As a Melbourne based editor and accredited editor, I spend a lot of time fixing one surprisingly common issue in technical writing: Vagueness. There are some words that simply don’t belong in technical manuals, user manuals, or standard operating procedures – unless there are exceptional circumstances. Words like “may” and

If you’re looking for editing or proofreading services, you’ve probably noticed that the terms are often used interchangeably. In reality, editing and proofreading are quite different services, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference to the clarity, accuracy and usability of your document. This guide explains what

A professional editor explains why this matters There is a big difference between “i.e.” and “e.g.” – and getting it wrong can cause real confusion, especially in technical writing, educational materials, and professional documents. It’s a mistake I see often when proofreading and editing, and spellcheck won’t save you here

Or… should we? A professional editor’s cautionary tale Just because it passes spellcheck doesn’t mean it’s spelled correctly. As a professional editor, this is one of the most common traps I see in writing – whether it’s a school resource, a technical document, or a manuscript that’s almost ready for

If you are preparing a report, tender, textbook or technical document, it is easy to think spelling and grammar are not that important. After all, people understand what you mean, right? As a professional editor based in Melbourne, I can tell you that yes, it really does matter, and more

Let’s talk about the importance of word choice, particularly when writers and engineers reach for words and phrases that sound authoritative, official, or academically impressive. One such word is “nominal,” which often appears in technical documents because it sounds precise… even when it isn’t. It can be an effective word,