What to Watch
- State the goal and what the reader needs before step one.
- Put steps in the order they happen.
- Use one verb for one action.
- Define unfamiliar terms where they first appear.
- Include warnings before—not after—the risky step.
Writing Style
Technical Style
Technical style explains a process or system so a reader can complete a task accurately without hidden knowledge.
Practice
Write instructions for submitting a workshop page. Give the reader a checklist they can use without asking a follow-up question.
Use It Today
- List the reader’s starting point.
- Gather materials or information.
- Write steps in order.
- Add an example or screenshot where confusion is likely.
- Ask a new reader to try it.
On the Page
“Select Submit Writing, enter your name and email, paste your excerpt, then choose the feedback you want” is better than “Complete the submission process.”
Further Reading
Use the guidance above first; this page is designed to give you a workable starting point without sending you elsewhere.