Software engineer and writer Michael Lynch has published advice regarding common pitfalls in technical blogging. According to reports highlighted by Simon Willison on Lobste.rs, Lynch cautions writers against meandering introductions, misjudging the baseline knowledge of readers, assuming familiarity with previous posts, and adopting excessive formality. He also advises against relying too heavily on hyperlinks as a substitute for explaining technical terminology, noting a rule of thumb that an article should remain comprehensible even if a reader clicks zero links.
The Pitfalls of Technical Communication
Technical blogging often struggles with accessibility and pacing. Authors frequently encounter the challenge of balancing depth with readability, leading to assumptions about audience background or the overuse of external references. Lynch’s critique targets stylistic habits that can alienate readers or interrupt the flow of an explanation. The announcement did not specify what prompted Lynch to compile this particular set of guidelines, nor did it detail whether he plans to expand these points into a larger stylistic guide.
What Remains Unclear
The available information does not specify if Lynch intends to publish further examples or practical exercises to demonstrate these writing anti-patterns. Observers on community platforms like Lobste.rs continue to discuss the implications of relying on hyperlinks for definitions. Future developments or broader community adoption of these writing rules remain to be seen.
Technical writers can evaluate their current drafting habits against these specific warnings to improve clarity.
Lead image: Szabó Viktor / Pexels
