Technical writing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. today. Yet, many people are uncertain about what technical writing entails -- and how it differs from other types of business writing. Technical Writing For Dummies clears away the confusion and shows you how to research and write terrific technical documentation. It includes:
How to use the Internet to effectively research technical documents
A guide to creating different types of technical documents, from abstracts to user manuals
A how-to guide to crafting technical documents for online and computer presentations
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Good Stuff:
I'm taking an internet class in this topic and the book has been an excellent source of material to go along with it.
I guess the clue is in the title:
I regularly have to write short technical notes, and occasionally contribute to larger manual-writing projects. I am literate but have had no formal training in technical writing. I imagined that this book would serve as a useful tool to improve my skills in this area, and it is certainly advertised as being aimed at beginners and professionals alike. Unfortunately, it seems to have been written for an absolute beginner; in fact, at times I thought it was written for an eight-year-old child. Near the... more info
Well, it's just another book...:
Having been a technical writer for 20+ years, I once again was surprised that someone failed to convey what it's really all about. While it does have some sections that are "worth while," overall, it's just too basic and more in keeping as a college level read. What it boils down to is that 'real technical writing' is a combination of ability, skill, and experience - none of which can really be taught in a book!
Strong on content, but a bit weak in presentation.:
As an experienced technical writer already, I bought this book as a general desk reference. It has been a helpful guide when I needed to check something in particular, but I would not use it as a "course textbook" if I was learning the trade.
Generally, the content is excellent - it covers all the basics a novice tech writer needs to know. However, I question the way the content has been organized and presented... it doesn't follow a logical order. There's a section on editing, then a section on... more info
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