Real examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing (and how to fix them)

1. Examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing you see every day

Before talking theory, let’s start with what this looks like in the wild. Here are a few real-world examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing that almost everyone has bumped into:

• A recipe that says “cook until done” with no time, temperature, or visual cues.
• A coding tutorial that jumps from “create a new project” to a full working app with no explanation of the files in between.
• A software guide that says “click the button” when the screen has six buttons.
• A DIY project that shows a beautiful final photo but never mentions safety gear or what to do if something goes wrong.

These are not rare edge cases. They are everyday examples of how tutorials fail readers: missing steps, vague language, no error handling, and no sense of who the tutorial is actually for.

Let’s break down the best examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing and talk about how to fix each one.

2. Skipping steps and assuming knowledge

One of the most painful examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing is the invisible step—the thing the author knows so well they forget to mention it.

Real example:
You’re reading a Photoshop tutorial that says:

“Open your image, duplicate the layer, and apply the blur filter.”

If you’re new, you might be stuck on three things:

• How do I open an image in Photoshop?
• What does “duplicate the layer” mean, and where is that option?
• Which blur filter? There are several.

The writer assumed a baseline of knowledge but never said what that baseline was. This is especially common in coding tutorials, where authors jump from “install Python” to “now build a REST API” with nothing in between.

How to fix it:

• State who the tutorial is for: “This guide assumes you already know how to open an image and work with layers in Photoshop.”
• Add micro-steps for genuinely new users: “Go to File → Open, choose your image, then click Open.”
• Offer links to prerequisite skills instead of re-teaching everything.

The Harvard Writing Center emphasizes audience awareness as a foundation of good writing. Tutorials are no different: if you don’t say who you’re writing for, you’ll either bore advanced users or lose beginners.

3. Vague instructions and fuzzy language

Another classic example of common mistakes in tutorial writing is language that sounds fine on the page but is impossible to act on.

Real examples include:

• “Use a small amount of glue.” How small? A dot? A teaspoon?
• “Tighten the screws, but not too tight.” How tight is too tight?
• “Let the dough rest until it looks right.” Right to whom?

This kind of vagueness forces the reader to guess. In areas like health, safety, or engineering, guessing can be dangerous. Even in everyday situations, it leads to frustration and inconsistent results.

How to fix it:

• Replace fuzzy terms with measurable or observable ones: time, temperature, size, number of clicks.
• Add visual or physical cues: “Tighten until the screw head is flush with the surface, not sinking below it.”
• Use ranges instead of single perfect values: “Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.”

Health and science communicators are trained to be precise for exactly this reason. The CDC’s health communication guidelines stress clear, concrete wording—tutorial writers should steal that playbook.

4. Overloading readers with jargon and unexplained terms

A very common example of bad tutorial writing is the jargon dump: using niche vocabulary without explaining it.

Real example:
A beginner web dev tutorial says:

“We’ll set up a simple CRUD app with JWT authentication, then deploy it to a VPS using Docker and Nginx.”

If your reader is new, they just saw a wall of letters and brand names. This is one of the best examples of how tutorials lose people in the first paragraph.

How to fix it:

• Introduce one new term at a time and define it in plain language.
• Use analogies: “Think of JWTs like stamped tickets that prove you’re allowed in.”
• Provide a mini-glossary or link to a trusted explainer (for example, a university CS department page).

Using technical terms isn’t wrong. Failing to translate them for your intended audience is.

5. No context, no goal, no “why”

Many examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing have nothing to do with grammar or formatting—they’re about purpose. The tutorial launches straight into steps without explaining:

• What you’ll build or achieve.
• Why it matters.
• When you should or shouldn’t use this method.

Real example:
A data tutorial starts:

“First, open Excel and import your CSV file.”

But it never says what the end result will be. A chart? A cleaned dataset? A dashboard? The reader has no sense of where they’re headed.

How to fix it:

• Start with a clear outcome: “By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a bar chart showing monthly sales by region.”
• Mention when this approach is appropriate: “Use this method for small datasets (under 10,000 rows). For larger ones, consider a database or Python.”
• Tie it to real-world use: workplace, school, personal project.

Adult learning research (see resources from the U.S. Department of Education) repeatedly shows that learners stay engaged when they understand the relevance of what they’re doing. Tutorials without context feel like busywork.

6. Walls of text and poor structure

Even if your content is accurate, you can still create terrible user experiences. Some of the worst examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing are purely structural:

• Long paragraphs with multiple actions crammed together.
• No headings, no subheadings, no logical breaks.
• Steps buried in narrative paragraphs.

Real example:
A home repair tutorial explains how to fix a leaky faucet in one giant paragraph, mixing safety warnings, tools, steps, and troubleshooting all in the same block of text. The reader can’t scan, can’t find their place, and can’t tell what to do next.

How to fix it:

• Break each action into its own short paragraph or bullet-style step (even if you don’t number them).
• Use descriptive subheadings like “Shut off the water supply” or “Remove the old cartridge.”
• Highlight warnings and prerequisites before the first step.

Good structure is not decoration—it’s how readers navigate. Think of your tutorial like a map, not a stream-of-consciousness diary.

7. Outdated screenshots, interfaces, and data (a growing 2024–2025 problem)

In 2024–2025, one of the best examples of tutorials aging badly is the outdated screenshot. Software updates constantly, but tutorials often don’t.

Real examples include:

• A Zoom tutorial showing menus from three versions ago.
• A mobile app guide using Android 9 screenshots while most users are on Android 13 or iOS 17.
• A social media tutorial referencing features that were removed years back.

Readers end up thinking they’re doing something wrong when, in reality, the product just changed.

How to fix it:

• Add a “Last updated” date at the top of your tutorial.
• Describe actions by both label and location: “Click Share in the top-right corner,” so readers can adapt if the button style changes.
• Review high-traffic tutorials on a schedule (for example, every 6–12 months) and refresh screenshots and wording.

Authoritative health and science sites like Mayo Clinic are good models here: they date their content and update it regularly so readers know how current the information is.

8. Ignoring errors, edge cases, and “what if it doesn’t work?”

Another painful example of common mistakes in tutorial writing is pretending everything will go perfectly. In real life, it doesn’t.

Real examples include:

• A coding tutorial that never mentions what to do if you get a permissions error or a missing library.
• A home DIY guide that doesn’t say what to do if you strip a screw or realize a wall is not level.
• A health-related how-to that doesn’t say when to stop and call a professional.

Readers feel abandoned the moment something unexpected happens.

How to fix it:

• Include a short troubleshooting section after major steps: “If you see error X, try Y.”
• Mention common pitfalls you’ve personally hit while testing.
• In anything touching health or safety, clearly state when to seek expert help and point to trusted sources like NIH or CDC.

Good tutorials don’t just show the happy path; they support readers through the messy reality.

9. Writing for algorithms instead of humans (AI-fluff, keyword stuffing, and filler)

In the last few years, we’ve seen a surge of AI-generated tutorials. Some are helpful; many are not. A modern example of common mistakes in tutorial writing is content that clearly exists for search engines, not people.

Real examples include:

• Overlong intros that repeat the same phrase (“In this tutorial, we will…”) five times.
• Obvious keyword stuffing: “In these examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing, we will show examples of how examples include…”
• Generic, high-level advice with no screenshots, commands, or concrete steps.

Readers can feel this instantly. They bounce, they don’t trust the brand, and they search elsewhere.

How to fix it:

• Write the tutorial first for clarity, then lightly optimize for SEO.
• Use your target keyword in natural sentences, not copy-paste blocks.
• Add real details: menus, code snippets, settings, before/after states.

Search engines are increasingly tuned to user behavior—time on page, scroll depth, back button behavior. Tutorials that people actually finish are more likely to rank over time.

10. No summary, no recap, no next step

A subtle but common example of weak tutorial writing is the abrupt ending. You follow all the steps, then the article just… stops.

Real example:
A video editing tutorial ends right after exporting the file, with no recap and no suggestion of what to learn next. The viewer is left thinking, “Okay, I did it. Now what?”

How to fix it:

• Add a short recap of what the reader just did: “You imported footage, trimmed clips, added transitions, and exported a 1080p video.”
• Suggest logical next tutorials: “Next, try color correction” or “Here’s how to add captions.”
• Offer a quick checklist the reader can save.

This tiny bit of structure helps learners feel a sense of completion and momentum.

11. Pulling it together: Better habits for 2024–2025 tutorial writers

When you look across all these examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing, some patterns stand out:

• Authors forget what it feels like to be new.
• They write to impress peers instead of helping learners.
• They skip testing their own instructions with real people.

If you want to avoid becoming another example of a frustrating tutorial, build these habits into your process:

• Test with one real user. Ask a friend or coworker in your target audience to follow your tutorial without help. Watch where they get stuck.
• Write while you do the task. Don’t rely on memory. Document each step as you perform it.
• Use plain language. Pretend you’re explaining it to a smart 15-year-old who has never seen this tool before.
• Update on a schedule. Especially for software and anything time-sensitive.

Tutorials are how a lot of people learn skills today—coding, cooking, home repair, even managing health conditions (ideally with guidance from professionals and sites like WebMD or Mayo Clinic). When you write a good one, you’re not just publishing content. You’re teaching someone to do something they couldn’t do yesterday.

FAQ: Examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing

Q1. What are some quick examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing?
Some fast examples include skipping setup steps, using vague phrases like “do it carefully,” relying on outdated screenshots, dumping jargon without explanation, ignoring error handling, and ending without a recap or next steps.

Q2. Can you give an example of a bad tutorial introduction?
Yes. A weak intro might say, “In this tutorial, we’ll talk about Excel. Excel is a spreadsheet tool used by many people. Spreadsheets are very useful.” It doesn’t say what you’ll build, who it’s for, or what problem it solves. A stronger intro would be: “In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a monthly budget in Excel, even if you’ve never used formulas before.”

Q3. How many screenshots or visuals should I use in a tutorial?
There’s no fixed number, but a good rule is: add a visual whenever the reader has to make a choice on a screen with multiple options. If the interface changes often, pair screenshots with clear text labels so readers can adapt when things look slightly different.

Q4. What are examples of overusing jargon in tutorials?
Examples include writing “instantiate a dependency-injected singleton” when your audience is new developers, or “apply a topical corticosteroid to the affected area” for general readers. In both cases, you need simpler phrasing and, when appropriate, links to trusted medical or technical references.

Q5. How do I know if my tutorial is too advanced for beginners?
Look for hidden assumptions. If you’re using terms, tools, or shortcuts you never explain, that’s a red flag. A good test is to ask someone in your target audience to follow the tutorial. If they keep saying, “Wait, how did you do that?” you’ve just found live examples of common mistakes in tutorial writing inside your own work.