Test Yourself: Best Practices Quiz

Eight quick questions covering the best practices in this guide. Pick your answer, then open it to check. Tick the box for each one you got right to track your score.

1. What should you define before you start writing?
  1. The page layout
  2. The reader and their goal
  3. The number of screenshots
Show answer

✅ B. Every other decision depends on who reads it and what they want to do. Know your audience ›

2. Which sentence follows plain-language rules?
  1. The report is generated by the system.
  2. It should be noted that reports can be generated.
  3. The system generates the report.
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✅ C. Active voice, no filler. Plain language ›

3. Which heading is best?
  1. Settings
  2. Configure email notifications
  3. Miscellaneous information
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✅ B. It names the reader's goal. Structure for scanning ›

4. How many actions belong in one procedure step?
  1. One
  2. Up to three
  3. As many as fit in a sentence
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✅ A. One action per step, with the result shown after key steps. Write procedures ›

5. Your docs say "sign in", "log in", and "log on". What's the fix?
  1. Use all three for variety
  2. Pick one term that matches the UI and use it everywhere
  3. Explain that they mean the same thing
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✅ B. One concept, one term. Consistency and style ›

6. When is a screenshot the right choice?
  1. On every page, to make it look better
  2. When the reader needs to find a specific UI element
  3. Instead of writing the steps
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✅ B. Visuals should show what words can't, next to the text they support. Visuals ›

7. A warning appears in 14 topics. What should you use?
  1. A snippet
  2. A variable
  3. Copy and paste
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✅ A. A snippet: write and review it once, reuse it everywhere. Reuse content ›

8. Which link text is accessible?
  1. Click here
  2. More
  3. See Export options
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✅ C. Link text should describe where it goes. Accessibility ›

Your score

Tick each question you answered correctly:

What does my score mean?

7–8: Excellent — you're ready to review others' writing.
5–6: Solid — revisit the topics for the questions you missed.
0–4: Start with Know your audience and work through the guide in order.