Nature of Technical
Writing
Aris Pet Angeli A. Suarez
Technical Writing
• Skill in writing technical reports is an invaluable asset
not only in college but also in the professions. As the
country's industrialization program grows space, skill in
this type of writing will be a highly vital personal asset,
not only in business and industry but also in science and
technology as well as in the government service.
Nature of Technical Writing
Technical writing is communication, which is written for
and addressed to specific entities or individuals to attain
desired objectives. It is a communication in the field of
business, industry, trade, science, technology,
engineering, and government.
The main objective is to convey a specific piece of
information for a specific purpose to a specific reader or
group of readers. It is a writing that involves special
knowledge. The specific information is technical, that is,
it is the formal aspect of the field above, written from a
specific point of view.
Purpose of Technical Writing
1. To inform. It is written to make another person
understand or do something. It is designed to fulfill a need
to tell and the need to know.
2. To analyze events and their implications. It will
explain how certain systems failed. This system may
include education, socioeconomic, political and the
needed change.
3. To persuade and influence decisions. It will show how
the business or an industry succeeds.
Technical writing is ideally characterized by the
maintenance of impartial e and objectivity, by extreme
care to convey information accurately and concisely and
by the absence of any attempt to arouse emotions.
Functions of Technical Writing
• 1. To serve as a basis for management decision
• 2. To furnish needed information
• 3. To give instructions
• 4. To explain techniques
• 5. To report achievements
• 6. To analyze problem areas
• 7. To determine design and system requirements
• 8. To serve as the basis for public relation
• 9. To provide report to the stockholders of companies
• 10.To develop a product
• 11.To provide service
• 12.To record business through proposals
Basic Principles of Effective Technical
Writing
1. Understanding the reader
2. Knowing the purpose of each article or report
3. Knowing the subject matter
4. Organizing the material
5. Writing objectively
6. Using Correct Format
7. Adopting ethical standards
Style in Technical Writing
1. Be selective, focus on the essential information and the
significant detail.
2. Develop a clean, direct style; avoid inflated language and
scrambling sentences
3. Use examples and comparison to clarify descriptions and
explanations.
4. Repeat words and phrases for clarity or emphasis or to
ease transitions, but avoid needless repetition.
5. Delete unnecessary words and phrases, but avoid
shortcuts that sacrifice meaning.
Sentence Structure and Length
Technical writing should use the natural word order,
simple sentence structure and good short sentences. Since
technical subject matter requires the use of complex,
technical vocabulary and expression of complex ideas, the
use of shorter words and sentences, simple in structure,
will help a lot in the readability of difficult material.
Paragraph Structure and Length
• In technical writing, the topic sentence should come first
in the paragraph or at the very latest part after whatever
transitional sentences appear.
Scientific Attitude
Judicious weighing of evidence is very important in a
technical report. The best evidence is one which is the
most ample, the most pertinent and the simplest in
explaining the facts with the least additional evidence and
most in harmony with the rest of the available evidence.
The conclusion or recommendation should include all the
evidence in which the judgment is made.
Generalizations
• When the technical writer makes generalizations, he is giving
probable conclusions derived from the observation of factors.
Since the report is based on generalizations, it is necessary to
describe the circumstances surrounding the report. Provide enough
evidence, data and samples to enable the reader to evaluate the
generalizations for himself.
Other attributes of good Technical Report
Writing
Appropriateness
Functional
Informative
Factual
Efficient
Correct
The Role of Technical Writer
• A good technical writer possesses insights, perceptiveness quick
to determine probabilities and the ability to adapt requirements.
He can identify developments that may affect his project.
• The technical writer must understand the nature of his work. He
should be able to help his principles attain the target objectives.
He must not only possess that technical writing ability and
technical expertise, he must also have the capability to grasp,
analyze, and interpret unexpected events and situations that
occurred during the writing of the technical report.
Hallmarks of an effective Technical Writer
• R – resourceful
• E – energetic
• P – patient
• O – observant
• R – responsible
• T – trustworthy
• E – evaluative
• R - responsive
The Holistic Guide to technical Writing
• Accuracy • Judgement • Revision
• Brevity • Knowledge • Straight Sentences
• Confidence • Logic • Thoroughness Unity
• Dignity • Mechanical • View Point
• Facility neatness • Word choice
• Emphasis • Normal Procedure • Zest
• Honesty • Objectivity
• Illustration • Normal Procedure
• Planning
Qualification
End Products of Technical Writing
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