Gerald J. Alred is professor of English at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, where he teaches courses in professional writing and directs the Graduate Certificate Program in International Technical Communication. He received the 2004 Jay R. Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Communication from the Society for Technical Communication. He is also the author of the annotated bibliography “Essential Works on Technical Communication,” which appeared in the 50th anniversary issue of Technical Communication.

Charles T. Brusaw is a business-writing consultant for corporations worldwide. He worked for twenty years as a technical writer for the NCR Corporation and has also worked in advertising, public relations, and curriculum development.

Walter E. Oliu until recently served as Chief of the Publishing Services Branch at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He is a communications consultant in the Washington, D.C., area and has taught at Miami University of Ohio, Slippery Rock State University, and Montgomery College.

All three are co-authors of The Business Writer’s Handbook, Eighth Edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006); The Business Writer’s Companion, Fourth Edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005); Writing That Works, Eighth Edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004); and The Technical Writer’s Companion, Third Edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002).