Why Technical Writing?
Technical writing is perhaps those forms of writing you will never be taught in class. It takes dedication, commitment, and the desire to specialize in the field to realize success. Typically, technical writing focuses on products and services because it aims to educate and inform your audience or target group on how your services work or how to perform a particular operation.
Unlike other writing forms like report writing, technical writing looks to impart a specific skill to the end-user. Therefore, it is often detailed and requires expertise in the said area.
Note that it’s not also best written by in-house writes. Out of their high level of understanding, they may assume certain simple aspects critical in understanding the service, or possibly too much jargon. That’s why most companies prefer hiring freelance technical documentation writing services with a good understanding of the niche to provide simplified explanations.
What is purpose of technical writing?
The purpose of technical writing is to inform the reader of something; the style should further that purpose, not detract from it by trying to entertain, cajole, or confuse the reader.
What is 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 an audience-centered means of communication that provides a reader with clear and easy access to information. In the business world, time equates to profit, and profit is the force behind all business interaction. The technical writer and reader have a vis-à-vis relationship. The writer recognizes, respects, and addresses the importance of time in effective and efficient communication by providing documents written in specific formats, using unambiguous language to send clearly assessable information. The reader in turn thoroughly understands the information in order to give a thoughtful response.
Good technical writing has just the opposite characteristics. It is clear and direct. It isgrammatically correct both in letter and in spirit. Furthermore, it utilizes the great richness and
variety in English expression to convey ideas in the most efficient and effective manner.
The purpose of technical writing is to inform the reader of something; the style shouldfurther that purpose, not detract from it by trying to entertain, cajole, or confuse the reader.
Considering the number of people whose writing only impedes the reader, a few remarks on the elementary techniques of writing clear prose might be worthwhile.
Uses for Technical 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.
Principles 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.
- Principle #1: Decide whom are your writing for!
- Principle #2: Decide on the information needs of your user
- Principle #3: Decide on the way you are going to address your user – which S&Gs to apply
- Principle #4: Decide on the deliverable to create
- Principle #5: Decide on the tool you will use to create your content
- Principle #6: Decide on the structure of your content
- Principle #7: Decide on the information channel you are going to use
- Principle #8: Write the document
- Principle #9: Use images and videos as appropriate
- Principle #10: Publish your first version
- Principle #11: Collect input and improve the content
- Principle #12: Repeat
Free Features
- Free title page
- Free formatting
- Free proofreading
- Free reference pages
- Free Inquiry
- Free revisions
Features of Technical Writing
Clarity
Technical writing is a kind of writing which object is to enable the readers to understand a highly complex process or concept clearly and easily. Technical writing describes the necessary information very clearly.
Readability
Technical writing is easily legible to the reader. The content of technical writing must be easily understandable. A technical writer should avoid those words which are not so common and understandable to all class of readers.
Comprehensiveness
Technical writing should include all the necessary information about the topics. It includes a clear description of any process or method. Besides, it also includes results, conclusions. and recommendations.
Conciseness
Technical writing is a kind of writing which goal is to assist a person by providing valuable information. So, it should be concise. Technical writing must be long enough so that it includes all the necessary information.
Problem-Solving Focus
Technical writing is basically written for solving problems. One will read technical writing to learn how to perform certain tasks or gain valuable information. So, the solution should be given in a legible way.
Technical Writing Help
The purpose of technical writing is to inform the reader of something; the style should further that purpose, not detract from it by trying to entertain, cajole, or confuse the reader.
