Author: Ugur Akinci

Specification (spec) sheets are like maps for the captain of a ship or the blueprints for an architect. No project can start without first putting the specs on paper.

Here are two spec sheets with which a technical writer should be familiar:

Design specs – This is a document that builds on and follows closely the “functional specs” document. It basically describes what a product should look like when it is manufactured. It takes all the functions and detailed features specified in the functional specs sheet and translates them into a visual language.

For example, if the functional specs describe a configuration function, the design specs describe the button or the navigational link that should launch the configuration interface; what it’s colors and fonts should be; where exactly the fields and buttons should be placed on the dialog boxes; etc. Design specs may also specify a product’s maintenance schedule and the service requirements, etc.

Testing specs – This document specifies the unit and system integration testing that needs to be performed on the product before it is released to the market. This document sometimes also includes the testing scenarios (or scripts) that the test engineers should follow step-by-step to reveal the weaknesses and discover the bugs before consumers can find them.

Technical writers sometimes contribute directly by writing such testing scripts and actually participating in the tests as well. Testing specs and the testing results are precious since they reveal for a technical writer all the vulnerable points of a product and become the input for the Release Notes that accompany every major release of a product, especially in the software industry.

If you are interested to read more about technical writing as a career and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com. You might be pleasantly surprised with what you’ll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit today and claim your free report “How Much Do Technical Writers Make?”

About the author

Dr. Ugur Akinci is a Fortune 500 Sr. Technical Communicator http://www.technicalcommunicationcenter.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
http://EzineArticles.com/?Technical-Writing—Why-Should-a-Technical-Writer-Be-Familiar-With-Design-Specs-and-Testing-Specs?&id=1894071

Author: Warren Wong

When speaking or writing English, it is important to make the subjects and the verb agree. Let’s go over some rules using basic sentences. These rules will help you choose the correct verb based on the subject.

Rule #1: Subject usually left of verb

Before you know which verb to use, first you need to know what the subject is! As a general rule, the subject is usually immediately to the left of the verb.

Example: That tree grows fast.

Here, the subject is immediately to the left of the verb. The verb is “grows”, making the subject “tree”.

Example: Sometimes dogs bark for fun.

The verb here is “bark”. As you can see, the subject, “dogs”, is immediately to the left.

There are exceptions to this rule. One big signal of a sentence where the verb comes before the subject is when the sentence starts with “There”.

Example: There are apples everywhere.

“Apples” is the subject. The verb, “are”, comes before the subject.

Rule #2: “Or” use singular, “and” use plural

This is for sentences with two or more subjects. If the subjects are connected with the word “or”, you want to use a singular verb. If they are connected with the word “and”, use a plural verb.

Example: Tom or Sally is picking it up at noon.

Our two subjects, “Tom” and “Sally”, are connected by the word “or”. Because of this, our verb needs to be singular (is)

Example: Tom and Sally are picking it up at noon.

By connecting our two subjects with “and”, we now use a plural verb (are).

In these examples, the subjects were singular. What happens if one of the subjects is plural?

Rule #3: When in doubt, verb agrees with nearest subject

When a singular and a plural noun are connected by the word “or”, the verb should agree with the nearest subject. Remember, “are” is used with plural while “is” is used with singular.

Example: The players or the coach is in the gym.

Example: The coach or the players are in the gym.

Let’s look at two examples that use verbs different than “is” and “are”.

Example: Tom or the cats run for dear life.

Example: The cats or Tom runs for dear life.

Rule #4: Don’t become confused of the subject

This can be a tricky thing to remember. Some sentences have a phrase after the subject but before the verb. These phrases can make identifying the subject an adventure. In the below examples, the subject and the verb are in italics. Notice how the words in between could change the verb usage if they were falsely identified as the subject.

Example: The quarterback, not to mention the rest of his teammates, is worried about tonight’s game.

Example: My neighbor with all the birds is running for Sheriff.

Example: The dogs who watch the cat are getting tired.

Example: That girl who likes the flowers jogs twice per day.

Example: One of the trees is dying.

Rule #5: Everybody is singular

Although they sound plural, subjects such as everybody, anybody, no one, somebody, nobody, each, either, and neither are singular and use singular verbs.

Example: Everybody who came tonight is to be commended.

Example: Anybody is welcome to attend.

Example: Nobody I love came to my party.

Example: Either will do.

Example: Each of these cars is a fine choice.

As you work towards mastering English, there will be times of frustration. But don’t give up! Just remember, practice makes perfect.

About the Author

Warren Wong writes for 1-language.com, a website dedicated to helping people Learn English.

Article Source: Articles Engine

The field of content writing serves as a very important feature in a website. The main reason people visit the site is to search for information on different goods and services. Audiences will be satisfied if they get informative and satisfactory content on one’s site. Besides this, a site needs to be well designed as well with information-rich content in order to drive more traffic.

Easy and simple language is the prerequisite of any content. There are a few pointers that need to be reminded at all costs in order to excel in the field of content writing. The first and foremost point is to ensure that the language of the content is in accordance with audiences for whom the articles, reviews or blogs are meant.

For example, if a content writer intends to write a promotional article, then he needs to know the nature and services offered by that particular business and its technical terms in order to make the best promotional style content. Also, a very simple and easy to understand language needs to be used in writing content for the sites so that even the lay man can easily get to know what the content is all about. The writer needs to think from the place of the reader and offer complete information.

Essentials of content writing – authenticity, organization and numbering.

Organization of content is also very crucial and includes proper designing and formatting of the information gathered from various sources. The writer can write an entire article in a single paragraph or can even make the content easy to read by arranging the headings. The relevancy of pointers needs to be properly handled so that the audiences can analyze distinction of paragraphs.

Numbering and bulleting needs to be used in the content to highlight the most important points. This will automatically make the article effective along with breaking the visual monotony.

It is wise to use the conversational language as it helps the readers to feel more involved in content thereby motivating them to continue reading the article.

In addition, the authenticity and originality of the content needs to be considered wisely because offering wrong or prejudiced information to readers can in turn provide negative or incomplete impact.

Needless to say, to be a successful and popular content writer, it is very imperative to have that passion and flair to write. Until the writer is extremely passionate about his or her job, they can produce only mundane and dull content. so, follow these simple and beneficial tips in order to write exceptional content for the targeted audiences.

About the Author

Visit sem-infotech.com for content writing services, ppc management and professional seo services.

Article source: http://www.articler.com/

Author: Brian Scott

If you have specialized knowledge other than how to be a great writer, then technical writing may be for you.

Technical writing combines your writing talent with a specific area of expertise, such as IT, graphic design, education, engineering, the automotive industry, etc. You could be writing for others who are already familiar with the field, or you could be writing to teach others.

How much does technical writing pay?

Technical writing freelancers often get paid very well, anywhere from $40 to $100 per hour or more. Technical writers command a higher rate of pay because it takes much more than polished writing skills to do the job.

Where can I find technical writing jobs?

The Internet is the ideal resource, especially if you’re just getting started. Check out websites like computerjobs.com, IFreelance.com, or rentacoder.com. These sites offer many postings by companies seeking freelance technical writers in a variety of industries.

I also recommend you post your resume on an employment site like CareerBuilder.com or Workopolis.com. Because you have a specialized skill set, know that there will be people actively looking for you. Having your resume on this type of website will greatly increase your chances of getting a well-paid technical writing gig.

Another technique is to do some brainstorming. Ask yourself if you have a specialized skill set or knowledge base. If so, what companies are in your area that could use a writer with skills like yours? Contact those businesses directly with your resume and a letter explaining how difficult it can be to find a good technical writer and that you’re available to help with any upcoming projects they may have.

What type of work will I be doing?

In IT, technical writers are often creating software or hardware manuals from scratch, or writing about coding. In the education field, you may be writing textbooks or creating PowerPoint slides for online learning programs. You could also be writing assembly manuals for machines, preparing reports for a pharmaceutical company, or creating do-it-yourself manuals for home repairs, etc.

In any technical writing job, you’ll need to have good writing and communication skills on top of your area of expertise. Technical writing projects are often collaborative, meaning you’ll have to deal with other people and complete the project as a team. Even if you’re working alone, your client will want to know how you’re progressing and whether you’re on track with what he or she is looking for. Expect lots of communication, either over the Internet or by phone.

How do I properly respond to an ad for a technical writer?

To maximize your chances of success, your response should include:

• A note about how valuable you feel the company is
• A summary of your qualifications in the field of expertise
• An overview of your superior writing ability
• Any related experience you may have

This response could be in a cover letter accompanying your resume or in your bid on a freelancing website. Read the sample ad below to see if you could make a compelling candidate:

We are an online learning company specializing in business skills. We teach administrators, HR people, etc. to effectively coach employees and streamline day-to-day business. We design online courses and downloadable presentations. We need a writer to help us with our upcoming courses for next year.

In order to make maximum impact, your response needs to hit each of the four points above. For example, you might respond like so:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’ve taken a look at your website and I must say that your material is very impressive! It’s clear that you provide a lot of value to the businesses that use your services, and I would welcome the opportunity to join your team.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce with a Human Resources designation. Throughout my education I designed various studies of employee behavior. Recently, I’ve been working as a consultant helping companies optimize employee productivity. I believe my skills may be of benefit to your company.

In addition, I am an accomplished writer. I have written articles, reports, and web content. My clients are always pleased with my work because it is grammatically flawless, concise, and easily accessible to readers.

Thank you for considering me for this position.

Sincerely, (name)

That’s it! Just remember that you have a unique combination of highly sought-after skills, and you’ll have your first technical writing job in no time.

About the Author:
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance technical writing jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – All About Freelance Technical Writing Jobs