives: Steven Jong

What is it that we do, exactly?

What is a technical communicator, and why would you hire one? The answer to that question is called a value proposition. In general, it’s a statement of the unique value added by any person, product, or service that explains why you’d want to spend money. For technical communicators, it’s not something we’re used to offering,Continue reading “What is it that we do, exactly?”

Top 10 IT certifications: Tools, tools, tools, and … project management?

In an opinion piece posted 12/10/2008 TechRepublic.com, Erik Eckel, former executive editor of TechRepublic, listed what he thought are the ten best IT certifications: Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) CompTIA’s Security+ Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) CompTIA’s A+ Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP)Continue reading “Top 10 IT certifications: Tools, tools, tools, and … project management?”

The Joy of … Reading the Manual?

Naturally, I encourage people to read the manual; the more demand for manuals, the more demand for people who create them. I try to practice what I preach. Reading the manual is a competitive advantage. Expose yourself to all the features of a new tool and you’re halfway to being a guru. It does myContinue reading “The Joy of … Reading the Manual?”

Plain (English) Language

[Originally posted 1/15/2009 in the previous version of my blog–sfj] Every editor and style guide I’ve ever worked with has warned me to avoid using Latinates (such as “e.g.”) in technical writing. Several reasons are given, including that today’s readers may well not know what they mean. Better is plain-spoken English, in which an equivalentContinue reading “Plain (English) Language”

Some poor readers just can’t help themselves

[Originally posted 1/2/2009 in the previous version of my blog–sfj] A study by the University of Oxford has identified a genetic link to poor reading skills: A common genetic variant may be partly to blame for poor reading ability, research suggests. The variant, carried by more than one in seven people, has already been associatedContinue reading “Some poor readers just can’t help themselves”