Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDA3_5982h8&feature=youtu.be

This video highlights the use of plain language and how instantly instructions can get misread if they are not. One of the issues exemplified is the way people always resort to the use of presumed knowledge or situation, which does not necessarily come to everyone alike. For example, telling somebody to “spread it around” presumes you mean the peanut butter, not bread itself, but should be read literally, that action can yield side-splitting and erroneous results. It shows how vagueness leads to confusion, and with no precise, step-by-step directions, it is possible to do things totally wrong.

This is directly connected to the Technical Description assignment because that assignment is also about offering precise, unambiguous descriptions on how something works or how something is done. As in the video, I am able to skip a step or take for granted what they already know, and they might not be able to track my description or use the product I am describing in a mistaken manner. Witnessing this made me value how clever it is to imagine myself in the shoes of the reader—specifically a reader unfamiliar with the topic.

The video definitely made me think more about technical communication. I used to believe that if the general idea is there, then others would understand, but now I know that every word matters. The slightest lack of detail can cause errors or misinterpretations. It was a funny video, but it truly showed how crucial it is to be precise and detailed in writing technically, especially when others are counting on those instructions to get something done correctly.