Test your basic knowledge |

Making Manuals

Subject : writing-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 42 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. If your manual includes Cautions and Warnings - ___ sentences (sentences ending with !) can also be useful.






2. The flow of a manual can be either ___






3. Repetitive information mentioned once in order to avoid repetition elsewhere.






4. ___ is the only means you have to know/prove the procedure you wrote will be effective.






5. ___ will make errors stick out






6. A detailed description of what the manual discusses and - possibly - how the manual should be used.






7. Having someone else perform (test) the procedure is usually best - but whichever testing methods you choose - they are collectively called ___.






8. An outline allows you to determine the best ____ to use through visualization and modeling






9. Usability Testing has proven that well-written - usable manuals can contribute to...






10. An alphabetical (linear) reference that that is typically used in a non-linear way






11. If your manual includes troubleshooting information - ___ sentences (questions) can be useful






12. Three primary purposes to writing manuals






13. The sections that appear in a manual depend on the manual's _________________ and purpose






14. A ___ is an example of a linear manual.






15. Manuals help...






16. A ___ is non-linear.






17. Procedures and instructions must use active voice and ____ sentences






18. An entire manual will cover at least one of these - each with its own series of procedures.






19. Use ___ everywhere its use is indicated: lists - procedures - headings - sentences - paragraphs - pages - etc.






20. Manuals provide readers the information necessary to do something - such as...






21. So - ___ is to a process as ___ are to a procedure.






22. Tables of contents - section headings - sub-section headings - headers - footers - and page numbers are examples of...






23. Usability testing your procedures speaks directly to...






24. In the cookbook you might have an ______________ for beating egg whites - rather than repeating the sub-procedure everywhere egg whites need to be beaten - thereby saving page space.






25. Figures (Illustrations) - tables - charts - graphs - etc.






26. Your goal as a good technical writer is to force your reader to infer only one meaning from what you have written so avoid using...






27. Appendixes and indexes are referred to as...






28. The two most common methods of development for manuals are ___ and general-to-specific.






29. Aspects that need to be done/considered/in hand before doing anything else; these could include tools - parts - and materials - as well as generic definitions of what Notes - Cautions - Warnings mean to readers and why these elements should be heeded






30. ___ elements can play an important role in manuals - and how you use them will depend on the manual's intended flow.






31. Glossaries can be either ___ - depending on where they are placed.






32. CBS Method stands for...






33. A ___ is a series/sequence of procedures.






34. ___ can aid a procedure and are particularly helpful when you are addressing a multi-cultural audience.






35. A ___ is a numbered series/sequence of steps or instructions for accomplishing something






36. Commonly used terms (jargon terms - definitions - abbreviations - etc.) that appear in the manual; could also be placed in an addendum






37. Introductions (that cover the entire manual) - tables of contents - and lists of figures/tables are referred to as...






38. Above all - as you write a manual - it is best to keep in mind its goals and ___.






39. A list of the (sub)sections in the manual - with page numbers


40. A primary goal of technical writing...






41. Creating ____ can help you organize your manual.






42. Verbs or participles that end in 'ing'