The Anti-Buzzwords Revolution: Why Technical Writing in 2025 Is About Clarity, Not Clout

Here we are, 2025, and the tech world is buzzing louder than ever. ChatGPT drafts your emails. AI personalizes your content. Documentation portals boast augmented reality walkthroughs and holographic avatars. Impressive? Sure. Necessary? Rarely.

In the field of technical writing, there’s a growing temptation to keep up with every new gimmick. But at MATC Group, we’re saying enough with the noise.

Our philosophy for 2025? Focus on what matters: clarity, usability, and delivering content that solves problems. It’s no wonder 80 percent of our clients hire us again. Technical writing isn’t about dazzling readers with flashy features; it’s about helping people understand and use your products efficiently and effectively.

Trends Are Cool Until They’re Not

Let’s unpack some of today’s most hyped trends:

• AI-generated documentation that adapts to user personas in real time.
• Voice-activated help systems—because who doesn’t want Alexa narrating debugging instructions?
• Immersive AR manuals so users can “step inside” a virtual product guide.

Sure, these trends sound exciting and can sometimes be useful. But they often miss the point. The best documentation isn’t necessarily the flashiest—it’s the one that helps users solve their problems, fast.

Take it from us: a well-crafted PDF or a clean, intuitive web page will often outperform a cutting-edge tool that’s confusing, over-engineered, or out of touch with user needs.

What Users (and Customers) Actually Want

Let’s get real: your customers don’t care if your documentation is AI-curated or hologram-supported. What they care about is this:

1. Can I find the information I need?
2. Is it easy to understand?
3. Will it help me fix my problem or complete my task?

At MATC, we understand these priorities because we live them. Our approach to technical writing revolves around user-first design, rooted in the belief that content should make people’s lives easier—not more complicated.

For example, we updated standard operating procedures (SOPs) for one company so that they both have the most up-to-date information and are easy for anyone to understand. Now that customer service representatives can more easily find and quickly understand the information, their response time has decreased by 20 percent.

Why We’re Embracing the Anti-Trend Trend

This year, instead of chasing every shiny object, we’re doubling down on the fundamentals that MATC has championed for years:

• User-first design. Every document we create starts with the user’s perspective. What do they need? What are their pain points?
• Clear, concise language. No jargon, no fluff—just plain language that anyone can follow.
• Intuitive structure. Tables of contents, headers, and clear navigation still matter, no matter how flashy the platform.
• Practical formats. Whether it’s a troubleshooting guide, an FAQ, or a detailed API doc, we choose the format that fits the content—not the trendiest option.

By sticking to these principles, we don’t just create documentation; we build tools that empower users.

Measurement Matters

You know what’s cooler than AI-assisted documentation? Proving that your docs actually work.

In 2025, our focus is on metrics that drive results:

• Search success rates. Are users finding what they need quickly?
• Task completion rates. Can users achieve their goals with the documentation provided?
• Feedback loops. What do users love? What confuses them? We constantly refine our work based on real-world insights.

At MATC, this commitment to continuous improvement is more than a process—it’s a promise. And it’s why our clients stick with us.

 
The Art of Restraint in Tech Writing

One of our favorite skills as technical writers in 2025 is knowing when to say no.

• No, we don’t need a chatbot for FAQs that are already clearly listed.
• No, users don’t want a gamified troubleshooting guide.
• No, AI isn’t always better than a well-crafted, human-written article.

By saying no to unnecessary complexity, we say yes to clarity, usability, and efficiency.

What We’re Doing Instead

Here’s how our anti-trend approach works at MATC:

1. Know your audience. User personas guide everything we write, from tone to format.
2. Prioritize clarity over cleverness. We write for understanding, not for accolades.
3. Make it easy to find. Searchable, scannable, and intuitive navigation is key.
4. Choose simplicity. If a static web page solves the problem, we don’t overcomplicate it.
5. Focus on feedback. Regular user testing ensures our docs remain effective and relevant.

The Beauty of Doing What Works

Here’s the thing about flashy trends: they’re fleeting. What users need—clear, accurate, and actionable documentation—never changes. By focusing on what works, we’re creating content that:

• Helps users solve problems faster.
• Reduces frustration and support tickets.
• Delivers real ROI for our clients.

Trends We’re Excited About

We’re energized by the advancements in AI-driven authoring tools and adaptive content strategies. At MATC, we leverage technologies like structured content management systems and platforms that support multi-channel publishing, ensuring documentation remains consistent and easily updated. This aligns perfectly with our clients’ needs, whether they’re modernizing legacy systems or creating scalable solutions for rapidly evolving industries.

Final Thoughts: Less Flash, More Function

In 2025, the most revolutionary thing we can do as technical writers is stick to our roots. While others chase the latest tools and buzzwords, we’re here crafting documentation that’s been making users’ lives easier for decades.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about being trendy. It’s about being useful. And that’s a trend that will never go out of style.

Related Blogs

5 Scary Mistakes Technical Writers Make and How to Vanquish Them

AI Tools Save Time — But have Shortcomings

Technical Writing: Principles and Characteristics

Resources

“10 Technical Writing Tips Every Writer Needs to Know.” Creatives On Call. Accessed 12/11/24. https://creativesoncall.com/insights/10-technical-writing-tips-every-writer-needs-to-know 

Jobs, Steve. “Steve Jobs – Start with the Customer Experience.” [clip from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, 1997]. YouTube. 2/12/22. Accessed 12/11/24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGIUa2sSYFI 

“Technical Writing Quotes.” Goodreads. Accessed 12/11/24. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/technical-writing