dokumentaationkaltaisen

Dokumentaationkaltaisen is a Finnish adjective meaning “documentation-like” or “resembling standard documentation.” It is used to describe texts, interfaces, or explanations that imitate the form, tone, and level of detail typical of official documentation rather than informal prose. The word functions as a modifier and is most often attached to nouns, adapting to Finnish grammar through various cases.

Etymology and form: The term is a compound derived from dokumentaatio (documentation) and the adjectival suffix -kaltaisen, which denotes resemblance—roughly, “like documentation.” As a result, the phrase may appear in various inflected forms to fit different grammatical contexts (for example, dokumentaationkaltaisen ohjeistuksen or dokumentaationkaltaisen käyttöohjeen).

Usage and nuances: Dokumentaationkaltaisen is commonly found in Finnish technical writing, UX discussions, and debates about manuals, API references, and help systems. It can carry a critical nuance when used to describe content that adheres to a templated, boilerplate style at the expense of clarity or usefulness. It is also used descriptively to distinguish between genuinely user-focused documentation and material that merely mimics it.

See also: In broader discourse, related concerns include documentation quality, user-centric design, and documentation as a design practice. The term remains a neologism and may appear primarily in specialized writing or online discussions.