Developing Quality Technical Information: A Handbook for Writers and Editors (2nd Edition) (IBM Press Series--Information Management)

I usually think of my editing and writing books as references, but this one is actually enjoyable to read. Highly recommended!


Excellent reference (with a few typos)   July 10, 2001
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is a self-explanatory book for people that have to write information (mostly technical) for others: books, manuals, online info, papers, etc. It has even comments for presentations.

It includes advice when you expect international audience (for example, information in the Web), readers that are non-native speakers of English, color-blind people, etc.

It covers lists, tables, charts, colors, figures, and so on. The book works only with before-and-after examples. But it also has first-, second- and third-revision examples.

About the typos, forgive whoever did them, and take advantage of the excellent contents of the book. I highly recommend it.


Recommended by the Society of Technical Communication   July 27, 2004
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

STC is an individual membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. It is the largest organization of its type in the world. Its 25,000 members include technical writers and editors, content developers, documentation specialists, technical illustrators, instructional designers, academics, information architects, usability and human factors professionals, visual designers, Web designers and developers, and translators - anyone whose work makes technical information available to those who need it.

Starting the month of July 2004, DQTI is the featured book on the STC web site: www.stc.org/memberPubs.asp.


Clarification of a previous reader review   March 14, 2000
 12 out of 25 found this review helpful

A previous review of this book criticizes the author for her use of the word "quality" in the title. Her use of the word is actually correct. When used as a noun, "quality" can mean "superiority in kind" (i.e., a book of quality). When used as an adjective, it means "being of high quality." The word "quality" does not require a modifier and the title of this book is both logical and grammatically correct.

Concerning the content of the book itself, I found it to be informative and helpful.


Suspicious   December 16, 1999
 11 out of 87 found this review helpful

This book came across my desk as a potential addition to our tech. comm. dept. library, and I admit that I haven't looked at it closely, but I'm not likely to either.

Why would I read a book that contains one of the most egregious errors in modern usage in its title?

"Quality" without a modifier means nothing. "Excellent quality"? "Poor quality"? What quality?

Tech. Comm. fascist as I tend to be, I have to say that anyone with such insensitivity to the logic of usage has no business writing a book about technical communications.