--- title: "Writing Appreciation: A Container Explainer" url: "https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/writing-appreciation-a-container-explainer/" description: We break down the careful word choice that goes into creating a helpful explanation of a complex technology. image: "https://openstrategypartners.com/_assets/processed/ZHS1Q3-05iPjicov8JF8DluVZy5vixMP0uITm2YpqMY/q:85/w:1300/h:500/fn:Y3NtX2NhbWVyb24tdmVudGktMWNxSWNyV0ZRQkktdW5zcGxhc2hfMjNjMTViNzdkOV8zOGM5NThjYTE3:t/cb:c70b3a018e55448a5153544350f163b871735152/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvYmxvZy8yMDIxL2NhbWVyb24tdmVudGktMWNxSWNyV0ZRQkktdW5zcGxhc2hfMjNjMTViNzdkOS5qcGc" author: Open Strategy Partners date: 2022-06-17 modified: 2022-07-27 lastUpdated: 2025-05-19 keywords: - containers - clarity - better writing - devrel --- # Writing Appreciation: A Container Explainer 1. [Home](https://openstrategypartners.com/) 2. [Tools + Resources](https://openstrategypartners.com/resources/) 3. [The OSP Blog](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/) 4. Writing Appreciation: A Container Explainer [Writing & Editing](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/blog-data/tag/writing-editing/) 09. December 2021 - Team OSP Writing Appreciation: A Container Explainer =========================================== Today’s Writing Appreciation Corner highlights a container explainer pitched at just the right level. --- ### Writing Appreciation **Welcome to our Writing Appreciation series,** where we highlight great pieces of technology writing around the web! With these posts, we want to showcase "good" writing, explore what makes a piece of writing "good," and break down everyday "good" writing techniques for all of us. **Want to level up your writing skills? Check out our Writer Enablement workshops!** Containers defined for technical readers ---------------------------------------- This week’s piece of writing comes from the article, [A primer on containers](https://increment.com/containers/primer-on-containerization/) from the May 2021 edition of [Increment Magazine](https://increment.com/containers/). The section we’re looking at is in the second paragraph, right after the lede. What impressed us? The definition is in the right place. The article’s author wants to talk about possibilities for a containerized future, and in order to do that, first needs to articulate what containers are. It’s a technology magazine, so readers are already in the space but may not necessarily be totally au fait with containers. This definition lays a clear, simple foundation, using appropriate language—pitched at just the right level for its technical audience. [ ![Container graphic from original article](https://openstrategypartners.com/_assets/processed/z1Bae2UKQenzCTrnzCjXWVrR128DwZL82cAh1C-ePJA/q:85/c:288:288:fp:0.5:0.5/rt:force/w:80/h:80/fn:Y3NtX0NvbnRhaW5lckV4cGxhaW5lcl8yZDI4OWY1Njkz:t/cb:2bb4ba3e94b772719be897ca5399f7e9d8fa571a/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvYmxvZy8yMDIxL0NvbnRhaW5lckV4cGxhaW5lci5wbmc "Container graphic from original article") ](https://increment.com/containers/primer-on-containerization/) > “A container, in simple terms, is a bundle of everything an application needs in order to run, including libraries and dependencies. Unlike a virtual machine (VM), a container doesn’t include a full operating system kernel, relying instead on containerization platforms such as Docker, LXC, or rkt to get what it needs from the operating system layer. Containers can offer a range of benefits over VMs. For one, they generally use less memory and storage space when running applications. More broadly, they enable architecture that’s flexible and resilient, in which software runs consistently and scales smoothly.” > > – Nočnice Fee What makes this writing "good"? ------------------------------- Translating between complexity and value is a fundamental part of how we think and work at Open Strategy Partners. Effective strategic and product communication, in our view, is specific, clear, and approachable. Using the OSP Editing Codes, here’s what we think makes this paragraph so sweet: ### TERM *TERM: “Define technical terms directly in the article to make sure your audience (at relevant levels of experience) are all on the same page with you.”* This piece defines the term “container” **at the start of the article** to make sure the readers have a **shared understanding** of what containers are before progressing to comment on the future of containers. This shows respect for the audience, bringing all readers along and not excluding anyone by assuming a level of knowledge. ### CNECT *CNECT: “Use language that will connect with your target audience, but avoid jargon that will prevent non-experts from gaining value from your writing.”* Similar to TERM, but different, this code is about **the words you use** to explain something complex. This passage is defining a technical term, and so context here is crucial. [Increment](https://increment.com/containers/) is a magazine for a technical audience. The author **uses careful word choice to pitch the definition at just the right level** to connect with readers—coming in neither too high nor too low. Industry terms are included, like *libraries*, *kernel*, *platform,* and *layer*, but these words don’t prevent non-experts from gaining an understanding of what containers are. By choosing to come in at this level, the author establishes trustworthiness as a knowledgeable narrator, allowing less experienced readers to come along for the ride, and learn, looking up concepts if they need to. ### SPOCK *SPOCK: “Use clear, logical thinking. Check that all evidence is directly connected with a cause/effect relationship to the claim.”* The definition has a clear, logical, narrative progression. **It uses stepping stones of understanding to take the reader from point to point.** It begins with what a container is. The use of the phrase “in simple terms” flags that the author is reducing the complexity. The writer then talks about what a container is not (by comparing it with a virtual machine). Finally, a fleshed-out description of the benefits of containers help the reader understand why they should care. --- ### More OSP Editing Code Resources - [OSP editorial code Quick Start Guide](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/osp-editing-codes-quick-start-guide/) - [Base documentation](https://github.com/open-strategy-partners/editing-codes) and [full list of codes](https://github.com/open-strategy-partners/editing-codes/blob/main/codes.md) on GitHub - Writing and editing are a big part of our podcast, too! - [How we write and edit at OSP](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/how-we-write-and-edit-at-osp-podcast-01/) - [CRISP](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/crisp-the-osp-editorial-code-podcast-02/), the OSP Editing Code - [QUOTE](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/quote-the-osp-editorial-code-podcast-03/), the OSP Editing Code - [REPET](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/repet-the-osp-editorial-code-podcast-04/), the OSP Editing Code - [FRONT](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/front-the-osp-editorial-code-podcast-05/), the OSP Editing Code - [PAX](https://openstrategypartners.com/blog/pax-the-osp-editorial-code-podcast-06/), the OSP Editing Code [ ![](https://openstrategypartners.com/_assets/processed/gBDB2j80NvgSKAl_15YnNZvndhEaJwq7svxgvHCJmtI/q:85/w:400/h:225/fn:Y3NtX2NzbV9mcmFuY28tYW50b25pby1naW92YW5lbGxhLUx6eXM2cjF4RkQ4LXVuc3BsYXNoX2QxMGNjZTg2ZjNfNzJjNmE2YmFmOA:t/cb:f062c5196047ee4cbe65970598ef717479fe47ea/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvYmxvZy8yMDIxL2NzbV9mcmFuY28tYW50b25pby1naW92YW5lbGxhLUx6eXM2cjF4RkQ4LXVuc3BsYXNoX2QxMGNjZTg2ZjMucG5n) ](https://openstrategypartners.com/_assets/processed/v1KYkG9ndn54LFXJr_BoWYnmSh3h7FOPhUOM8zehYlo/q:85/w:860/h:484/fn:Y3NtX2NzbV9mcmFuY28tYW50b25pby1naW92YW5lbGxhLUx6eXM2cjF4RkQ4LXVuc3BsYXNoX2QxMGNjZTg2ZjNfNmFlMWNjMGRmOA:t/cb:f062c5196047ee4cbe65970598ef717479fe47ea/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvYmxvZy8yMDIxL2NzbV9mcmFuY28tYW50b25pby1naW92YW5lbGxhLUx6eXM2cjF4RkQ4LXVuc3BsYXNoX2QxMGNjZTg2ZjMucG5n) What to appreciate next? ------------------------ Do you have an example of good, clear writing about technology that you’d like to share? [Get in touch!](https://openstrategypartners.com/contact-us) Look ahead to more posts and, in the meantime, listen to our Communicate, Connect, Grow podcast to learn more about OSP’s editing codes. Want to learn tools and techniques to consistently create authentic, compelling content? Check out our Writer Enablement workshops. [I want to level up my writing skills!](https://openstrategypartners.com/workshops/writer-enablement) ### Follow along! Follow us on Twitter — [@open\_strategy](https://twitter.com/open_strategy) — and here on our blog. Subscribe to our podcast, “[Communicate, Connect, Grow,](https://openstrategypartners.com/osp-launches-podcast)” via [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1571261382), [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/3JRgwdSRC8knAdkMrU6jOb), [RSS Feed](https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1759592.rss), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK1FgQnuVwknf_CWenjZSMw), or wherever your ears listen! --- **Image Credits:** Shipping container photo by [Cameron Venti](https://unsplash.com/@ventiviews?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText). 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