How to Write Better Instruction Manuals | A Writing And Speaking Article

Main Article Categories

Resources

"Writing And Speaking" Article
Article Directory Home

How to Write Better Instruction Manuals By Expert Author: Brian S. Konradt
View Summary \| Submitted: 2006-09-22 \| Word Count: 402 words \| Views: 2 view(s)

If you know how to do something -- and can do it well, almost without thinking -- it makes sense that you'd want to share this information. What better way to do it than with an instruction manual. Writing an instruction manual may seem complicated and overwhelming, but it is easier than you think. The following tips will instruct you what to do and how to do it.

OUTLINE YOUR TOPIC

Before you can teach someone how to do something successfully, you need to conceptualize which aspects of the project they need to know. If your topic is complicated, such as how to play the piano, list each chapter and outline the points you need to make. If it's simpler, such as the task of changing a tire, briefly jot down all the steps that come to mind. Don't worry about the details or if you list the steps out of order; we will fix these things later.

START WITH THE SUPPLIES

The most logical way to start an instruction manual is to list the supplies the reader will need for the project. Be as exhaustive with this as possible; your students will thank you. If any of the supplies are expensive or difficult to find, list alternatives or stores that carry the item.

MOVE STEP BY STEP

Instead of explaining the task in long paragraphs, break your instruction manual into specific, detailed steps. Give as much direction as possible; if one step requires slightly different tasks, create sub-steps. Think of these as an outline; number or letter the steps accordingly (and logically).

DO THE PROJECT

If your instruction manual details a tangible project, then complete it using only your written guide. Don't improvise and don't go on your prior knowledge. If it's difficult for you to do this (subjectivity is sometimes next to impossible to ignore), ask a friend to use your manual to complete the project. Look carefully at the finished product; did it turn out as you'd envisioned? Did you miss something important? Continue to revise and describe until your written words encompass every step in the most detailed and effective way possible.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Writing an instruction manual is different from writing literary fiction; creative wordiness isn't important here -- it's clarity you're after. Use short sentences and simple words. Make sure your manual is clear and readable; if the reader can't understand what you're saying, they won't be able to complete your project.

About the Author/Author Bio

Brian Konradt has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade. Read more of his articles at LousyWriter.com ( http://www.LousyWriter.com ).

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/How-to-Write-Better-Instruction-Manuals/51281

This article has been viewed 2 time(s).

More "Writing And Speaking" Related Articles

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Writing And Speaking" article category.

People interested in the above article "How to Write Better Instruction Manuals" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

The Importance Of Salutations

Expert Author: Jasmine Stone | Submitted: 2008-08-22 | Word Count: 365 | Views: 87

The salutation, says a French writer, is the touchstone of good breeding. According to circumstances, it should be respectful, cordial, civil, affectionate or familiar: an inclination of the head, a gesture with the hand, the touching or doffing of the hat.

Persuasive Writing: 3 Useful Persuasive Writing Tips for Beginners

Expert Author: Michael Lee | Submitted: 2008-08-21 | Word Count: 323 | Views: 85

Persuasive writing can be a bit of a challenge, especially for beginners. Unlike descriptive essays, persuasive articles have a mission to convince readers about a certain issue or subject. There are key characteristics of persuasive writing every beginner must know. This article will help you ease into the role of a persuasive writer easily - without any unnecessary problems.

To Whom it May Concern

Expert Author: Jo-Rosie Haffenden | Submitted: 2008-08-19 | Word Count: 1061 | Views: 46

Emphasis Training is the name behind some of the best business writing skills in the UK. As the country's leading business-writing consultancy, we’ve helped hundreds of its most successful organisations to gain maximum impact from their written communications, through bespoke, in-house training , open (public) courses and business-writing consultancy.

Ten Top Spelling Tips

Expert Author: Jo-Rosie Haffenden | Submitted: 2008-08-19 | Word Count: 422 | Views: 60

Emphasis Training is the name behind some of the best business writing skills in the UK. English can be a confusing language. Swapping one word for another that sounds exactly the same (a homophone) can alter the meaning completely. Here are some commonly confused words.

Getting it Write: The Ten Most Common Business Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid them

Expert Author: Jo-Rosie Haffenden | Submitted: 2008-08-14 | Word Count: 917 | Views: 137

Occupational Outlook for Freelance Writers - Good News!

Expert Author: Michael Lee | Submitted: 2008-08-11 | Word Count: 300 | Views: 18

I must say that the occupational outlook for freelance writers is getting better by the minute. Why do I say such a thing? Well, this is the Internet Age! Almost everything can be found online. From references on gardening to the latest gossip about your favorite celebrity! This is probably the best and most profitable time for you to be a freelance writer.

Pithy Prose: The Wit and Wisdom of Johann Goethe

Expert Author: Philip Yaffe | Submitted: 2008-08-05 | Word Count: 1476 | Views: 33

"Pithy prose" are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. A few people (e.g. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde) produced pithy prose, in their hundreds. Others only a handful, but these too are well worth preserving. This article is dedicated to the wit and wisdom of German writer and dramatist Johann Goethe.

View Writing And Speaking Popular Articles | View Writing And Speaking Top Authors

Print Article

Comment on Article

Favorite Article

Email to Friend

Republish Article

Article Directory Home

Writing And Speaking

Can't find what you're looking for? Try Google Search!

(Search in 23 languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, German,
Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Greek,
Swedish, Romanian, Polish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Czech, Croatian, Bulgarian)

(We serve worldwide - Locations updated as at Saturday, 30 August 2008 10:14 pm , Singapore)

United States of America, USA . United Kingdom, UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) . Canada . Afghanistan . Albania . Algeria . American Samoa . Andorra . Angola . Anguilla . Antarctica . Antigua & Barbuda . Argentina . Armenia . Aruba . Australia . Austria . Azerbaijan . Bahamas . Bahrain . Bangladesh . Barbados . Belarus . Belgium . Belize . Benin . Bermuda . Bhutan . Bolivia . Bonaire . Bosnia-Herzegovina . Botswana . Brazil . British Virgin Islands . Brunei Darrusalam . Bulgaria . Burkina Faso . Burundi . Cambodia . Cameroon . Cape Verde . Cayman Islands . Central African Republic . Chad . Channel Islands . Chile . China . Christmas Island . Colombia . Comoros . Congo . Congo (Dem. Rep.) . Cook Islands . Costa Rica . Côte d'Ivoire . Croatia . Cuba . Curacao . Cyprus . Czech Republic . Denmark . Djibouti . Dominica . Dominican Republic . East Timor . Ecuador . Egypt . El Salvador . Equatorial Guinea . Eritrea . Estonia . Ethiopia . Falkland Islands and Dependencies . Faroe Islands . Fiji . Finland . France . French Guiana . French Polynesia . Gabon . Gambia . Gaza . Georgia . Germany . Ghana . Gibraltar . Greece . Greenland . Grenada . Guadeloupe . Guam . Guatemala . Guinea . Guinea-Bissau . Guyana . Haiti . Hawaiian Islands . Honduras . Hong Kong . Hungary . Iceland . India . Indonesia . Iran . Iraq . Isle Of Man . Israel . Italy . Ivory Coast . Jamaica . Japan . Johnston Atoll . Jordan . Kazakhstan . Kenya . Kiribati . Korea (North) . Korea (South) . Kuwait . Kyrgyzstan . Laos . Latvia . Lebanon . Leeward Islands . Lesotho . Liberia . Libya . Liechtenstein . Lithuania . Luxembourg . Macau . Macedonia . Madagascar . Malawi . Malaysia . Maldives . Mali . Malta . Marshall Islands . Martinique . Mauritania . Mauritius . Mexico . Micronesia (Federated States) . Midway Islands . Moldova . Monaco . Mongolia . Montserrat . Morocco . Mosquito Coast . Mozambique . Myanmar (Burma) . Namibia . Nauru . Navassa Island . Nepal . Netherlands . Netherlands Antilles . New Caledonia . New Zealand . Nicaragua . Niger . Nigeria . Niue . Norfolk Island . Northern Mariana Islands . Norway . Oman . Pakistan . Palau . Palestine . Panama . Papua New Guinea . Paracel Islands . Paraguay . Peru . Philippines . Pitcairn Islands . Poland . Portugal . Puerto Rico . Qatar . Reunion . Romania . Russia . Rwanda . Ryukyu Islands . Saint Helena . Saint Kitts and Nevis . Saint Lucia . Saint Pierre & Miquelon . Saint Vincent & The Grenadines . Samoa . San Marino . São Tom?& Príncipe . Saudi Arabia . Senegal . Serbia . Seychelles . Sierra Leone . Singapore . Slovakia . Slovenia . Solomon Islands . Somalia . South Africa . Spain . Sri Lanka . Sudan . Suriname . Swaziland . Sweden . Switzerland . Syria . Taiwan . Tajikistan . Tanzania . Thailand . Togo . Tonga . Transkei . Trinidad & Tobago . Tunisia . Turkey . Turkmenistan . Turks and Caicos Islands . Tuvalu . US Virgin Islands . Uganda . Ukraine . United Arab Emirates . Upper Volta . Uruguay . Uzbekistan . Vanuatu . Vatican City (Holy See) . Venezuela . Vietnam . Wake Island . Windward Islands . Yemen . Yugoslavia . Zaire . Zambia . Zimbabwe

Copyright © 2005 - by Larry Lim, Singapore - Article Search Engine Directory at ArticleSphere.com™
All Rights Reserved Worldwide. All Trademarks and Servicemarks are the property of the respective owners.

Template Design by Internet Marketing Singapore | Internet Marketing