Summary of Technical Writing One pre-class

Congratulations! You've completed the pre-class portion of Technical Writing One, which covered the following fundamental principles of technical writing:

Section Lesson
Words
Define new or unfamiliar terms.
Use terms consistently.
Avoid ambiguous pronouns.
Active voice
Prefer active voice to passive voice.
Clear sentences
Pick specific verbs over vague ones.
Reduce there is and there are.
Short sentences
Focus each sentence on a single idea.
Convert some long sentences to lists.
Eliminate unneeded words.
Lists and tables
Use a numbered list when ordering is important and a bulleted list when ordering is irrelevant.
Keep list items parallel.
Start numbered list items with imperative words.
Paragraphs
Establish a paragraph's central point in the first sentence.
Focus each paragraph on a single topic.
Audience
Determine what your audience needs to learn.
Fit documentation to your audience.
Documents
Begin a document by stating its scope, audience, and key points.
Aim the document at your audience.
Punctuation
Use commas to force short pauses within a sentence or to separate items in a list.
Use a period to separate distinct thoughts; use a semicolon to unite highly related thoughts.
Use a colon instead of a period in a sentence that introduces a list.

If your organization offers the instructor-led portion of Technical Writing One, you're now ready for that class. If your organization doesn't offer the instructor-led portion of Technical Writing One, note that Google occasionally offers the course. See the Announcements page for details.