Technical Writing - What's the Difference Between Business Writing and Technical Writing?

There are a number of books, programs, and classes out there today offering to teach "technical writing." Some of these are excellent; prepared by industry veterans who know what they're doing. But some others are basically rehashing old "business writing" concepts and techniques under the guise of "technical writing."

"So what?" you may ask, which is a fair question. And here is the answer: if you are seriously considering to go out there and find yourself a job as a "technical writer" then you need to have at least one technical document prepared according to industry standards and expectations. Business writing in general will of course help you communicate better and conduct your business more efficiently. That's why it's a good thing. But when it comes to finding a technical writing job, business writing won't help you much. No recruiter will accept a business writing sample as a proof of your technical writing skills, especially in the hi-tech sector where I've been working for over 10 years now.

Business writing is all kinds of copy generated to administer, communicate with and control others in a work environment. It covers all office communications, and topics like how to write a memo; how to write an e-mail; how to prepare a report; how to write meeting minutes; all kinds of business letters, etc.

Technical Writing - What's the Difference Between Business Writing and Technical Writing?

While helpful, such knowledge will not be enough to find a job in the highly competitive field of modern technical communications. Instead, what you need to learn is the kind of documentation generated every day in such hi-tech industries as software, hardware, networking, telecommunications, manufacturing, chemicals, finance, defense, etc.

Does your instructor help you learn what a "scope" document is, for example, and how it is written? How do you prepare and write "release notes"? What's the crucial difference between an "interface guide" and a "procedural guide"? Do you know how to write a QCP for a defense contractor?

There are many other similar topics that a beginner needs to learn to prepare him or herself for a great career in technical writing. Once you know the crucial difference between "business writing" and "technical writing," you can make a better decision as to which questions to ask before buying a technical writing book or registering in a technical writing program. That way you won't waste your time, money and energy on a product or a program that won't help you reach your main goal. As always the case, knowledge is power in this particular issue as well.

Technical Writing - What's the Difference Between Business Writing and Technical Writing?
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

If you are interested to read more about what technical writing is all about and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com. You might be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit today and claim your free report "How Much Do Technical Writers Make?"

watches mobile phone Low Price T9 Bulgarian English English Bulgarian Electronic

What's The New GM DEXOS Motor Oil All About?

Modern engines are becoming ever harder on the oil that lubricates them. As engines and oil sumps have gotten smaller reducing the volume of oil the engine holds, performance enhancing additions like turbo changing have become common.

Throw in government mandates for constantly improving fuel economy and pollution control, and you have constantly increasing demands placed on motor oil.

Between advancing new technologies, and ever increasing performance mandates, the oil formulation industry has been continuously changing... As it must!

What's The New GM DEXOS Motor Oil All About?

API (American Petroleum Institute) has represented the interests of all the oil manufactures and first created oil classification groups in 1947.

Since the "S" and "C" categories were introduced about 1970, API has worked closely with both ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and SAE (Society of Automotive engineers) to stay on top of development of engine oils that meet the needs of changing performance demands.

In 1987 though, the AAM (Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers) told the API they were not happy with the way API went about approving new motor oils. AAM created a new committee called ILSAC (International Lubricants standardization and Approval Committee)

ILSAC is made up of nine OEM's from both North America and Europe and the latest ILSAC standard is called GF-5, an improvement of the former GF-4 mainly aimed at improving motor oil fuel economy benefits and oil robustness and protecting complicated new emissions systems.

As of this writing the API's most recent categories are "SN" and "SN resource conserving" which apply to gasoline powered passenger cars and light trucks.
API "SN" introduced October 1st, 2010 matches ILSAC GF-5 fairly closely.

In 2010 though General Motors introduced its own motor oil specification through the Dexos 1 oil licensing program and consumers driving model year 2011 and newer GM vehicles will have to use a motor oil recommended for Dexos 1 applications.

Dexos 1 has performance features that exceed those requirements of API SN/ ILSAC GF-5 in some areas and are less strict in others.

Dexos 1 requires performance to be enhanced over what API SN/ ILSAC GF-5 requires in the following areas; engine sludge protection, volatility, piston cleanliness, turbo charger protection, resistance to oxidative thickening, wear protection, seal compatibility, and corrosion protection.

Dexos 1 requirements for emissions systems durability, fuel economy and E-85 emulsion retention (use with gasoline containing alcohol) are somewhat less than what API SN/ ILSAC GF-5 require.

The Dexos 1 licensing program requires motor oil manufactures to pay a licensing fee to General Motors to use the Dexos1 approved logo; essentially making the sale and use of Dexos 1 motor oils a profit center for GM and increasing the cost of the oil.

Early on the concept GM had for the Dexos 1 licensing program required motor oil manufactures and end-sellers alike to pay a per-quart fee to GM for every bottle of GM Dexos approved oil sold.

In actual implementation though I believe this has changed to a flat fee per year for manufacturers and end-sellers. Since I'm not privy to GM's decisions and because the Dexos 1 licensing program is still evolving and has changed more than once since its inception only GM and the manufacturers/ end-sellers who have entered the program know the actual fee's that add to the retail price of Dexos 1 motor oil.

While a quite a few motor oil manufactures have started making oil that meets the Dexos 1 specification, at the time of this writing any number of motor oil manufacturers including Valvoline and Amsoil have balked at paying this fee saying it does nothing for the consumer but drive up the cost of the oil and are refusing to join GM's program.

The reality for the consumer is that as long as the motor oil you choose says that it is formulated for the Dexos 1 spec you are covered even if the manufacturer has not purchased the right to use the Dexos 1 approved symbol (paid GM's licensing fee)

Dan Peterson, Amsoil Inc Vice President of Technical Development stated in a recent interview that while each of the specifications outperforms the other in some certain areas that Amsoil has formulated its full synthetic motor oils to exceed the requirements of API SN, ILSAC GF-5 and GM Dexos 1 in all areas.

Currently Amsoil OE and XL, 5W/30 full synthetic motor oils meet and exceed Dexos 1 requirements and Amsoil plans other such products for 2011.

Amsoil Inc. introduced the first full synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute requirements in 1972. Today Amsoil is considered the world leader in synthetic motor oils and lubricants.

By Larry Crider

What's The New GM DEXOS Motor Oil All About?
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Larry Crider is a certified lubrication specialist and a 20+ year veteran distributor for Amsoil inc., makers of high quality synthetic lubricants for nearly any application.

To contact Larry or to get a free Amsoil products catalog by mail go to http://www.sowoil.com and "click the pig"

If you would like Amsoil product information fast by e-mail please go to http://www.sowoil.com/e107_plugins/contactform_menu/contactform.php?contact

watches cell phone Save On Diode Led Di 0187 Fluid View Low Price Plyometric Platform Box Set 12

Technical Writing - What's a Copyright and How Long Does it Last in Technical Documentation?

There'll be many times when as a technical writer you'll be using text and images created by others. In order not to violate anybody's intellectual property rights, you need to know the different types of copyrights that exist (at least in the United States).

The standard copyright is expressed either with the word "Copyright" or the universal copyright symbol "©" (letter "c" inside a circle). Best information on U.S. copyrights is available at U.S. Copyright Office (at copyright-dot-gov).

The interesting thing about a copyright is that an original intellectual property, like this very article for example, has copyright protection the minute it is created. However, if there were a law suit, those technical documents officially registered with the U.S. Copyright Office has a better chance of winning the case. Copyright registry is voluntary but is the only sure-fire way of claiming ownership of an intellectual product.

Technical Writing - What's a Copyright and How Long Does it Last in Technical Documentation?

In general, copyright of a technical document created after January 1, 1978, lasts as long as its author is alive, plus 70 years after his or her death. For example, if someone registers a user manual with the U.S. Copyright Office on January 1, 2009 and then dies in 2010, the work would still be copyrighted until 2080.

Once you copyright-register your technical document, you do not need to renew the registration again.

One thing you should know as a technical writer: all text and images created and owned by the U.S. government have no copyrights for the U.S. citizens. They are in "public domain." Why? Because if you're a U.S. citizen, you have already paid for it through your taxes. But still you have to be careful not to use public domain work in a libelous manner.

NOTE 1: If you're a technical writer working for a company, the copyright of the work you are creating almost always belongs to the company and not to you as an individual writer.

NOTE 2: All the information quoted in this article was correct when the article was written in December 2008 but it may have changed by the time you're reading this. Please consult copyright-dot-gov and your attorney before making a decision on all copyright matters.

Technical Writing - What's a Copyright and How Long Does it Last in Technical Documentation?
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

If you are interested to read more about what technical writing is all about and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com You might be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit today and claim your free report "How Much Do Technical Writers Make?"

watch cell phone Low Price Plyometric Platform Box Set 12 Purchase Cheap 14K White Gold Heart Solitaire Navel New Black Seed Black Seed Oil 8 Oz