Do you struggle using tables in Microsoft Word? A Quick Table might help, especially if you are using the same set of table formats across several documents. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon. Go to Table->Quick Tables, then select a table format you like. Replace the headers and data included in the table…
Do you use “utilize” in technical documents instead of “use”? In most cases, we recommend using the word “use” following the Handbook of Technical Writing and plain language principles. Use will almost always be clearer and less pretentious. When is “utilize” acceptable? According to the Chicago Manual of Style, you can justify “utilize” in the…
To calculate the averages in Table 1, use this method: For the month of January in the Average column, click Ctrl+F9 to get this field: { }. In the brackets, type = 5.5/4: With your cursor in the brackets, click F9 to get the average: 1.38. To double check, right-click in the field and select Toggle Field Codes from the drop down to see the equation, then toggle back for…
Have you ever needed to calculate sums in Word tables but reached for Excel instead? Typically, you might use Excel, input the data there using formulas, and then copy and paste the outputs. Alternatively, you might use the digital calculator app to solve the calculations and plug them into the table. Good news! Microsoft Word…
Struggling with writer’s block? You’re not alone, and the fix is simpler than you think. In this quick video, learn how using a simple outline can unlock your ideas, build momentum, and make writing feel effortless again. Watch till the end for a tip you can use immediately
Assign a Shortcut to a Style Applying styles to format text keeps formatting consistent and prevents file corruption unlike formatting “manually” using the icons in the ‘Home’ tab. This means opening the style pane, finding the style, then applying it. There is the option of using the style gallery in the ‘Home’ tab, but that…
Choose your placement of the word ‘only’ very carefully; its placement can change the meaning of your sentence. The word ‘only’ should be placed immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. Examples: Only Meg said that she was hungry. Meaning: Meg alone said that she was hungry. Meg only said that she was hungry.…
Most technical documents are formatted so that they are either left-justified (with the left margin aligned and the right margin ‘ragged’) or full-justified (when both margins are aligned). Although full-justified margins may appear to look more professional, they also require unequal spacing between the words so that the margins can match up. This sometimes gives…
We see it often in letters, emails, texts, tweets, memos, and notes. This mark is appealing because it helps save character space and looks casual, but how does it fit in formal writing? The Associated Press Stylebook advises using the ampersand when it is part of a company’s formal name or composition title: Barnes &…
What is the difference between preventive and preventative? Is one preferred over the other? According to Paul Brians’ Common Errors in English Usage, the two words are interchangeable, although some people prefer ‘preventive’ because it is shorter. Bill Bryson, author of Bryson’s Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer’s Guide to Getting it Right, agrees. “Preventative…