Definition of Technical Writing

Technical writing is a type of writing where the author is writing about a particular subject that
requires direction, instruction, or explanation. This style of writing has a very different purpose and
different characteristics than other writing styles such as creative writing, academic writing or
business writing.
Technical writing is straightforward, easy to understand explanations and/or instructions dealing
with a particular subject. It is an efficient and clear way of explaining something and how it works.
The subject of technical writing can either be:
 Tangible - Something that can be seen or touched, such as a computer or software program, or
information on how to assemble a piece of furniture.
 Abstract - Something that involved a series of steps that aren't related to a tangible object. One
example of this might be steps required to complete an office process.
Some examples of technical writing include:
 Instruction manuals
 Policy manuals
 Process manuals
 User manuals
 Reports of analysis
 Instructions for assembling a product
 A summarization of a long report that highlights and shortens the most important elements

Tips for Good Technical Writing

Regardless of the type of document which is written, technical writing requires the writer to follow
the properties of knowing their audience, writing in a clear, non-personal style and doing extensive
research on the topic. By including these properties, the writer can create clear instructions and
explanations for the reader.
 Know your audience. An expert in the field will understand certain abbreviations, acronyms,
and lingo that directly applies to such a field. The novice will not understand in the same
manner and, therefore, every detail must be explained and spelled out for them.
 Use an impersonal style. Write from a third person perspective, like a teacher instructing a
student. Any opinions should be omitted.
 The writing should be straightforward, to the point, and as simple as possible to make sure the
reader understands the process or instruction. This at times may appear as simply a list of steps
to take to achieve the desired goal or may be a short or lengthy explanation of a concept or
abstract idea.
 Know how to research. Gather information from a number of sources, understand the
information gathered so that it can be analyzed thoroughly, and then put the information into
an easy to understand format to instruct those who read it. The more inexperienced your
audience, the more information you will need to gather and explain.
 Be thorough in description and provide enough detail to make your points; but, you also have
to consider that you need to use an economy of words so that you do not bore your reader
with gratuitous details.
A good technical writer can make a difficult task easy and can quickly explain a complex piece of
information.

Characteristics of Technical Writing

Knowing the characteristics of technical writing is very important if you are a person that is
interested in writing professionally. There are many different types of writing and each type has a
purpose. Technical writing is different from other types of writing in that it is more informative. The
purpose of this type of writing is to explain a variety of topics to other people. Technical writing is
commonly seen in how to manuals and other pieces that provide direction. Learning the
characteristics of technical writing is essential if you want to build a successful writing career.

Characteristics of Technical Writing

Technical writing, just as any other form of writing, has certain characteristics which distinguish it
from other types of writing. It is very different from writing opinion pieces, essays, prose, non-
fiction or fiction.
 It is clear and straight forward. If you are interested in technical writing for professional
purposes, it is very important to know that this type of writing requires that the writer stick to
the subject matter and relay information in a clear and concise manner.
 The language is very direct and straight to the point. The writing will avoid words that people
do not understand and will avoid an eloquent writing style.
 It is very detailed and informative. The perfect example of technical writing is a textbook. The
written content of most textbooks is geared to providing information by describing the subject
matter as fully as possible.
 It is very structured. This type of writing has a very obvious composition that makes it easy for
the reader to follow along. Solid structure is needed with technical writing as it allows the
audience to easily access the information as needed.

Purpose & Uses of Technical Writing

Every type of writing has a goal. There are some forms of writing that are geared to telling a story
and there are other forms of writing that are geared to expressing opinions.
The main purpose of technical writing is to provide sometimes complex information. This is the type
of writing that will:
 Assist a person with understanding more about a particular item, such as a computer or a new
drug or a new piece of technology.
 Explain how an object works or how to complete a project.
Technical writing is targeted to readers who are looking for information on a particular topic. The
goal in targeting this group is to make sure that the information provided is clear, concise and easy
for anyone to understand.
This type of writing is somewhat difficult for some people as it requires that you are able to
translate information that is sometimes hard to comprehend into terms that anyone will be able to
read and follow along with, without an issue. While there are different types of writing that are
informative, technical writing is the type that most clearly focuses on presenting information in a
specific way so that people can use the information for a variety of purposes.

Uses
With understanding the characteristics of technical writing, you can better comprehend how
this type of writing is used. Technical writing is found everywhere. There are a variety of different
types of writing which use a technical style.
For example, instructions of all sorts are a perfect example of technical writing.
 When you open up an instruction manual, as the reader, the goal is to be informed about the
product so that you can use it as efficiently as possible.
 Lab reports are another example of technical writing. The main purpose of a lab report is to
explain the occurrences in a lab so that others will be able to gain information.
 Driving directions can be considered a type of technical writing as the goal is to clearly and
efficiently provide instructions on how to go from point A to point B.
Overall, technical writing is a very useful form of writing that is encountered by everyone almost
every day.

Forms/Examples of Technical Writing

Assignments
Technical writing is writing that is done for the purpose of educating, informing or directing
someone on how to do something. Technical writing is significantly different than other types of
writing such as narrative, because technical writing is intended to impart to the reader some
specific skill or ability. Technical writing isn't for everyone. It is often very detail-oriented and
usually involves writing within fields where some advanced knowledge is required. When given a
technical writing assignment, it also must be approached in a certain way in order for you to be
successful.

Forms of Technical Writing

Technical writing assignments normally take one of three forms:
 End user documentation
 Traditional technical writing
 Technological marketing communications
End User Documentation
 Writing a manual that accompanies a cell phone
 Writing a manual teaching home computer uses how to set up a basic home networking system
 Writing a how-to guide for using laptops
Traditional Technical Writing
 Writing an analysis of a legal case for other lawyers
 Writing up a summary of a series of medical experiments to be published in a journal of
medicine
 Writing an article for a trade publication
Technological Marketing Communications
 Writing a sales pitch to a new potential client about a new type of computer hardware or
software
 Writing informative articles for the web that show businesses that using a particular IT
consulting service can save them money

Types of Technical Writing Assignments

Technical writing is used in a large variety of fields such as engineering, computer hardware and
software, chemistry, and biotechnology. You can also find everyday examples of technical writing in
owner's manuals, employee handbooks, and in articles on the web.
Some examples of technical writing assignments include:
 Training manuals
 Operations guides
 Promotional brochures
 Online articles
Training Manuals
A technical writer may be assigned to compile information for a company or job training manual. In
the manual, the writer may be required to outline:
 General information
 Company policies
 Standard operating procedures
 Duties required to be fulfilled by a given position
 Training manuals and other company documents can usually be categorized as end-user
documentation.
Operations Guides
When a writer is asked to write an operations guide, they are expected to have a working
knowledge of the topic or area about which they are writing.
It is important that they keep in mind that the people who will be using their guide will likely be a
beginner and will therefore need detailed and concise instructions for the subject that is being
covered. This could refer to any of the following types of guides:
 Assembly instructions
 Installation guides
 Owner's manuals
 Computer software guides
 Engineering guides
Operations guides typically fall under the traditional technical writing category, but, in some cases,
could also be considered end-user documentation.

Promotional Brochures
A technical writer who writes promotional brochures and other technological marketing pieces will
be required to not only inform a potential customer of the offer being made, but to entice them to
want to avail of it through the use of key phrases and words.

Online Articles
Another type of technical writing is found in online articles. There is a wealth of information
available on the Internet. Millions of people browse search engines and read through articles they
find for instructions, guides, and to understand different things.
Technical writing, in this case, could vary from articles on how to assemble a crib to articles with
detailed medical advice or historical information. This area of technical writing can fall into any of
the three categories of technical writing.

Expository Writing vs. Technical Writing

Expository writing and technical writing make up the majority of the text that we see in our
everyday lives. There is a big difference between the two. Expository writing shares thoughts,
opinions, and fleshed-out concepts, while technical writing is usually aimed to get someone to
follow directions or understand a procedure.

Expository Writing: Why It Is Used

Expository writing is understood to be the standard academic analytical writing that is used in a
lot of academic settings. Exposing and analyzing trends in prose is the stylistic technique of
expository writing, and when compared with technical writing, it can be much more digressive,
creative, and artistic.
It is a style of choice for persuading someone to agree with a certain opinion or to style an
argument. The facts are not of the primary importance in expository writing - although they are
a critical part of the genre, most of the emphasis is on deriving how something works through
analysis, explanation, and exposition.
Essays for your Standard English and Philosophy classes are often in the style of expository
writing. These papers can be easily understood by laypeople and can be extremely opinionated
or creative in nature.

Technical Writing: Why It Is Used

Simply put, technical writing is used as efficient and clear way of explaining a product or
technical aspect of production and how it works. Although the average many cannot
understand this style and all of the jargon involved in this genre, technical writing is the
preferred style by many industries.
Technical writing is meant to get facts across to its reader base. It is commonly read by a group
of people with a shared, advanced knowledge of a particular subject. These essays are focused
on explaining something or some process in an industry, such as the product manufacturing
procedure, the testing protocols, and giving the facts of an industry report.
Instead of constructing an argument to share facts, like expository writing, technical writing is
geared towards clearly and succinctly giving the data in an impersonal way. You can count on
technical writing to sound more like a textbook than an expository essay.

Comparing Expository and Technical Writing

Technical writing is often data-based while expository writing is focused on proving an
argument to be true or exposing information that will be part of a persuasive essay.
Technical writing is often ridden with jargon and other vocabulary and is intended to be
understood by a smaller audience with a special knowledge base while Expository writing is
meant to be understood by a wider audience and is meant to convince people that your
opinions and analysis are qualitatively right and logically sound.