What is word documentation

Used to make professional-quality documents, letters, reports, etc., MS Word is a word processor developed by Microsoft. It has advanced features which allow you to format and edit your files and documents in the best possible way.

Contents

  • 1 What is a word document?
  • 2 What is MS Word used for?
  • 3 What is MS Word example?
  • 4 How do you create a Microsoft Word document?
  • 5 Is a word document a PDF?
  • 6 What is MS Word Introduction?
  • 7 What is MS Word and explain its features?
  • 8 What are the types of MS Word?
  • 9 What are 10 features of Microsoft Word?
  • 10 Is MS Word a software or hardware?
  • 11 How can I use Microsoft Word on my computer?
  • 12 How do I type a word document on my computer?
  • 13 What is the difference between MS Word and PDF?
  • 14 How do I download a Word document?
  • 15 How do I make my Word document a PDF?
  • 16 What are the advantages of MS Word explain?
  • 17 What are the advantages of MS Word?

Microsoft Word document
DOC is a document file format used by Microsoft Word, also used with most word processing software, including OpenOffice. DOC stands for DOCument file. A DOC file can contain formatted text, images, tables, graphs, charts, page formatting, and print settings.

What is MS Word used for?

Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students’ homework assignments. It was first released in 1983 and is one of Microsoft Office suite’s applications.

What is MS Word example?

The correct answer is Application Software. MS Word is an example of application software developed by the company Microsoft. It allows users to type and save documents.

How do you create a Microsoft Word document?

Create a document

  1. Open Word. Or, if Word is already open, select File > New.
  2. In the Search for online templates box, enter a search word like letter, resume, or invoice. Or, select a category under the search box like Business, Personal, or Education.
  3. Click a template to see a preview.
  4. Select Create.

Is a word document a PDF?

With the newest version of Microsoft Office 2013, you are able to save and export regular word documents as PDF files. Now you can navigate to the folder where you saved the PDF document will open as a PDF file, instead of a regular Word document.

What is MS Word Introduction?

Introduction to Microsoft Word is a two (2) to four (4) hour course designed to familiarize you with the terminology, screen components and the most commonly used functions offered by Microsoft Word. Emphasis will be placed on proper document formatting techniques and file naming and file management conventions.

What is MS Word and explain its features?

Microsoft Word is a word processor, which means that it’s designed primarily for text-based documents.In Word, you type text and see roughly how it will appear on someone else’s computer screen or on paper. You can change the font, color, size and other style settings for text using Word’s built-in options.

What are the types of MS Word?

What are the different versions of Microsoft Word?

  • Word 2019, released in 2018.
  • Office 365 and Word 2016, released in 2016.
  • Word 2013, released in 2013.
  • Word 2010, released in 2010.
  • Word 2007, released in 2006.
  • Word 2003, released in 2003.
  • Word 2002, released in 2001.
  • Word 2000, released in 1999.

What are 10 features of Microsoft Word?

What are 10 features of Microsoft Word?

  • Changing case.
  • Create a custom tab.
  • Quick parts.
  • Add placeholder text.
  • Edit wrap points when wrapping text.
  • Convert a list to a table.
  • Convert a bulleted list to SmartArt.
  • Quick selection methods.

Is MS Word a software or hardware?

Microsoft Word, word-processor software launched in 1983 by the Microsoft Corporation. Software developers Richard Brodie and Charles Simonyi joined the Microsoft team in 1981, and in 1983 they released Multi-Tool Word for computers that ran a version of the UNIX operating system (OS).

How can I use Microsoft Word on my computer?

Use the left button on the mouse to click on the Start button. Then click on programmes and then double-click on the MSWORD programme. Some computers have a MSWORD symbol that will come up when your computer is on and you do not have to go to start – simply double click the left button of the mouse on the symbol.

How do I type a word document on my computer?

Write, draw, or highlight text

  1. On the Draw tab of the Ribbon, tap a pen to select it.
  2. Tap again to open the menu of Thickness and Color options for the pen.
  3. A Pencil texture is also available:
  4. On the touch screen, begin writing or drawing.

What is the difference between MS Word and PDF?

Microsoft Word is used for making and editing DOC files while Adobe Acrobat is for creation of PDF files.Documents created using Word and saved in PDF can be edited using Word while PDFs made using Acrobat can be edited through third-party developers. 4. ‘DOC’ is proprietary while ‘PDF’ is open source.

How do I download a Word document?

Go to File > Save As. Select Download a copy. Select a location to save the file, and then select Save.

How do I make my Word document a PDF?

  1. Choose File > Export > Create PDF/XPS.
  2. If the properties of your Word document contains information that you do not want included in the PDF, in the Publish as PDF or XPS window, choose Options.
  3. In Publish as PDF or XPS, navigate to where you want to save the file.
  4. Click Publish.

What are the advantages of MS Word explain?

One of the advantages of using Microsoft Word is that it is available practically everywhere. Word comes standard on many PCs. You can typically find it on your work computer, computers at school and your home PC. This makes it easy to save documents on a flash drive, take them with you and work on them somewhere else.

What are the advantages of MS Word?

Advantages of Microsoft Word
It reduces the time and cost to produce the document and reduces the bottom line as there is no requirement for an administrative pool dedicated to document production. Word gives you the right tools to allow you to be productive. The advantages of Word are wide and varied.

A product always comes with a user manual to help customers learn how to use it. Now, the first question that arises is how to create a user manual in word easily?

User manuals mean the difference between a good customer experience and a terrible one. An instruction manual isn’t only for new customers. Even experienced customers use it to refresh their memory regarding certain features of the product.

Also, they refer to it for solving a specific problem they might be experiencing with the product. Let’s dive in to understand how to create user guides.

Table of Content

  1. Create User Manual in Microsoft Word: The 7 Step Process
  2. Why is User Documentation Important?
  3. Things to Include in Your User Manual
  4. 5 User Manual Templates To Use With Microsoft Word
  5. FAQs
  6. Conclusion

Create User Manual in Microsoft Word: The 7 Step Process

Microsoft Word provides a framework, which users use to present information about their product or service. It gives them the freedom to customize the document as per their needs.

Here, we will share with you the seven steps to create a user manual in MS Word.   

Step 1: The Preliminary Phase

  • In Microsoft Word, click the File tab and select New
  • Double-click the Books folder in the Available templates window. Go to the Other Books folder and double-click on it
  •  Double-click the Professional manual template

Microsoft Word’s user manual template is where you can customize the manual as per your choice. The document will download into a new word window after completing the above steps.

Step 2: Observe The Sections

Go through the pages of the user manual template. It will give you an idea of what gets included, what needs to get changed, and what needs to get added. The User manual template is the starting point.

Microsoft Word includes a generic page title, table of contents, headers, text blocks, and image placeholders. It also comes with tips on creating a user manual that your users will love.

image

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Step 3: Add Your Content

  • Highlight the header or block of text. Place your user manual information on it. You can even copy it from another document and paste it into the template text boxes. 
  • Replace all Microsoft Word’s placeholder text with your own. 
  • Fill the user manual with the information as required. You can add text first, then the images and headers. You can even choose to work linearly from the first page till the end. It’s your choice.

Step 4: Insert Images of Your Choice

  • Right-click a placeholder picture or image and click the Delete key to remove it. To add yours, click the Insert tab, then the picture button.
  • Browse through images and double-click on the one you want to insert into the placeholder.

You can add your company logo on the cover page or somewhere else in the documentation as per your choice. It’s a great way to apply your brand to the MS Word user manual. 

Step 5: Format as You Need

  • Click on the Home Tab. Browse through the options in the Styles section of the ribbon. Through this, you will be able to decide how each section of your manual will look. I mean the main paragraph text and the headings.   
  • Sometimes users don’t want to use the elements provided by the template. In such situations, right-click one of the styles, such as heading 1, and choose modify.
  • Reformat the header and click OK.

The styles of all section headings will get changed. You won’t have to do everything manually. It is an excellent way to ensure that the instruction manual satisfies your company’s internal style requirements.

Step 6: Verify and Proofread

Go to the first page of the instruction manual template, which is the cover page in most user guide templates. Ensure all placeholder text gets replaced with content about your service or product. 

Step 7: Add Table of Contents and Save Your Manual

The table of contents displays the generic user manual template headers.

  • Right-click on the table of contents and go for the update field.
  • Go to the update entire table option and then click OK.  
  • Click on the File tab and select Save as. Enter the instruction manual’s file name in the file name field. Choose where to save the document and click the Save button.
  • It will change the table of contents to show your new headers and page numbers.

Follow these seven steps and create your instruction manuals with ease.Next, we will discuss what to include in such user-friendly manuals. 


Why is User Documentation Important?

User documentation guides your customers on how to get the most out of your product. It includes installation instructions and a troubleshooting section to help users with the product. It’s an all-in-one place for all types of resources to help the customers. Such as how to save a document, use a specific tool, or essential safety information.    

Although, creating user guides are more than just “how-to” material. It is a segment of imparting user experience. Hence it’s also a marketing material. It shows your customers that your business cares, not just when buying the product.

But also whether the customers have a great experience in using it. When these customers feel that you value them, they will keep coming back to you, and thus, you retain them.


Things to Include in Your User Manual

What to Include in User Manual?

No customer reads instruction manuals for pleasure or to pass the time. Readers read them to overcome an issue they have encountered. They look at the table of contents to find the essential information.

Thus, they only focus on specific parts and don’t read the instruction manuals from start to finish. Also, when writing a technical document, bear in mind that being detailed does not mean including long paragraphs.

  1. The Objective of Your Instruction Manual

    What is the purpose for creating the instruction manual?” 

    What activities should get included in the instruction manual?” 

    These are the questions that one must answer before starting the work on creating their manual. For an efficient manual, it is necessary to have a clear objective in mind. 

  2. Think About What You Want to Include?

    To create compelling user guide templates, you need to have a precise idea of what type of content you will include in the documentation. Gather all the knowledge, information, checklists in one place. Be thorough with every point and ensure that your technical writer has all the materials for writing the step-by-step instructions.

    Don’t rely on your memory. Even skipping a small step could lead to confusion amongst the audience. Ensure that your users know every aspect of the product or service that you are trying to sell.     

  3. Keep Your Readers in Mind

    Think like a user when you start writing an instruction manual. Why? Because you know everything about your product or service, but do your users know it? No.    

    When writing instructions, start thinking from your users’ point of view. It’s because they are the ones who engage with your product or service. Assume that your users have zero knowledge of the subject matter before you begin technical writing. In this way, a technical writer will be able to write instructions to make the manual efficient. It’s because you will have a better understanding of your users’ demographics.    

  4. Collaboration is Essential

    It’s not easy to write these documents. Your users depend on you for help, and they rely on the work instructions present in the user manuals to solve their issues. So, how to ensure that you don’t miss out or miswrite any essential instructions?

    The answer is through collaboration. Create a team to collaborate when working on the documentation. You can assign different team members to write, review, organize the information in one place, and create visual assets for the instruction manual.   

  5. Get Organized

    Once you decide what information you will include in the documentation, the next step is to organize all the relevant information. Outline the flow of the document into different sections. 

    You can break it into categories based on what your users may search for in the documentation. Ensure that the document is in a seamless flow and includes in-depth processes from start to finish. Organizing the information is essential to avoid confusion amongst the users. It makes it easy to read your user guides.  

  6. Write Clear Instructions

    Once you have everything outlined and organized with a clear structure, technical writing becomes easy. The primary objective of user manuals is to assist the users in completing tasks and solving issues.

    Hence, get to the point quickly. Avoid wasting their time. Use numbered lists for instructions and ensure that the content is brief. These are some of the best practices when writing user documentation.    

  7. Add Structure with Table of Contents

    It is necessary to add a table of contents in your manual. The table of contents provides navigation to the user and helps them get to a particular topic quickly. A user is not going to read your documentation from start to finish.

    They only want to solve a specific problem or learn about a particular topic. Hence, having a table of contents will save their time and effort. You can use document editors to create a table of contents around heads and subheadings automatically. 

  8. Add Visual Aid to Your Instruction Manual

    A manual is inherently quite a chore to read. It is full of text and isn’t engaging. Research has shown that a person can get a sense of a visual scene in less than 1/10 of a second. Visuals get processed 60,000 times faster in the brain compared to text. 

    Hence, images and videos provide a better communication experience compared to text-based content. Try to make your documentation interactive with how-to videos and audio instructions. You can also include screenshots, screen recordings, tutorial videos. It will make your content engaging and also help a user effectively.

  9. Ask For Feedback

    Manuals play an essential role in helping a user understand your business products. Hence, focus on continually improving the manual and aim to make it near-perfect. Encourage those who are using your documentation to provide feedback and suggestions on making the content more compelling.

    An excellent user manual provides consumers with quick and accurate answers to their queries regarding similar products. These were some of the best practices on what to include in the instruction manuals. It will aid you in writing a comprehensive manual that your users will find very useful.


5 User Manual Templates To Use With Microsoft Word

Depending on the purpose and target audience, manuals fall into various categories such as:

  • Standard manuals
  • User manuals 
  • Training manuals
  • Policy manuals
  • Office manuals 
  • Service manuals and other particular guides.

Here, we will share with you five manual templates with their links for you to use.

  1. Professional Manual Template

    Creator: Microsoft

    Format: Word 2003 or later

    License: Free Template 

  2. User Manual Template

    Creator: Manual Templates

    Format: Doc

    License: Free Template 

  3. Training Manual Template

    Creator: Manual Templates

    Format: Doc

    License: Free Template 

  4. Software Manual Template

    Creator: Manual Templates

    Format: Doc

    License: Free Template 

  5. Product Manual Template

    Creator: Manual Templates

    Format: Doc

    License: Free Template 

image

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How User Documentation Supports Your Team

A user will contact your support team if there is an issue with your product or experiencing difficulty in using it.

Having exceptional user documentation will help your team in two ways.

  1. Gives Them an Easy Reference Guide

    User documentation isn’t only for customers. Your support reps can use documentation to provide better support to the customers when they need help. With the incorporation of required elements like product summary, index, or table of contents, your service reps can find the information they need to answer customers quickly.

  2. Reduces Calls

    People contact support reps when they can’t solve the issue on their own. If customers can solve issues by themselves, they won’t ask for guidance. As per research, more than 70 percent of customers prefer to use the company website for help rather than using a phone or email.   

    Having user documentation that is comprehensive, easy to understand, clear, and concise will go a long way to reduce the overall volume of calls, emails, chats, etc. It will reduce the burden on your customer service. 

  3. Enhances Productivity

    A reliable reference point can eliminate an immense amount of stress from your customer support teams. The doubts and questions that might consume 15 minutes to solve can be answered appropriately by directing customers in the correct direction within your user manuals.

FAQs

Great user documentation should include:

  • Plain language
  • Simplicity
  • Visuals
  • A focus on the problem
  • A logical hierarchy and flow
  • A table of contents
  • Searchable content
  • Accessible content
  • Good design
  • Feedback from real users
  • Links to further resources

A user manual template is a well-written document that helps guide the consumers about the product. They could be a hard-copy document or an electronic one. It comes included with the product.

Here are the simple steps to make exceptional user documentation.

  • First, know your goals and create a plan to accomplish them.
  • Create your manual based on the plan
  • Test out the manual and ensure it does the job before you release it
  • Keep the manual up-to-date
  • When your product gets updated, update your documentation to reflect the changes

To write training manuals, you must describe your objectives, recognize your audience, choose your training tools, build your training materials, create an assessment, and get feedback.

To write a user manual, you should define your audience, describe the problem, stick to the topic at hand, take photos and videos, do not use passive voice, avoid using the first person, use a template, and minimize background info.

To create a manual, you must identify the purpose, gather information from the experts, categorize and organize the information, select an appropriate design, create a script, write the manual, show it to the team, publish and revise the manual.

From this blog, how to create a user manual in word in a way that is most helpful to your users can be assessed. That is a sign of exceptional documentation!

Focus on giving them a manual that continues to delight them. It should provide the kind of customer experience you would want to have if you were in their place. 

So, if you have decided to produce an online user manual for your customers to get answers to their questions or guidance for products and services, then CloudTutorial is the best option to opt for.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For a guide on using the documentation in Wikipedia templates, see Template:Documentation

Documentation is any communicable material that is used to describe, explain or instruct regarding some attributes of an object, system or procedure, such as its parts, assembly, installation, maintenance and use.[1] As a form of knowledge management and knowledge organization, documentation can be provided on paper, online, or on digital or analog media, such as audio tape or CDs. Examples are user guides, white papers, online help, and quick-reference guides. Paper or hard-copy documentation has become less common.[citation needed] Documentation is often distributed via websites, software products, and other online applications.

Documentation as a set of instructional materials shouldn’t be confused with documentation science, the study of the recording and retrieval of information.

Principles for producing documentation[edit]

While associated International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards are not easily available publicly, a guide from other sources for this topic may serve the purpose.[2][3][4][5]

Documentation development may involve document drafting, formatting, submitting, reviewing, approving, distributing, reposting and tracking, etc., and are convened by associated standard operating procedure in a regulatory industry. It could also involve creating content from scratch. Documentation should be easy to read and understand. If it’s too long and too wordy, it may be misunderstood or ignored. Clear, concise words should be used, and sentences should be limited to a maximum of 15 words. Documentation intended for a general audience should avoid gender-specific terms and cultural biases. In a series of procedures, steps should be clearly numbered.[6][7][8][9]

Producing documentation[edit]

Technical writers and corporate communicators are professionals whose field and work is documentation. Ideally, technical writers have a background in both the subject matter and also in writing, managing content, and information architecture. Technical writers more commonly collaborate with subject-matter experts, such as engineers, technical experts, medical professionals, etc. to define and then create documentation to meet the user’s needs. Corporate communications includes other types of written documentation, for example:

  • Market communications (MarCom): MarCom writers endeavor to convey the company’s value proposition through a variety of print, electronic, and social media. This area of corporate writing is often engaged in responding to proposals.
  • Technical communication (TechCom): Technical writers document a company’s product or service. Technical publications can include user guides, installation and configuration manuals, and troubleshooting and repair procedures.
  • Legal writing: This type of documentation is often prepared by attorneys or paralegals.
  • Compliance documentation: This type of documentation codifies standard operating procedures, for any regulatory compliance needs, as for safety approval, taxation, financing, and technical approval.
  • Healthcare documentation: This field of documentation encompasses the timely recording and validation of events that have occurred during the course of providing health care.[10]

Documentation in computer science[edit]

Types[edit]

The following are typical software documentation types:

  • Request for proposal
  • Requirements/statement of work/scope of work
  • Software design and functional specification
  • System design and functional specifications
  • Change management, error and enhancement tracking
  • User acceptance testing
  • Manpages

The following are typical hardware and service documentation types:

  • Network diagrams
  • Network maps
  • Datasheet for IT systems (server, switch, e.g.)
  • Service catalog and service portfolio (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

Software Documentation Folder (SDF) tool[edit]

A common type of software document written in the simulation industry is the SDF. When developing software for a simulator, which can range from embedded avionics devices to 3D terrain databases by way of full motion control systems, the engineer keeps a notebook detailing the development «the build» of the project or module. The document can be a wiki page, Microsoft Word document or other environment. They should contain a requirements section, an interface section to detail the communication interface of the software. Often a notes section is used to detail the proof of concept, and then track errors and enhancements. Finally, a testing section to document how the software was tested. This documents conformance to the client’s requirements. The result is a detailed description of how the software is designed, how to build and install the software on the target device, and any known defects and workarounds. This build document enables future developers and maintainers to come up to speed on the software in a timely manner, and also provides a roadmap to modifying code or searching for bugs.

Software tools for network inventory and configuration[edit]

These software tools can automatically collect data of your network equipment. The data could be for inventory and for configuration information. The Information Technology Infrastructure Library requests to create such a database as a basis for all information for the IT responsible. It’s also the basis for IT documentation. Examples include XIA Configuration.[11]

Documentation in criminal justice[edit]

«Documentation» is the preferred term for the process of populating criminal databases. Examples include the National Counterterrorism Center’s Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, sex offender registries, and gang databases.[12]

Documentation in early childhood education[edit]

Documentation, as it pertains to the early childhood education field, is «when we notice and value children’s ideas, thinking, questions, and theories about the world and then collect traces of their work (drawings, photographs of the children in action, and transcripts of their words) to share with a wider community».[13]

Thus, documentation is a process, used to link the educator’s knowledge and learning of the child/children with the families, other collaborators, and even to the children themselves.

Documentation is an integral part of the cycle of inquiry — observing, reflecting, documenting, sharing and responding.[13]

Pedagogical documentation, in terms of the teacher documentation, is the «teacher’s story of the movement in children’s understanding».[13] According to Stephanie Cox Suarez in «Documentation — Transforming our Perspectives», «teachers are considered researchers, and documentation is a research tool to support knowledge building among children and adults».[14]

Documentation can take many different styles in the classroom. The following exemplifies ways in which documentation can make the research, or learning, visible:

  1. Documentation panels (bulletin-board-like presentation with multiple pictures and descriptions about the project or event).
  2. Daily log (a log kept every day that records the play and learning in the classroom)
  3. Documentation developed by or with the children (when observing children during documentation, the child’s lens of the observation is used in the actual documentation)
  4. Individual portfolios (documentation used to track and highlight the development of each child)
  5. Electronic documentation (using apps and devices to share documentation with families and collaborators)
  6. Transcripts or recordings of conversations (using recording in documentation can bring about deeper reflections for both the educator and the child)
  7. Learning stories (a narrative used to «describe learning and help children see themselves as powerful learners»[13])
  8. The classroom as documentation (reflections and documentation of the physical environment of a classroom).[13]

Documentation is certainly a process in and of itself, and it is also a process within the educator. The following is the development of documentation as it progresses for and in the educator themselves:

  • Develop(s) habits of documentation
  • Become(s) comfortable with going public with recounting of activities
  • Develop(s) visual literacy skills
  • Conceptualize(s) the purpose of documentation as making learning styles visible, and
  • Share(s) visible theories for interpretation purposes and further design of curriculum.[15]

See also[edit]

  • Authoring
  • Bibliographic control
  • Change control
  • Citation Index
  • Copyright
  • Description
  • Document
  • Documentation (field)
  • Documentation science
  • Document identifier
  • Document management system
  • Documentary
  • Freedom of information
  • Glossary
  • Historical document
  • Index (publishing)
  • ISO 2384:1977
  • ISO 259:1984
  • ISO 5123:1984
  • ISO 3602:1989
  • ISO 6357:1985
  • ISO 690
  • ISO 5964
  • ISO 9001
  • IEC 61355
  • International Standard Bibliographic Description
  • Journal of Documentation
  • Licensing
  • Letterhead
  • List of Contents
  • Technical documentation
  • User guide
  • Medical certificate
  • Publishing
  • Records management
  • Software documentation
  • Style guide
  • Technical communication

References[edit]

  1. ^ «Documentation definition by The Linux Information Project». www.linfo.org. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  2. ^ «Guide to Documentation» (PDF). somers.k12.ct.us. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2007.
  3. ^ CGRP. «A Guide to Documentation Styles» (PDF). San Francisco State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  4. ^ «A guide to MLA documentation» (PDF). sunyjcc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  5. ^ Berger, David. «Procedures and Documentation» (PDF). maintenanceonline. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  6. ^ Cropper, Mark; Dibbens, Tony (2002). «GAIA-RVS Documentation Procedures» (PDF). mssl.ucl.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2005. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  7. ^ «GLNPO’s Quality System Documentation Review Procedures and Tracking» (PDF). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  8. ^ UK Data Archive (2009). «Data Services Process Guides: Documentation Processing Procedures» (PDF). esds.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  9. ^ UK Data Archive. «Data Services Process Guides: Documentation Processing Techniques» (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2009.[dead link]
  10. ^ Springhouse (2008). Complete Guide to Documentation. p. ix. ISBN 9781582555560. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  11. ^ «XIA Configuration Network Documentation Tool». CENTREL Solutions. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  12. ^ Rader Brown, Rebecca (2009). «The Gang’s All Here: Evaluating the Need for a National Gang Database». Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems. 42: 293–333.
  13. ^ a b c d e Susan, Stacey (11 May 2015). Pedagogical documentation in early childhood : sharing children’s learning and teachers’ thinking. St. Paul, Minnesota. ISBN 9781605543925. OCLC 909907917.
  14. ^ Rivard, Melissa. «Documentation: Transforming our Perspectives | Project Zero». www.pz.harvard.edu. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  15. ^ «ECRP. Vol 13 No 2». ecrp.uiuc.edu. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.

External links[edit]

  • IEEE Professional Communication Society
  • Documentation Definition by The Linux Information Project (LINFO)
  • Information & Documentation List of selected tools
  • Library of articles on documentation: Technical writing and documentation articles Archived 18 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  • IRISH DRIVING LICENSE, Information & Documentation

For many, the words ‘document’ and ‘documentation’ can cause a great deal of confusion. This is because they can be used interchangeably, but only in specific circumstances. On this page, we want to explain how these two words work.

What Is The Difference Between ‘Document’ And ‘Documentation’?

The word ‘document’ refers to a single piece of official written or printed material. This may include passports, a financial report, etc. ‘Documentation’ means the same thing. However, ‘documentation’ can be used as a singular or plural. ‘Document’ can also appear as a verb, while ‘documentation’ cannot.

Document vs. Documentation

In the word ‘document’ is being used as a noun then, in most cases, the word ‘documentation’ can be substituted in. However, this will not work the other way around. While ‘documentation’ can be used to refer to the singular and plural, ‘document’ can only ever be used to refer to the singular.

Beyond this, the major difference between the two is that ‘document’ can be used as a verb, while ‘documentation’ cannot. When ‘document’ is being used as a verb, it indicates that information is being recorded.

What Does ‘Document’ Mean?

‘Document’ can mean multiple things, depending on the context. When it is used as a noun, it is used to refer to a singular piece of paper or another piece of evidence. When it is used as a verb, it is stating that pieces of information are being recorded.

According to The Cambridge Dictionary, when used as a noun the definition of ‘document’ is “a paper or set of papers with written or printed information, especially of an official type”.

When used as a verb, the definition from the same dictionary is “to record the details of an event or process”.

You should be able to work out when ‘document’ is being used as a noun and when it is being used as a verb by looking at the context the word is used in. If you see a name for the document included e.g. passport, evidence, etc. then you are looking at a noun. if you see ‘document’ being used as an action, then it means you are looking at a verb.

Here are some examples so you can see how ‘document’ can be used in a sentence, whether it is a noun or a verb:

  1. A passport is a document.
  2. If you are applying for a loan, your last salary specification is an important document.
  3. It is important for a police officer to document all evidence.
  4. A scientist must document the results of their studies.
  5. A newspaper from the 1500s is a historical document.

What Does ‘Documentation’ Mean?

‘Documentation’ is a noun. It is an uncountable noun. This means that when the term ‘documentation’ is used, it can refer to one or multiple documents. Documentation is often used as a way to provide evidence of something e.g. identity, finances, etc.

According to The Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of ‘documentation is “official papers or written material that provides proof of something”.

Generally speaking, ‘documentation’ can be used to refer to any document, singular or plural. It is an uncountable noun. However, nowadays, you will often find ‘documentation’ used to refer to multiple documents. Any documentation can come under the header ‘documentation’. This includes identifying documents, manuals, and more.

Here are a few examples of how you can use ‘documentation’ in a sentence:

  1. You have to provide supporting documentation when applying for citizenship.
  2. The loan officer asked for my identity and salary documentation.
  3. The machine’s warranty is one piece of documentation in the box.
  4. Identifying documentation can include a passport, driver’s license, and a bank statement.
  5. It is important that there is proper documentation of all code.

Is ‘Document’ Short For ‘Documentation’?

‘Document’ is not short for ‘documentation’. While they can be used interchangeably in some contexts, this is not always the case. As the word ‘documentation’ is used as a plural for ‘document’, if you shortened it down, the meaning of the word would completely change.

Whenever you see the word ‘document’ appear, you can be sure that it is either going to be used as a verb or as a singular noun. Because ‘documentation’ is rarely used to refer to the singular, and never to a verb, the term cannot be shortened down to ‘document’. If it is shortened, then the sentence would take on a whole new meaning.

Is ‘Document’ Or ‘Documentation’ Used The Most?

The word ‘document’ is used far more frequently than ‘documentation’. This may be down to the fact that ‘document’ can be used as a verb or a noun, while ‘documentation’ can only be used as a noun.

According to Google Ngram Viewer, the word ‘document’ is used almost double the amount that ‘documentation’ is used. Interestingly, the latter word only started to get used frequently in the 1950s, while ‘document’ has been used frequently since the 1500s.

Document vs. Documentation english usage

Synonyms For ‘Document’

While ‘document’ is a perfectly fine word to use, sometimes you may want to spice up your language and for this, you need synonyms.

Synonyms for ‘document’ can vary based on whether you are using it as a verb or as a noun. We have synonyms for both.

If you are using ‘document’ as a noun, then you may use these synonyms, depending on the situation and the type of document:

  • Paper
  • File
  • Report
  • Record

If you are using ‘document’ as a verb, then these are your synonyms:

  • Archive
  • Record
  • Catalog
  • Write down

Synonyms For ‘Documentation’

For ‘documentation’, many of the same synonyms for the verb ‘document’ can be used, but you must pluralize them e.g. paper becomes papers. Here are some other synonyms that you may use:

  • Validation
  • Attestation
  • Certifications
  • Documents
  • Credentials
  • Authentication

You may also like: Documents or Document – Is “Document” Singular or Plural?

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Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.

What is a synonym for the word documentation?

Similar words for documentation: credentials (noun) documentation (noun) evidence (noun) testimony (noun) other synonyms.

What do you call a bunch of documents?

You can try dossier defined by Merriam Webster as. A group of papers that contain detailed information about someone or some thing. File containing detailed records on a particular person or subject.

What is the meaning of documentation?

Documentation is any communicable material that is used to describe, explain or instruct regarding some attributes of an object, system or procedure, such as its parts, assembly, installation, maintenance and use. Documentation is often distributed via websites, software products, and other online applications.

What is documentation simple words?

1 : a written or printed paper that gives information about or proof of something Your birth certificate is a legal document. 2 : a computer file containing data entered by a user. document.

What are the 4 types of documentation?

They are: tutorials, how-to guides, technical reference and explanation. They represent four different purposes or functions, and require four different approaches to their creation. Understanding the implications of this will help improve most documentation – often immensely.

What is effective documentation?

Effective Documentation is a major sourcebook that offers technical writers, editors, teachers, and students of technical communication a wide variety of practical guidelines based on often hard to find research in the usability of printed and electronic media.

What are the documentation skills?

Here are the top related skills to Documentation:

  • Management.
  • Responsible.
  • Managing.
  • Planning.
  • Implementation.
  • Sales.
  • Project Management.
  • Communication.

What is documentation job description?

Copy, scan and store documents. Check for accuracy and edit files, like contracts. Review and update technical documents (e.g. manuals and workflows) Distribute project-related copies to internal teams. File documents in physical and digital records.

What are the duties and responsibilities of documentation?

Their job is to store, catalogue and retrieve documents. This may involve maintaining paper files, electronic files, or even databases. They develop and maintain systems for document storage, and are responsible for document security and access.

Why documentation is important in an organization?

By documenting your processes, you ensure efficiency, consistency, and peace of mind for anyone involved. This kind of standardization between processes ensures everyone in your organization is working the same way towards the same outcome.

What are the skills of a document controller?

Desirable skills for a Document Controller

  • Documentation.
  • Microsoft Word.
  • Planning.
  • Communication Skills.
  • Interpersonal Skills.
  • Document Management.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a document controller?

A document controller is responsible for the timely, accurate and efficient preparation and management of documents. They control the numbering, sorting, filing, storing and retrieval of both electronic and hard copy documents produced by technical teams, projects or departments.

What is the role of a document controller?

Document controllers maintain project documents. They ensure that accurate information is distributed throughout an organisation, on time, to the people who need it. In the construction industry, document controllers work with technical documents like blueprints and reports.

How can I be a professional document controller?

Career Path & Progression

  1. Step 1: Attend a Document Control training course.
  2. Step 2: Obtain the certification in Document Control.
  3. Step 3: Obtain a strong experience as a Document Controller.
  4. Step 4: Further career progression in the Document Control area.

What does a document controller earn?

The average Document controller salary in London is £50,069. This is 33.5% more than the average national salary for Document controller jobs. The average London Document controller salary is 12.4% more than the average salary across London. Document controller vacancies in London have gone down 15.3% year-on-year.

How much is the salary of Document Controller in Qatar?

A person working as a Document Controller in Qatar typically earns around 6,610 QAR per month. Salaries range from 3,170 QAR (lowest) to 10,400 QAR (highest). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits.

Is document control a good career?

So if you saw this and thought “I’d be interested in a career in Document Control, I wonder if this article will be useful” and if the previous comments haven’t scared you away then that’s good news, as document control can be a very rewarding career for those who take pride in their achievements and can deal with the …

What does document control mean?

Document control refers to the practice and profession of enforcing document management standards within a given workplace or other definable scope.

How do you become a document specialist?

How to become a document specialist

  1. Earn a high school diploma. Some employers require candidates to earn at least a high school diploma or GED to perform more basic tasks involved in the role.
  2. Continue your education.
  3. Gain hands-on training.
  4. Receive your certification.
  5. Maintain your certification.

What is meant by documentation specialist?

What Does a Documentation Specialist do? A Documentation Specialist is an individual responsible for the writing, distribution, collection, storage, and maintenance of this documentation. They can be responsible for implementing new storage systems or working to optimize the efficiency of the system already in place.

What is a document control specialist job description?

Document Control Specialists store, manage and track records and documents for government agencies and engineering firms. They also ensure that those documents are accurate and maintain their quality and integrity. They also archive inactive records and documents.

What degree do you need to be a documentation specialist?

Clinical documentation specialists have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in nursing, health information management or health information technology, and 2-5 years of experience in the field.

How do I get Cdip certified?

How Can I Get a CDIP Certification? To be eligible for CDIP certification, you must first earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. You also need at least three years of clinical documentation integrity experience (CDI) and coursework in medical terminology, and anatomy, and physiology.

What is CCDS Certification?

The Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) examination is designed to test an applicant’s ability to recall documentation and coding guidelines and industry regulations pertaining to clinical documentation improvement and apply that knowledge to real-life scenarios clinical documentation specialists face …

Why do you want to be a clinical documentation specialist?

A clinical documentation specialist (CDS) organizes the information for each patient seen by a medical establishment. A CDS handles this by reviewing medical records, ensuring medical codes have been inputted correctly, and documenting the specifics necessary to provide a full analysis of a patient’s health.

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