Explore Insights for expert tips, trends, and strategies in course development, technical writing, and editing and more.
10 Strangest Job Interview Questions
Here are ten of the strangest job interview questions of all time! Source: Entrepreneur.comSee also: Master Your Elevator Pitch for Interviews
Affordable E-Learning for Budget-Minded Organizations
Well-trained employees are essential to an organization’s success. Unfortunately, many small, budget-conscious teams shy away from investing in e-learning (short for “electronic learning”). Common concerns include the perceived cost of creating and hosting self-paced courses. When financial, human, and training resources are limited, a new training system can feel out of reach. Fortunately, e-learning may…
The Future of Jobs for Content Developers
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum outlines big changes across industries. AI, automation, and skills-based hiring are reshaping how people work. This is especially true for content developers, whose roles now demand more flexibility, tech fluency, and cross-functional value. While the headlines focus on job losses, there’s a parallel story:…
How to Update Content After a Rebrand
Rebranding involves significant behind-the-scenes work beyond just updating logos and websites. A comprehensive content audit, clear brand guidelines, and modernizing legacy files are crucial steps. Consistency in visuals and messaging is vital to maintain audience trust. A phased rollout and ongoing maintenance plan ensure a smooth transition and alignment with the new brand.
How One Typo Brought Down the Internet—And What It Means for Your Business
Amazon’s typo broke the internet. A simple mistake cost companies millions of dollars. Here are some tips for preventing typos, no matter your industry.
How to Improve Learning Retention in E-learning Courses
Learning retention is a challenge in every training environment—but especially in e-learning, where distractions are just a click away. If learners forget what they’ve just completed, the training loses value. That’s why improving retention in e-learning should be a key goal for every course developer. This article covers what learning retention is, why it’s harder…
Technical Writing: A Guide for Businesses and Teams
Clear communication gives your business an edge. Whether you’re launching a product or building a training program, your message must be understood. Technical writing helps ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency. In this guide, you’ll learn what technical writing is, why it matters, and how it helps teams succeed. What is technical writing? Technical writing explains…
History of Technical Writing: From Cave Walls to AI
What is the history of modern technical writing? Technical writing has been around since the first technical writer, Cro-Magnon man, was drawing on cave walls. Some joke that it’s the world’s “other” oldest profession! However, most experts would agree that the golden age of technical writing started with the invention of the computer. Here are some of…
Uncleftish Beholding by Poul Anderson
Uncleftish Beholding (1989) is a short text written by Poul Anderson. It uses mostly words from old German roots. It shows what English might look like if it hadn’t borrowed so many words from Latin, Greek, and French. The text is about basic atomic theory, and it’s quite a mess. Here goes: For most of…
The Subtle Art of Delegating
Taking time off is much more relaxing if you effectively delegate your tasks to other team members. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Ten Idioms about the Human Body
Here are ten idioms about the human body presented in a format that any child of 1960s or 1970s will fully appreciate! Source: WeKnowMemes.com
The Longest Word in the Dictionary
You might be a Word Person if you’ve ever asked yourself, “What’s the longest word in the dictionary?” At 45 letters, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the longest word in the English language published in a dictionary, the Oxford English Dictionary. It refers to a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine ash and sand dust. The disease…
10 Things You Should Give Up Today
The holiday season can be so stressful, and Word People are famously hard on themselves because we think everything has to be “just right.” Charlene Burke recently published an article, “10 Things You Should Give Up Today,” and it really resonated with us. Perhaps it will with you as well. Here are the highlights: Give…
Merry Christmas (Quotations)!
Christmas words are the best, and here are some of our favorite Christmas quotations! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all your friends at ProEdit! Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.— Norman Vincent Peale Christmas is a time when you get homesick — even when…
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lorem Ipsum…
This week’s blog posting will explore a topic that has bugged Word People for hundreds of years. What is “Lorem Ipsum” anyway, and why do we use it in page layout? According to lipsum.com (and yes, there is a website devoted to this topic…who knew?): “Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and…
How to Get Started as a Content Developer
ProEdit created this practical guide to help you get started as a content developer—even if you’re starting from scratch. If you love words, enjoy learning new things, and take pride in helping others understand, this guide is for you. Introduction: From Lost to Word Person Back in 1980, I was a student at Mercer University.…
The 4 Bs of Customer Service: Life Changing Lessons Learned at the Happiest Place on Earth
How do you build a company where every single employee, even those performing the most menial of tasks, is dedicated, motivated, creative, innovative, passionate, and thirsty for knowledge and success? You create an environment where those qualities are encouraged and fostered. Disney accomplished that feat with Disney University and the Walt Disney World College Program…
Exploring Blackboard LMS: Features and Benefits
Learning management systems (LMSs) continue to play a vital role in corporate training and instructional design. One of the most established LMS platforms in both education and business is Blackboard LMS. While it originated in academic settings, Blackboard has evolved to meet the growing needs of professional training environments. So let’s explore the features and…
Comparing AICC, SCORM, and xAPI
You’ve likely come across terms like LMS, WBT, and CBT if you work in e-learning. But the real foundation of online training lies in the technical standards behind the scenes. So in this article we will be comparing AICC, SCORM, and xAPI standards. These standards help learning platforms track user activity. They record details like…
Ridiculous Things that People Say in Court
There is something about being in a courtroom that seems to activate the most foolish parts of the human brain. So without further ado, here are some of the most ridiculous things that people say in court. Enjoy them (or we’ll sentence you to 30 days in the hole)! Here are some examples: Lawyer: “Was that the…
Why Review Cycles Matter
Why review cycles matter comes down to one thing—for projects to succeed, they need clear, ongoing communication. Review cycles help us stay aligned with client goals and catch issues early. What is a review cycle? Review cycles can happen at different times. Sometimes they come after a draft is finished. Other times, they take place…
More Top Tips for Interviewing Instructional Designers
So, you’ve found a few promising candidates—now what? Interviewing instructional designers requires more than a list of generic questions. You want to dig deeper and discover how candidates think, solve problems, and communicate. Here are more tips on how to interview an instructional designer. In this part, we’ll walk through tips for preparing interview questions,…
Top Tips for Interviewing Instructional Designers
Need tips on interviewing and evaluating Instructional Designers? It’s not surprising. Hiring the right instructional designer is a big decision. Instructional design brings together writing, learning theory, visual design, and communication. Finding someone with the right mix of skills and experience can take time. At ProEdit, we’ve hired and worked alongside many instructional designers on…
History of Instructional Design: From Military Training to AI
Let’s explore the history of instructional design. Spoiler alert… it started with military training manuals, and now AI is shaping how we build smarter, faster learning systems. Instructional design didn’t start with software or online platforms. Its roots go back to the early 20th century, when educators and psychologists began thinking deeply about how people…
Planning a Technical Writing Project
Planning a technical writing project? Whether you’re a writer or managing a documentation team, starting with a clear documentation plan is a smart first step. This plan lays the foundation for your content and helps keep your entire project on track. A documentation plan gives an overview of the project from the writer’s point of…
Weird Facts about the English Language
You don’t have to look very far to find some real quirks in the English language. Here are some of our favorite English language peculiarities.
Ways to Break Writer’s Block
When your livelihood depends upon your ability to write, writer’s block is like a power outage. Your mind goes dark, and you have no idea when the lights will come back on. Here are 14 time-honored ways to break writer’s block: Bottom Line Writer’s block can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to last forever.…
Learning Management Systems: A 50,000-Foot View
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a smart way to manage your training programs. If you’re struggling to track who’s learning what—or how well—it may be time to look at an LMS. An LMS is software that tracks, delivers, and reports on training. It can manage in-person classes, e-learning, and on-the-job training. Most LMS platforms…
History of E-learning: From Overhead Projectors to AI
Let’s explore the history of e-learning. Spoiler alert…overhead projectors were cool, but what new AI-assisted e-learning platforms are helping us do these days is way cooler. E-learning didn’t start with apps, smartboards, or Zoom classes. Its roots go way back. Teaching with technology began long before computers were in classrooms. But just like technical writing,…
Text Artist Huy Lam
Vietnamese-born photographer and artist Huy Lam is a different kind of Word Person. He uses recurring words and phrases in tiny four-point type to create beautiful portraits of modern and historical icons. Check out some of the amazing work of text artist Huy Lam! Huy Lam’s version of Van Gogh’s famous self portrait looks pretty…
Wild St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
As you are enjoying your favorite wild St. Patrick’s Day traditions, you might enjoy reading about some of these. Erin go bragh! According to Discovery.com: Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade Hot Springs, Arkansas takes pride in hosting the shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. All 98 feet of Bridge Street, which was named the shortest street in the…
Don’t Read Today’s Blog Post!
Maybe telling people not to read your blog post is a lousy idea. It won’t help in actually getting people to read your blog post. But the point is made, nonetheless. You’re here. So whatever you do, don’t read today’s blog post! This week’s post is about how to write attention-getting titles for your blog…
13 Ridiculous Southern Expressions
Have you have ever spoken with anyone from ProEdit? If so, you quickly realized that most of us are from the South (ProEdit’s home base of Cumming, GA, specifically). Folks say we talk kinda funny. We think we sound quite normal. Here are 13 ridiculous southern expressions. Are they weird? You be the judge: Bonus: “Bless your…
April Is National Poetry Month!
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? The Academy of American Poets inaugurated National Poetry Month in 1996. It is held every April. This event is the “largest literary celebration in the world.” Schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrate poetry’s vital place in our culture. April is also springtime, and springtime is…
Celebrating the Google Doodle!
Who among us has not spent way too much time noodling with a Google Doodle? All of us! So of course we should take a little more time now to distract ourselves while celebrating the Google Doodle! These special, temporary alterations of the Google logo are often used to celebrate holidays, people, achievements, and events.…
10 Words That Don’t Mean What They Originally Did
English is a tricky language. You’re pretty sure you know what a word means, then you blink twice and its meaning has changed entirely. Want some examples? Here are 10 words that don’t mean what they originally did! Here are ten examples: Source: List25.comThe Guardian See also:More articles about People and Culture
20 Common Phrases to Know When Traveling Abroad
Traveling abroad this summer? Which phrases you should really learn before you say “bon voyage?” Never fear…here are 20 common phrases to know when traveling abroad. Consider writing the foreign translation next to the phrases below. This can help if you forget what you wanted to say. It is also useful if you are unable…
Learn Basic Sign Language
Wherever there are communities of deaf people, over time, sign languages have developed. Love and serve your deaf and partially deaf friends and neighbors by learning how to communicate with them! A common misconception is that all sign languages are the same worldwide or that sign language is international. Each country generally has its own…
Tools for Mlearning & How to Choose One
“Can I take this training course on my iPad? Smartphone? Tablet?” Many instructional designers have heard that question lately and wondered exactly how to get their course content to fit into a mobile learning environment. Instructional designers (IDs) need to know which tools are fast, friendly, and provide cross-platform functionality and support. Stop and consider…
Why You Should Outsource Your Company’s Blog Writing Needs
You know your business, but should you write about it? Find out why it pays to outsource your content writing needs.
Deck the Halls: A Festive, Furry Guide for Celebrating the Holidays with Pets
For many of us, our furry, scaly, and feathered friends are just as much a part of the family as anyone else. Of course, nothing can spoil holiday celebrations like a trip to the emergency veterinary clinic. This Q&A guide is full of tips (and purr-fect puns) you can use to keep the winter holiday…
Top Privacy Concern When Using Generative AI
The top privacy concern when using generative AI is that it isn’t actually AI. Yes, you read that correctly. What we now call artificial intelligence remains under active development. Generative AI systems and other AI technologies still show human biases and need human oversight. Developers continue to push advancements in AI at breakneck speed. Even…
Why Blogs Are (Still) a Great Investment
Blogging is more than just a fun hobby. When done correctly, a blog is a powerful marketing tool and sound investment for your business.
60 Years of STC: A Legacy in Technical Communication
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) helped technical writers for more than 60 years. It offered training, set standards, and brought people together. STC started in the 1950s and grew as the field of technical writing became more important. Over time, it faced many changes and challenges. This timeline shows how STC began, grew, and…
Funny Job Interview Spoof Videos!
Here are a few of our favorite funny job interview spoof videos. Enjoy! 1. Evil Panel Interview—Overly Negative Employer Applying Pressure on the Interviewer 2. The Origin of Job Interviews 3. IT Interviews Gone Wrong See also:Funny Job InterviewsMore funny videos
10 Hateful Words
Last week’s post was all about being positive. To be fair and balanced, this week’s post is about “10 hateful words.” Bah, humbug! Here’s the list. These words all begin with the Greek roots mis- and miso-, meaning “hatred” or “dislike of.” Source: Mental FlossThesaurus.com See also: More articles about Words
Translations Gone Wrong!
Some translations are done professionally and flawlessly. These were not. Welcome to Translations Gone Wrong!!! See also: More bad translations
History of the Mouse
First, there was a feather pen and an inkwell. Then came the typewriter. Now wordsmiths use a keyboard and mouse. But where did the mouse come from, and what will it look like in the future? Join us as we scroll through the history of the humble computer mouse. 1952 — First Trackball The Royal…
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