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EHS InfoLink, Inc.
Making information work for you.

Writing effective
technical documents.

Start Fresh.
Avoid the temptation to start your project with an existing document
that is “close enough” for your needs. Rather, begin with your own
outline based on your objectives and then cut and paste as appropriate
with existing information.

Begin with the end in mind.
Make sure you understand what you are setting out to achieve before
you draft an outline. This requires that you understand the project
driver, your audience(s) and how the information will be used.

Think like a sculptor.
Chisel away anything that doesn’t directly support your objectives,
no matter how attached you are to it. If you have some parts that are disproportionately large in detail, summarize the information in the body
of the report and package the rest for an appendix or attachment.

Don’t stop at technical accuracy.
Technical accuracy is critical, but don’t underestimate the impact of
typos, grammar errors and inconsistencies. Poor attention to these
details can harm your image.

Plan a last once-over.
The oddest things can happen during eleventh-hour editing.
Make room in your schedule for a fresh pair of eyes to review
your document—particularly if it is a final product.