Why Good Writing is Essential for Content Creators
Good writing is the cornerstone of effective content creation. It’s a best practice that applies universally, solving various content-related challenges.
Lower Translation Costs with Good Writing
Effective Translation Strategies
One common question is how to reduce translation costs. The answer is straightforward: good writing. Here’s why:
- Translation Billing: Costs are often per word, ranging from $0.10 for common languages to $0.25 for rare ones.
- Translation Memory: This database stores language pairs (source and translated phrases). Matching phrases lower costs significantly.
Tips to Save on Translation:
- Be Concise: Use fewer words.
- Eliminate Unnecessary Words: For instance, omit “please” when possible.
- Standardize Terminology: Consistent terms reduce confusion.
- Consistent Grammar and Style: Uniformity enhances clarity.
- Careful Use of Pronouns: Avoid ambiguity.
- Avoid Idioms and Jargon: These can be hard to translate.
- Reduce Sentence Complexity: Simpler sentences are easier to translate.
- Use Structured Content: Only translate new or changed information.
In short, write clearly and concisely.
READ MORE: Here’s how to prepare your content for optimal translation
Enhance Translation Quality Through Good Writing
Improve Source Content
Poor quality in the original content leads to poor translations. High-quality source content is essential for high-quality translations.
Tips to Improve Translation Quality:
- Standardize Terminology
- Consistent Grammar and Style
- Careful Use of Pronouns
- Avoid Idioms and Jargon
- Reduce Sentence Complexity
Remember, the foundation is good writing.
Maximize Structured Content and Single Sourcing with Good Writing
Benefits of Structured Content
Structured content allows for flexibility and reusability, essential for single sourcing. Each component must be independently understandable and consistently written.
Tips for Structured Content:
- Write in Small Chunks
- Standardize Terminology
- Consistent Grammar and Style
- Careful Use of Pronouns
- Avoid Idioms and Jargon
- Reduce Sentence Complexity
- Avoid Dependent Language
Consistent, well-written content is key.
READ MORE: Use this smart approach for your structured content strategy
Prepare for Artificial Intelligence with Good Writing
Importance of Quality Training Content
AI systems need large amounts of high-quality, structured content to function effectively. Poor training content leads to AI errors, like hallucinations.
Tips for AI-Ready Content:
- Organize Content Logically
- Standardize Terminology
- Consistent Grammar and Style
- Careful Use of Pronouns
- Avoid Idioms and Jargon
- Reduce Sentence Complexity
- Tag Content Properly
High-quality writing ensures better AI performance.
READ MORE: These tips can help improve your AI performance
Consistent Best Practices for All Content Problems
When facing any content problem, start with evaluating the quality of your writing. Is it clear, consistent, and well-structured?
Before investing in new tools or drastic changes, focus on improving the content itself. Good quality content is the foundation for success in any use case.
Key Takeaway: Just write good.
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Val is on the Advisory Board for the Technical Communications Program at the University of North Texas. When not working with customers or students, Val can be found sitting behind her sewing machine working on her latest quilt. She also makes a mean hummus.
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